Patches needed for conicals?
 

Well I want to get into ML'ing becuase the way the Regulations are set up here in Oregon the only way I can hunt the rut here where I live, I have to draw a ML tag. the regulations here are super strict for muzzle loading so I have to use either round balls or conicals, I have to use loose powder, the gun must have open ignition, and I cant use a 209 ignition. So my gun options are a little more limitied but I have one in mind that will work. But my question is....what kind of a load should I go with? I doubt I'd want to use round balls so I thought the TC Maxi-ball would be a good choice. I know for round balls I have to use lubed patches but do I have to for the Maxi-balls?

Thanks!!

BHB

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

You're approaching a dangerous path Bullet Hole. Many a guy on this forum got a muzzle loader just for the special hunt each year and became infected with frontstuffingitis. If you catch it there's no cure.

What's yourhunting situation like. Mostly stand hunting, or a lot of walking? Mostly long shots 100+ yards or mostly 50 to 75 yards?If we were neighbors, I would probably lend you my TC.50 New Englander loaded with 385 grainHornady Great Plains conicals over 85 grains of Pyrodex RS and expect you to be well armed for up to 100 yard iron sight shots.

EDIT: Almost forgot. No patches on conicals. Most, like the Great Plains bullets, are pre-lubed. All you do is stuff them down on top the powder charge. You need to smear a little lube on those that are not pre-lubed. Plain old Crisco will do the job, or a commercial product like TC's Bore Butter or CVA's Grease Patch.

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

Well if you have to shoot a conical then ]urchase a good conical shooting rifle. Get a White if you can. In .504 and you can shoot a 460 or 500 grain conical with amazing accuracy and authority.

Maxiball might shoot good for you depending on what rifle you select. All you can do it try them.

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

Welcome to the moderate powder charge, big chunk of lead bad habit forum!! Seriously, 80-90 gr loose black. Either goex 2f, 80-90grs, 385 Great Plains equals excellent accuracy and good whomp!!

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

Thanks a bunch guys!!

Well heres my deal with the rifles....I dont want to start right off getting something real spendy but I know Ill enjoy shooting it so I dont want it to be crap but At the local GI Joes or just Joes now there was a Knight Wolverine that cam in a kit with everything you need to load, shoot, clean, etc. Including a video. Pretty much everything minus the Powder and Caps until I use it all up but atleast that will get me started since I have a fairly vague view of what Im getting myself into...

So is the Knight Wolverine a good gun??

Thanks a bunch guys!

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

The Knight Wolverine is a no frills meat and potatoes rifle. It has a Green Mountain Barrel which is top of the line. It has a Timney Trigger which is one of the best. With the #11 percussion cap and LOOSE powder it will shoot as well as the expensive rifles. They are well balanced and easy to load and take care of. Just pay attention to the trigger and make sure you clean it ever couple times you shoot. To clean it, get some Carburetor cleaner at the auto parts store, spray the inside of the trigger, shake well or blow it out with a air compressor, then add just a little gun oil to the trigger.

The Wolverine will shoot conicals. I would suggest getting some 460 grain .502 diameter Bull Shop conicals. Use a Triple Se7en powder. Add 80 grains and one of them conicals and you could take on an elk with that load.

I have a wolverine. Mine is a great shooter. They are not fancy, but they are a well made rifle that has lasted a long time in this crazy gun market only because they do work.

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

Thats awesome Cayugad!!!

Thanks man, Im glad to hear some good news about the gun!

So where could I buy these bull shop conicals?

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

http://bullshop.gunloads.com/

Tell Dan to make them to .502 and you want the #2 lube. Theyare a great bullet. You might also want to pick up a bag of bore buttons.

Mike Ederin Indiana. Just ask for the 1/8th inch 50 caliber felt wads. ( unlubed) $3.75 for 100 packaged. The company is Flintlock Inc.

His phone number is 317-933-3441

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

Ok so Im a newbie....what are bore buttons?:D

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

It's the button you press when you've had about all you can take of an in-law. Makes him or her go away. :D:D:D

It's a round felt wad about the diameter of your barrel and usually 1/8 to 3/16 inches thick. It's loaded between the powder and the bullet to provide a gas seal and protect the base of the bullet from flame cutting by the powder charge. Not essential, but improves accuracy in many - but not all - cases.

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

At;s why we call em' out laws and they usually come form her side of the fambly! Only one any good is the one that hunts w/ me and he's fair middlin! I tell him that so's he don't get notions I likes him or nuttin'.

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

I like the first answer better!
Chap

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

Ok cool!

So how do they improve accuracy?

Thanks!

BHB

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

I would try shooting the Maxiball and if they are not consistant, try using a felt wad between the bullet and powder. It mades a difference shooting Maxi balls out of my Omega.

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

A bore button over the powder helps to seal the pressure from the ignition gas explosion. Many times this explosion can play havoc on the base of conicals. In the case of a hollow based conical this is what you want. In the case of a slip fit, you want them to expand a little, grab the rifling and spin their way up the barrel. Not deform from the pressure and the heat. In some, but not all cases, the bore button will make that initial blast more of a controlled explosion and that CAN produce better accuracy with some conicals.

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

The Knight rifle would make a fantastic choice. As stated earlier the Knight will shoot conicals. And normally Knight rifles will shoot them very well. My MK85 likes a 525 grain RCBS HotchKiss bullet that I cast myself.

You might try making your own conicals. The cost of getting started for MZ casting is very cheap. A lot of people buy the inexpensive Lee REAL bullet mold, and the bullets can even be pan lubed if necessary. You can get started for $20 or $30 dollars. And you can easily spend that on your first order of bullets?? Just a suggestion. However pouring MZ bullets is actually very easy to do, and IMO it is a lot of fun. And it issatisfying to shoot an animal with the bullet that you made. Tom.

RE: Patches needed for conicals?
 

Made many a Maxiball in my day. It is cool to shoot deer with bullets you have made. Some were recovered in deer, re-melted and cast into new bullets. Every bullet from the pot thereafter had some % of those recovered bullets, so my bullets were "experienced".