proving something to myself
 

Today I wanted to try some different powders and lubes. So I have had a few PM's that asked me about Mink Oil as a patch lube. As I told them I have used it, it worked good, but I like moosemilk. Well I might have spoke too fast.

I took the .54 caliber Thompson Center New Englander that has a 1.5-6x40mm Traditions scope on it. I did this to give the lube and projectiles the best chance at accuracy.



the picture was not taken today of course. But we will be back to that wonderful weather soon.

I also took American Pioneer Powder 2f and Pyrodex RS to the range. The shoot card on the rifle advised that it likes 90 grains of Pyrodex RS and a patched roundball. So to be fair to the barrel I started the testing with APP 2f.



On a clean oil free barrel I loaded 90 grains of APP 2f and a home cast roundball. The patch was pillow tick and I used mink oil as the lube. The first shot off the rifle was a bit of a delayed fire. Why I have no idea, as I had excellent burn marks on the test patch. The next five shots were not all that bad IMO for APP powder. Other then the note card said dead on/clean barrel 50 yards... Since these were kind of low, I was going to be interested in what the Pyrodex would do.

Well I used Simple Green cleaner and patched the barrel clean. Then I dry patched it. And when I was sure it was clean, I used a test patch to make sure the bolster was sending flame through and got an excellent burn on the patch.

The first shot with 90 grains of Pyrodex RS and mink oil was a bulls eye. I was pleased as the card was holding true at least. But the amazing thing was the next five shots. Really concentrating and shooting with glasses off, letting the scope be my eyes, that was an impressive five shot group.

I then shot some REAL conicals using mink oil as a lube and again, shooting 60 grains of Pyrodex RS the group was very impressive. Of course the batteries in the camera died at this point.

I then changed targets to a new one, and repeated the test with moosemilk. The APP did not like moosemilk at all. The five shot group was much larger but a little higher on the target, just under the bull. Why, I have no idea.

The Pyrodex RS and the moose milk shot just about the same group, almost identical in fact, as the mink oil.

I then set some soda pop cans at 100 yards on the stumps. I had ran down the weeds earlier with the ATV. And with a scoped traditional rifle with that common twist of 1-48, if I set the cross hairs on the top of the can, they would disappear when I pulled the trigger.

Today told me a few things. Mink Oil is a good lube. BUT it melted to a liquid in the hot afternoon sunshine. But would be an excellent lube in the cooler months. Also this rifle and roundball loved the mink oil.

Also it confirmed some of my feelings about the old argument of inlines and traditional rifles. Where some claim the inline has such an advantage. Well with that scoped New Englander accuracy at 100 yards was exceptional. No animal would have been safe out at that distance. So the only advantage the inline might have is further distances like 150 yards, maybe not.. and of course the difference in the knock down ability of say a pistol bullet in a sabot and the old .54 caliber roundball. Accuracy was a matter of optics in my case. Since I shoot out to 100 yards very rarely.

Good report Dave. From what I've been reading lately there are more than a few shooters who have had accuracy issues with APP.
Being pretty new to PRB shooting (used to use only the prelubed patches by Ox Yoke years ago) I am on another learning curve. So far I've only used bore butter and Olive Oil as patch lubes. Both of these have worked very well but it looks like mink oil may deserve a try. As well as Liquid Wrench.

Dang it Cayugad. Get those camera batteries charged. I really would liked to have seen that REAL group. :D

Two weeks ago Lyman had the single cavity molds for 300 grain .54 REALs listed on their clearance page for $10. They had only one left, so of course I had to buy it. I doubt they will shoot well from my 1:70 twist barrel, but you never know.

That Pyrodex group is mighty fine. I've tried quite a few patch lubes, but never mink oil. I have a little shooting bag set up for each gun and just bought four bottles of Liquid Wrench so I could put one in each of the ball shooter's bags. That will tell you where I stand on patch lube right now. But it's so thin it would be about useless for conicals.

That is an impressive 5 shot group. I sure would have liked to see how much it opens up, if any, at 100 yards.

I think this set of batteries are about dead. You charge them and they go out in no time flat. But I would hate to think how many cycles they have ran through. The REAL 380 grain shot right around a inch and a half to two inch group. But it was six inches low for some reason. I am sure the 300 grain would shoot much better. Next time I cast I will make up some of them.

pluckit.. I get bored shooting paper. I'd shot well over twenty rounds and was going to quit. But was walking out to take down the target, drinking my favorite.. Diet Dr. Pepper and decided.. lets just walk that back to the 100 yard stumps. And then when I got started shooting them.. well it was a lot of fun. Like I said, I would lay that cross hair right on the top of the can, pull the trigger and when the smoke cleared.. it was gone.

I was tempted to push the bench back and see what that would do at 125 yards. Maybe next time. I don't think I would shoot a deer with a roundball at that distance. I know some do. And some even shoot elk with a round ball at that distance. But I'd really have to have a "perfect" shot.

That Tradition's scope was on sale for $49.95 and it has a lighted cross hair. There are 11 settings and you can make it as bright as you want or not at all. Kind of an impressive cheap scope. And 6x has plenty of magnification.

Maybe when Semisane gets that Vision that's on sale and puts a 4x Pro Diamond on it, he can try some real long range shooting with it.

:s2: Ain't gonna happen. I've already talked myself out of it. I checked the target files on my two in-lines and found I haven't shot the X-7 in the last six months, and the Mustang in almost two years. What would I do with anothr in-line? Dang, I've got to take that Mustang for a ride when the weather cools.

I am guilty of the same thing. I have some inlines that just never seem to get to the range. I know this was caused by the fast twist Green Mountain Barrels I purchased. They just seem to fill that void.

You know, I never thought about it that way. But I believe you are right.