roundballs using corn meal
 

I was shooting a .58 caliber Green Mountain Barrel mounted on a Thompson Center Renegade. The load was 100 grains of Goex 2f and a 284 grain Speer roundball. The patch was pillow tick and I used moosemilk as the lube.

Over all I was very happy with this five shot group at 50 yard with the open sights. The load seemed accurate and had a lot of down range thump.

I then decided to test the cornmeal theory. I loaded the same powder and ball but this time added 20 grains of Quaker brandcornmeal in the rifle. I shot a six shot group. The final shot I adjusted the POI to see if I could hit the bullseye.



not to bad. I think the cornmeal might give a little advantage. I just need to shoot more.

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

cayugad,

If you chronied the cornmeal filler loads, you might lift an eye brow. I was able to achieve an increase of 130 fps with the filler in the hawken. The grouping is fantastic in your photos,good shooting.

Phil

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

Man, if you hadn't done that, you'd have a 1 hole group there:D. Thanks for so quickly trying the PRB / Cornmeal experiment.

Still can't get over what a difference just adding 20 gr of cornmeal makes:) That combo could compete with some centerfire rifles out there![&:]

Awesome shooting!!!

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

Cayugad, How doese that compare to using a wad? Doese that cornmeal act as a wad? That is a good group there. I still plan on buying a 58cal for my GM. I do not know if I am going elk hunting though.

Have you thought about trying that cornmeal with heavier chages in your 58cal just to see what happens?

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

Sharp Shooter - yes, the corn meal acts somewhat as a wad. Thanks to others testing with meals- wads - no wads what have you, they found that they actually get a faster (up to 100 fps or more) projectile using the meal as a wad.

As for trying cornmeal with a heavier charge in this rifle, I think 100 grains of Goex 2f and a patched roundball out of this roundball rifle is about as much as I care to push it...

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

I agree. The cornmeal is elevating pressures by restricting some of the blowby. It makes the 100 grains more like a heavier charge, perhaps more like 115 to 120 grains. I got 17% more energy at the muzzle with filler so its like adding 20% more powder.

I have found that Pyro P is a very efficient propellant for roundball. To achieve higher velocities without additional recoil, one could givePyro P a try with filler. With the 270 ballet 60 grains 3f BP propelled to around 1300 fps while the same volume of Pyro P to 1490 fps. A major difference. Pyro P loves light projectiles it seems. The difference is a 30% increase in muzzle energy.

Based on this experience, I would think that 80 grains Pyro P should deliver comparable muzzle velocities to 100 grains 2f Goex and with far less recoil. Can't say to what extent with will affect grouping.

Phil

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

Well I will have to try the rifle with some Pyrodex P, Triple Se7enor Goex 3f next time out. Before when it was patch and ball, it always shot the best group with simple Goex 2f.

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

cayugadI have an 58 cal. underhammer that takes 30 gr volume to shoot its best.Lee

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

So your loading a 30 grain filler.. how interesting. I was wondering what would happen if I went even more then the 20 grains. I guess I will have to try that as well. Thanks for the heads up...

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

Dave, you did your initial testing using 20 grains fillerwith your Ultra Mag, correct? Going from 50 to 58 cal, you will need to add about35% additional filler to keep the same filler "thickness". So, to have an equivelant filler you would need about 27 grains of filler for the 58 cal. Dats purty close to 30. Hope I did my math right.

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

Well that is something to test in the future. Although I am not unhappy with the results from the 20 grains of Cornmeal... I think I am going to have to get a chronograph so I can get some real time test results. I have been putting one off claiming I do not want to know, but I think the results would be most interesting...

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

Unless it starts raining again I guess I'm going to have to try some cornmeal next week.

I finally got my "new to me" 54 GPR this week and I can't wait to go to the range and make some smoke. I'm off Monday and Tuesday so I've scheduled some range time with the boss lady on Monday. the main reason for the session is to get my son some more practice, he has his first elk hunt in early October and he needs more practise. Of course I will have to bring along the new toy and play some too.

This whole cornmeal/buffer thing has me intrigued. I have some round ball's and some Maxi's that I may try it with while I'm there. I will report my results next week if I don't get rained out.

You know, a little elk stew and cornbread sounds kinda good, doesn't it?

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

it sure does... :D

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

CVA Titan powder flasks . Bought several of those when Midsouth had them in the closeout room. Excellent cornmeal flasks, spout drops about 28 grains by volume as I recollect. :)

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

UC,
That reminds me, I bought a ML kit with a similar flask to yoursas well as a capper, powder measure, ball starter and nipple wrench from the Bass Pro outlet store last year for about $5. I have been trying to figure out what to do with a couple of those items. Now I have a use for the funky little open top powder measure that came in that kit. It looks like a skinny shot measure with just an open top, it should work fine for cornmeal though.
Thanks.

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

that little flask is a great idea... it would be all the necessary loads you would need for hunting, and easy to carry. I guess I will have to keep my eyes open for one..

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

Underclocked,I have been using the same pistol flask with4 [10-20-25-30; the 10 is for the rugar revolver] measuring spouts since the early 70's. Lee

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

I shoot a .54 and use my own TC cast Maxi balls. Has anyone tried the corn meal wad on conicals?

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

Big Buy 01 -

I've tried conicals with cornmeal and got some very excellent results so far. While my testing of them is still very limited they show some excellent promise of better accuracy then the old standard fiber wad.

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

I also use the cornmeal wad, on maxie balls and real bullets.My guns don't seem to like the maxie hunter for some reason. Lee

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

That's interesting, I have yet to find one of my rifles that likes the Maxi Hunters.. Now the maxi ball is a different story. Many of my rifles shoot them real well. Strange that the slight difference in design would make such a difference..

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

cayugad,The only time I have seen Maxie hunters shoot a good group was out of a Kentucky long rifle with a 40 inch barrel-1-66 twist of 50 cal. It seemed weird to me and that was the only bullet besides PRB it would shoot accurate.Lee

RE: roundballs using corn meal
 

Thanks guys I'll have something new to try out. I have molds for both the Maxi hunter and the Maxi Ball. never did like the maxi hunter, harder to load and not as accurate in my experience. I have 3 .54's, a TC. Hawkins, a Traditions Hawkins style and an in line Traditions all have a 1/48" twist. All like the Maxi balls.:)