21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Today was 2ºs with a windchill of -15 to -25 degrees, but it was not snowing. The wind was blowing out of the north, and it was COLD!!!

I wanted to shoot my 21" Green Mountain Long Range Hunter Barrel with the 1-28 twist. This is a flintlock barrel mounted in my T/C Hawkins Rifle. I swabbed between all shots with pure isopropyl alcohol. I loaded 90 grains of Goex 3f and a .430 300 grain XTP in a Harvester Crushed Rib Sabot.

I fired shot #1 and wondered why it was so far to the left. Checking the rear sight I noticed it was not centered exactly. So I centered the rear sight. I then shot #2-#5 and was more then pleased with the accuracy of the rifle so far. To then check if it was me or the sights, I adjusted my POA and fired #6 & #7. About this time, my camera battery went dead.

I then decided to try some .503 460 grain Bull Shop Conicals. I loaded 70 grains of Goex 3f without a wad. I fired three of them. And they grouped well. I would have shot more but could no longer feel my toes and fingers so I decided to call it a day and wait for better weather.

Over all I think this barrel will be a good one. With 90 grains of powder there is no recoil, but then I had on a Parka to stay warm.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

cayugad

Just can not knock those GM barrels... they all seem to shoot...

But 2 degrees with that wind chill.... i donotknow bout that...

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

you of all people should be used to temps like that living where you do..

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

cayugad

Na! it is pretty decent here today.. 10 degrees 14 to 18" of snow here in town but at the rock pit there has to be 3 or 4 feet. But the good thing the sun is out and no wind.

I really want to get out and shoot this new Z5 - but it looks like it is going to be awhile...

Dave have you ever shot NE 54 cal conicals from any your sidelocks. They are heavy 535 grains - but I can not get those 54 cal bullshops to shoot real well. I am hoping these longer NE's might work better. I know a 1/48 is suppose to like shorter bullets - but I want to give them a try...

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

I tried some of Dan's in my 1-48 twist .54 calibers and they did not do very well for some reason. Perhaps I had a bad powder charge, but they would not group. And I tried them in four different rifles.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Looks like it's doing good for a new barrel.
You may have found a barrel that's not too picky about what it likes. :)

I was going to shoot a CVA inline I picked up a while backin a trade, but the temps just below freezing scared me off today. Actually, the old shelter I had put over the shooting bench got destroyed in a storm this winter and I didn't want to set on a wet (frozen) seat. [:@]I did go pick up some new #11 & musket caps today, so I did get something accomplished as far as muzzleloader shooting. [8D]

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

50 yards looks like a long way out there don't it.

Its only the first time I was out with this barrel but I am very pleased so far. I kind of thought that since my other GMB LRH barrels shot the 300 grain .430 XTP so well with a strong charge, this one might be the same. So with that short barrel I guessed 100 grains and then looked at the measure that was set to 90 and figured... 3f powder.

Next time I want to try some 2f powder and a few other projectiles. Normally the cold does not bother me, but I have to admit today I was cold. I had icicles forming on the moustache and my fingers were actually starting to hurt. Wearing gloves was OK, except when swabbing and loading, so maybe when it gets warmer. I have a lot of things to try out of this rifle. It would make an excellent tree stand rifle or a stalking rifle with that short barrel...

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Potential, Potential, Potential!!! Nice start with the new bbl. sure is pretty there, with the snow in the evergreens!! Glad you let me know about the $ of those bbls, can't wait to try my new perc. 21in bbl. should be in the next couple weeks!!

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Nice shooting there Cayugad! Those .430 XTP's w/crushed rib are a bit too easy to load in my GM barrel.. The groups seem to tighten a bit with the Hornady green sabots for me. Not much room for you to tighten #2-5 there though. Good, cold, shootin'.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Good shooting Cayugad. I'd really like to see a pic of that rifle with the 21" barrel. Sounds like just the thing I could use in the thick stuff I hunt.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

That is the Hawkins with the 21 inch barrel.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

I have had a lot of success with the XTP sabots in my inline NEF .50 cal. I use Barnes sabots in my Hawkens Carbine percussion rifle. It has a 1 in 24" twist that handles these sabots perfectly. Nice Flintlock. I am still trying to decide if I will get on also. It seems like it should be fun to shoot.

Here in Va. it is in the midthirties and it is too cold for meto goshoot. Good thing I don't live by you guys!!! ;)

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Dave you are just to tough shooting in that cold I will stay inside That below zero stuff is nuts to shoot in And I have lived with it for all my live like you.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

I dunno know, Dave, it looks to me like those shots were crawling as ... ... the barrel heated up. ;) ;) :D

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Dave - That looks pretty good. One question - How is the balance? Is there much of a difference in 'feel' between that barrel and the LRH barrel? I like the balance of the Hawken with the LRH GM barrel. I really don't like a butt heavy rifle.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

The balance of that little barrel is excellent. That was the first thing I noticed about it. Of course my 28" LRH 1-28 GMB is stainless steel and it really feels heavy when I do free hand shooting. This thing is almost like hauling around a toy. You would not think seven inches of barrel would weigh that much but it really does balance the rifle nice.

Underclocked.. I am sure that was happening. As cold as it was, had the barrel heated up... I'd of been glad.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Today I was trying some 240 grain XTP's in .452 diameter with 90 grains of Graf's & Sons 2f powder. Shot one was on a clean barrel. Shots 1-5 was not as tight as I wanted at 50 yards. Also even though I had a new flint, I was having a lot of misfires. The 4f pan was burning off, but the spark was not setting off the main charge. It took three pan fulls for one load. Granted it was very lightly snowing, but it was 17 degrees above zero.

I then adjusted the sight to the right a little and loaded 90 grains of Goex 3f and the 300 grain XTP's in .430 diameter again. With the sight adjustment, shots 6-9 were much better. Whether it was the powder or the change in projectile weight, I do not know. I was swabbing between shots like I was yesterday.

I did manage to try a 460 bull shop conical with 90 grains of Goex 3f and it shot low.. yesterday. Yesterdays hits I marked in RED and todays were with a green marker.

Then company showed up and I had to end my shooting session. [:@][:@]

I think I will leave the sights alone and just do some more bullet testing with this little rifle now. Also changing to Goex 3f ended all the misfires. The rifle fired perfect. So maybe this little barrel does not like Graf's & Sons black powder. Time will tell. It is supposed to be nice tomorrow too...

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

It appears to my untrained eye that Goex 3F is the ticket w/ 300 xtp's.;)Mind you two or three misfires will certainly play havoc with the groupings.:D.

I tried to call GM today. I like their hours, they close at 11 on Fridays. Will call them on Monday.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Cayugad,


I have that same barrel but it's 24" long for a switch barrel on my RMC and it really likes the .452 Hornady 250 grainers and groups the 300 grain very well too. I am using the standard mmp short black sabot. 80 grains of Goex 3f gives the best groupings; with the 250 doing a bit better than the 300. If ya really want to knock the center out of that sticky then try the Barnes 245 Spit-fire with 80 grains 3f Goex. Just make sure to tape over the holes with some clear scotch tapebecause you will think you missed the target.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Mossie.. thanks for the load tips. I have a lot more things I want to try shooting out of this barrel. So far, the 300 grain are my go to load, but I am sure there will be many more of them. I have some Gold Dot, 375 grain Buffalo Bullet SSB, and a few other loads I really want to try. I want to develope a medium range very hard hitting load. Then I will tree stand and stalk hunt with this rifle.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

I just got my 21" barrel in today. But I have a question. Did T/C shorten the stocks on their Hawkens rifles? I had to remove and lop off about 1 1/2" off the bar that holds the ramrod thimble and rotate the ramrod retaining spring 180 degrees.
It was no big deal with the dremel tool and a bit of blueing but for someone without the proper tools and thinking he was getting a barrel he could just swap out, it could be a hassle.
Did you guys have to do the same?

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

I had to do the same thing. What I think GMB does is put the same thimble rib on all their barrels. This barrel, being so short, required more taken off. I had to cut off the same amount, turn the ramrod tension spring, and then I took some Birchwood Casey Barrel Black (felt tip marker pen) and painted the cut off part. You'd never see it because it fits against the stock. I used my dremel tool also, but I think I could have carefully done it with a hacksaw. If people still use them things.. :D:D

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Hey Dave, at our age the Dremel saves on the arms. I'm not sure what type of steel that is for the thimble rib, but it sure takes a blueing really fast. It turned black almost instantly. I waited the required 1 min time and rinsed. I didn't have to but I gave it another treatment just in case, rinsed, wiped dry and oiled. Maybe I'll be able to sneak out tomorrow and try her out. If not tomorrow, Monday. I'll give the report when I get back from shooting it.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Green mountain must have a lot of those 50 cal 21 inch 1x28 barrels I see several smoothbore 54 sold also. I have a t c encore in 1x28 I got the 54 smoothbore to play with shot loads

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

Well, we were suppposed to get a few flurries today and clear up later so I thought, no big deal. Its 0930 now and we have about an inch of flurries on the ground and its still coming down, sideways with a strong windand temp right around 32. Not a real good day to try out a new barrel. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

I got the 54 smooth bore also shoots PBR out to 50 yds good fun barrel to play with.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

It is snowing real hard here today and then the winds will be in here tonight with the bitter cold. They have wind chill warnings out, so it looks like there will be no range for a few days.. Good luck with them barrels and let us know what loads you like.

RE: 21 inch GMB carbine barrel range day
 

For being windy that's some good shooting there.