RE: range test with the kentucky 50 cal
You're wasting your time until you get away from that Triple 7 and get some good patching...
Go to WalMart and buy some cotton pillow ticking and if you have a JoAnne fabric store, drop by and pick up some cotton drill...
Barrels will break in, but that's not why your patches are burning up, they won't hold up to the heat of Triple 7 and I've seen complaints of store bought patches in the past few years on a traditional muzzleloading forum I belong to...
The key is to find the right patch and lube combo, as long as a ball is about .010 under bore you can find a good combo if you work with the patching, no need for corn meal, nesting, wads etc...That patch must stay intact to have good groups...