ORIGINAL: Duck Creek Hunter
OK, now that I have purchased my Great Plains Rifle in 54cal, I am ready to buy some assesories, such as Ramrod, Cleaning Jag, Powder measure, Bullet puller,Bullet starter,etc, etc, I don't want to buy junk, and that's why I am asking for help. any advice from this forum, I know that I can trust. looking forward to some knowledge from you all. thanks.
Katie couric interviewing a Marine in afg--What do you feel when you shoot a Terrorist? The Marine shrugged and replied "a slight recoil'
Due to the tolorance used in manufacturing I suggest you try both 530 and .535 dia ball [ I have take large game as well as deer with a 54 PRB so I suggest that you master shooting the PRB first] Go out to the range and run the powder ladder from 80 gr to the max in your operators manule. Not all guns like the same powder but most will shoot Pyrodex RS but it is very corrosive so clean your gun the same day you shoot it boiling water and a touch of dish detergent is recommended. I like a usket nipple and musket caps, but if you want to use #11 caps with anything other than Real black powder then I recommend RWS1075 caps.[ Ihave had hang fire and misfire problems with some of the others] I recommend Ticking for Ballpatches and flannel for cleaning patches. Now at this point some will disagree but I have used bore butter ever since it came out for PRB with very good results, I also believe in seasoning the gun , and I believe that their is only one way to get that done right. I put my barrels in an oven set for two hundred degrees [ usepads and thick gloves they will burn you at that temp]. and be sure only the metal gets hot [plastic sights or any such would be ruined at that temp] when its hot [around 200degrees] grease it real good while the pours are open .
The ramrod, I much prefer the "super rod" [plasitic] one but the solid aluminium is also very good, I do not use wood except in an emergency they dont know or dont care to make them right any more so they are liable to break and end up stuck right through your hand, and the hollow aluminium one are not strong enough. I stop at the craft store and get a wood ball about 2.5 inches in diameter and get an aluminium doll from the hardware store which I mount in the ball then I drill and tap the end and put a jag on it that is the size and shape of the round ball in reverse.
Either the solid brass adjustable measure or the see through funnel top made by TC are good measures, I am sure there are others that are good but most of the others I have tried were NOT. After you have worked out your load you may want to make your own out of horn or brass.
Do not start with an ides that you are going to shoot a certain load be prepared to find the load the gun likes. Lee