Shooting the 54 GM 1:70

bronko22000 · 07-10-2011, 07:44 AM

I couldn't stand waiting around any longer for my tang peep to come in so I grabbed the Hawken with the new .54 GM 1:70 twist barrel. Now I realize why you guys like these so much. I never was a .54 fan - until now.
First target I dialed in the sights. First shot high right was entirely my fault. The shot went off before I was set. The next ones were low and did a few sight adjustments. Target was set at 50 yds.
First load attempt was 90 gr of FFg/.015" Ox Yoke patch - 3 shots; 0.72". Not too bad for a virgin barrel.
Second load was 80 gr of FFg/.018" pillow tick/bore butter lube - 3 shots; 1.32" Ok Not too impressed.
Third loading I went back to 90 gr FFg/.018" pillow tick/bore butter lube- 3 shots; 0.45" Now that is pretty awesome for iron sights.
I was fortunate that I stopped at the gun shop and picked up some .530" balls. I tried loading .535" balls and they were waaay too tight. I had to literally pound the first one down the bore. Even the .530" were tight but loaded fine even with the .018" patches.
At this point I was low on powder so I had to quit. Next time out I am going to try the pillow tick with olive oil. And I will adjust the sights a tad to the left.

HuntAway · 07-10-2011, 08:33 AM

It looks like it is going to be a shooter. Enjoy!!!

HA

arcticap · 07-10-2011, 08:34 AM

That's an impressive start. If that's their 32 inch drop-in barrel then imagine the potential of the even longer sighting plane if it were 36" or 42" in length!

flounder33 · 07-10-2011, 08:38 AM

That is sure nice shooting, and for the first time with that barrel it is fantastic! Are you still smiling?

Semisane · 07-10-2011, 09:35 AM

Excellent Bronko. That's some great iron sight shooting.

Have you JB'ed that bore yet? I found loading my .54 and .58 round ball GM barrels got a lot easier after smoothing the muzzle crown with some 600 grit emery paper and polishing the bore with JB. Both of them had very sharp crowns and a tendency to cut the patches a little when seating the ball.

Like you, I could hardly get a .535 ball seated before the treatment, and I wanted to use .535's from my Lee mold. They load easily now. Also, I have a little over 150 shots out of my barrel now, so that probably makes a difference also. That Renegade with it's .54 1:70 GM barrel is fast becoming my favorite gun.

bronko22000 · 07-10-2011, 11:59 AM

Semi - I don't think I will worry about JBing the bore right away. Those .535" balls were so tight even with the .015" patches that I got the ball stuck right away with the short starter. Then I had to literally pound it down with the palm of my hand with the long end of the starter. Then getting it down the bore to the charge was an other ordeal.
The .530s started with a solid rap and a hard steady pressure to seat them. I think they are just the right size.

cayugad · 07-10-2011, 12:46 PM

Very good shooting. Believe it or not.. that rifle will shoot even better after it breaks itself in. You have a heck of a good barrel there. And that big ball will knock snot!!

bronko22000 · 07-10-2011, 02:22 PM

Thanks guys. I can't wait to get the tang peep on it. I had a good rest and it was early so the heat waves wern't a problem. And I had the sun at my back. So I was able to hold a good sight picture. I just can't imagine this rifle getting any better. I guess I will have to use bigger target dots and shoot at 75 or 100 yds to validate any improvement.