54 New Englander range report, Vol.II
 

In the last edition I reported that accuracy was relatively poor with 60-80 grain charges of fffg under .530 ball with pillow tick patches & several lubes. Things got much better at 90 grains fffg , .530 ball with bore butter lubed pillow tick patch. Also had some moderate patch cutting.

Found some ancient maxiballs at a local shop, .54 caliber 430 grainers, owner said they'd been there at least 10 years, & the price reflected it: $3.99 per 20. Bought two packs to test. Not much to report, accuracy was ok with 60-90 grains fffg, then fell off at 100 grains. Recoil wasn't intolerable, but starting getting... let's say, uncomfortable, with the 100 grain load.

Next time out I started with a 5-shot group of the 90gr/.530/bb ticking load as a baseline. Did just a bit better than last time, 1-1/2" center to center at 50 yards. Next I did a 5-shot group with the same load, but 25 grains of cornmeal as a "wad". That one measured 2-1/2". That, coupled with something I'll get to later, ended the cornmeal experiment. Did groups with 100 & 110 grains of powder that turned out ~2" & ~3". Clearly 90 grains is about optimum in this rifle. Have only used 10-grain increments so far, but I'll eventually try some 85 & 95 grain loads to see if it can be fine tuned.

Next I tried some 100 yard shots with the 90 grain load. Two 5-shot groups measured 2-3/4" & 3-1/2", actually better than I expected. In both cases, one "flier" accounted for about half the group size. Looking back at targets from the previous range sessions with this rifle, it's a trend; three or four shots touching or nearly so, then one or two fliers, alwaysvertical in spread. Just not as noticeable at 50 yards. I don't think the rifle is causing the fliers, and since the components are consistent (.530 Hornady balls, Remington #11 caps, same tube of bore butter, same yard of bulk ticking), that only leaves one potential cause: the shooter! I strongly suspect it's an inconsistency in my loading technique (more likely) or aiming technique (less likely) that causes the fliers.

Now back to the cornmeal. Wanted to try it since I was getting some moderate cutting & fraying of the patches & thought this might help with that, and in turn, accuracy. But I noticed right from the get-go on the last range session that the patches were starting to look a little less beat up. Have saved a handful of patches from each session with the rifle, and comparing them in sequence confirmed that they are getting a little better each time. Think I know why (cue light bulb over my head). When I traded for it, the previous owner said it had been shot less than 50 times, so I think the sharp edges of the rifling lands are smoothing out & doing less damage to the tight fitting patch. Sounds good in theory anyway.

Pretty settled on the load now though I may experiment a bit more when the mood strikes. 90 grains fffg & a 230 grain ball ought to put down anything legal to hunt in Kentucky. Most future sessions with this rifle will be a handful of shots from a rest, concentrating on consistency in loading & aiming technique, then practicing with my shooting stick & offhand.

Once again, zero misfires, not even the slightest of hangfires. By all means use what powder works for you, but if you have any ignition troubles at all, try to get your hands on some Goex. I honestly believe that this rifle would light off instantly even if the caps had 1/2 the priming compound missing, as long as it was loaded with Goex fffg (& had a clear nipple, of course).

RE: 54 New Englander range report, Vol.II
 

Good report Headhunter. I suspect you're right about that barrel needing a little more break-in shooting. If the previous owner said it was shot less than 50 times, it might really have had only a dozen or so shots through it.

Do you know the shot sequence of the fliers? I wonder if the barrel was heating a little in the 5-shot sequence and the flier was always the 5th. shot.

My .50 New Englander is like yours - instant ignitionwith GOEX, and a real fun gun to shoot.

RE: 54 New Englander range report, Vol.II
 

I bet you're right, it was probably a lot closer to 1 shot than 50. The rifle was so clean & unblemished it coulda passed for new in box. Well, if it had been in a box [&:]

Good question about the sequence. Didn't bring any binoculars the last couple trips & can't see the holes from 100 yards, so I didn't know what was going on until the group was done & the range clear. Will definitely pay attention to that next time. Been swabbing between every shot so far, one alcohol & one dry, since it's been for load comparison. I don't get in any hurry with the smokepoles, so don't think it's getting too awful hot, but it may not take much with this particular rifle. Ony one way to find out. Have noticed that the first shot of the session (clean, cold barrel,no caps snapped prior to first shot) has always been in the group, one thing I was sure proud to see. Hate the thought of having to hunt with a fouled barrel, even if it's just cap residue.

RE: 54 New Englander range report, Vol.II
 

Me too. Every gun I hunt with is sighted in for a clean bore.

RE: 54 New Englander range report, Vol.II
 

Ky- When I bought my New Englander I could not get it to group for s**t I called TC they told me keep shooting. It settled in just under 100 shots. If your patches are getting better,just keep shooting. You might drop the charge to save powder until then. I let the kids shoot mine at 25 yds with 40 or 50 gr powder. good for the kids

Charlie

RE: 54 New Englander range report, Vol.II
 

Any one know if the new Englander can be fitted with a double set trigger?

Charlie

RE: 54 New Englander range report, Vol.II
 

You would have to change out the trigger guard forone thing. No way to get a double set into the NE's guard. The trigger guard and trigger plate are a one-piece unit on the N.E. TC's set trigger is a separate unit from the trigger guard.Also, I don't think the NE's lock has a fly on thehalf-cock,which is pretty much needed for settriggers. You might have to do something about that. At any rate, it would not be a parts swap proposition.

RE: 54 New Englander range report, Vol.II
 

Shoot the rest of your conicals. That will help with break-in of the barrel.

I've always shot Pyrodex RS in my Renegades and a Wht. Mtn. Carbine. I've never experienced a hangfire, much less a failure to fire without knowing the exact cause, which was usually getting completely drenched for a whole day, then shooting the gun to clear it so I could hunt on a fresh load the next AM. Not a surprise.

I know you can use FFF in a .54 cal gun, but I've never done it. I suppose your 90 gr load would be about equal to my pet Renegadeload of 100 gr Pyrodex/430 gr. Maxiball. For what it's worth, I did read that Pyrodex develops pressure more consistently than BP, maybe that has something to do with fliers.Then again, maybe new Goex is as consistent.

I'm a little surprised that you can't get better accuracy at 50 yds with the conicals, but as you get the thing broken in, that may improve too. You are correct that a 54 cal RB with a stout charge is serious medicine on deer. A conical like the 430 Maxiball, while perhaps a 100 yd projectile, will do what the RB does, only with more certainty.

I shot a nice 8 pt buck one evening at about 75 yds. The deer was walking right at me when it got my wind. It acted as if it would spook so with a steady rest I settled the bead between his throat patch and that "cowlick" that they have low in their chest and squeezed. Through the smoke I saw a white flash then nothing. After a quick reload, I walked over and quickly found the deer roughly 15 yds from where he was shot.A nice 54 cal hole centered on the neck/chest. Upon field dressing I discovered the bullet travelled the full length of the deer. I found the slug under the hide on the back ofa rear leg upon skinning. It was somewhat mushroomed but easily recognizable as a Maxiball. A RB would have killed the deer too I'm sure, but I don't believe it would have fully penetrated a 175 lb buck lengthwise.

What this means is, a large conical will allow you to take some shots that perhaps are not advisable with a RB. If you limit yourself to broadside shots, then it won't matter a bit.

RE: 54 New Englander range report, Vol.II
 

Thanks for all the comments. Shot it again last night & despite the gusty winds it did quite well. Did shoot up the rest of the maxiballs, turned in two groups under 2" at 50 yards with 90 grains. Should've shot the rest to get a group at 100 yards, but there was an old rotten pumpkin, & I just couldn't resist spilling it's guts with the conicals I had left:D Got it 5 out of 5 from ~70 yards. Seeds all over the place, ought to be a nice pumpkin patch on the range next fall. May not even need to bring my own targets then.

Didn't have much daylight left, so I shot a quick 3-shot group at 100 yards with the prb/90 grains & measured it at 2-1/8".

Bottom line, it's gotten a little better each time out with both prb & maxiball. It's got 150-200 rounds through the barrel now, 40 of which were conicals.

RE: 54 New Englander range report, Vol.II
 

2" at 100 yds is nothing to sneeze at with open sights. She's a shooter for sure.