Conical In A GPR?
 

I'm ok shooting a PRB for muley's. I'm not ok shooting a .50 PRB for elk. It might work, but it might not too.

So, i'm not interested in getting another barrel for elk. I thought maybe I could get a conical working in the 1-60 barrel.

The obvious first choice is the PA Conical 240gr. Anybody try these in a GPR? Slow twist reviews only please.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/730...rain-box-of-50

My next choice I was thinking about is a shorter maxi ball in 275gr. Anybody try these?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/969...c=S016ID730932

Muley, I have a box of the PA conicals and I can send you 10 or so to try. Send me a pm with your name and address and I will get them out to you. The PA conical was made specifically for shooting out of a slow twist so they may work out good for you.

I'll do that bud, but I just found out that Hornady is discontinuing the bullet. No demand anymore. Not even in PA. I guess they can use any bullet in flint season. What a shame.

If they work. There 's plenty of stock left to buy out.

Curious, where did you here about the discontinuing of the PA conical?

Hornady said it. Inline shooters don't use them, and they are PA Conicals. They don't have use them either anymore.

I'm talking about the majority not using them. They still sell some, but I guess not enough to justify making them anymore.

Slow twist ML shooter are in a very small minority now. Most of us will be shooting a PRB. Hornady sells lots of those. :)

Even though you aren't interested, a 54 cal 1:32 barrel to drop in is a better option. Mine shoots the 425 gr hornady Gp bullet with superb accuracy.

You're right. I'm not interested.

I know the limitations of a PRB, and I accept them. I wish others would feel the same. No matter what the weapon.

Here's a post I just read on another forum. It echos how I feel. Don't take this personally. It's aimed at everybody.




"For me, at least, a big part of the fun of blackpowder is getting close. If I want to snipe at game from the next county, I'll buy a sniper rifle, I guess. Blackpowder -- especially traditional blackpowder -- is an intentional handicap, much as is a handgun, a bow, or even a spear or knife, for the intrepid gentlemen who choose that route. Intentionally handicapping yourself and then ignoring those handicaps doesn't make any sense to me.

I personally think that trying to push the limits of your choice of weapons is a poor practice, whether it's a 500 yard rifle shot, a 150 yard revolver shot, or a 50 yard bow shot. Few if any of us are subsistence hunters, and placing game animals at significant risk of lingering, painful death simply to satisfy our egos or need for entertainment is, well, a bad thing."

These should fit your bill.



http://www.prbullet.com/shop/product....php?sSKU=0103

I tried them in my .50 GPR flintlock. The accuracy wasn't all that great but I really didn't give them a fair ringing out. They come 12 per pkg. At 50 yd I was getting a 6 inch group. I'm sure with a caplock you could tighten that up.

HA

Mine is a flint, but it all doesn't matter now. I found what I was looking for.

Greenmtnboy is a friend of mine. I should have asked him. I always thought he shot bigger calibers.

I'll be sticking to a PRB.


http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fu...hp?tid/212140/

A little inconsistency there Muley. :s2:

You wish others would accept the limitations of a PRB, :lolabove:

yet you're looking for something heavier yourself. :biggrin:

I don't blame you. Why use a .50 ball for elk when there are better projectiles more suited to the task.

Semi,
I wasn't sure about the power of a PRB for elk. I would still have used the same limitations for a conical. Just a little more insurance is all.

Lets face it. My limitation is the iron sights with my eyesight. Not the bullet.

With that said. Even when I had great vision (much younger), and using a 30-06. I still shot close.

Nothing inconsistent about me. I always shoot well below what my weapon is capable of, because I love getting close. More challenge. More fun. However, even getting close. I still want to know my weapon has enough power to make a humane shot. I wasn't sure about the .50 PRB. I am now.

Keep it close and put it where it belongs and all will be good.:happy0001:

HA

[QUOTE=Muley Hunter;3913581]You're right. I'm not interested.

QUOTE]

A drop in 54 barrel in 1:32 is better than a 270:biggrin::biggrin:

[QUOTE=1874sharpsshooter;3913659]Debatable. :p

I think that trying to shoot a projectile that your barrel isn't designed for is what I would call "pushing the limits".
If you are going to shoot conicals get a barrel or gun designed to do that. It will work best at whatever range you will be shooting at.
Of course if you are going to be stubborn.... then the shortest conical you can find that is sized for your barrel is what would most likely work best in that slow twist barrel.
Just my Opinion

Have you read the thread?

Twice.
In my opinion length of shot is not the only way to push the limits of something. With the wrong bullet for the barrel 25 yards could be too long of a shot.
Lyman makes it easy, all you have to buy is a drop in barrel.

I just don't know why you called me stubborn when I said I was going to shoot a PRB? I didn't buy the GPR to shoot conicals, or I would have bought the GPH. Once I found out the .50 PRB is fine for elk. I was satisfied I bought the right gun.

btw If you measure a PA conical you'll see the length is well within a 1-60 twist barrel.

Sorry den, I hope they shoot great for you.

Otay...........

I would bet that the Buffalo Ball-ets will shoot lights out out of that slow twist barrel. Time will tell. They will be in the mail tomorrow.

Thanks buddy. I have a problem though. I Googled my brains out, and I can't find any info on new stock ball-ets being sold. Are they still being made? I'd hate to like them, and then not be able to buy them.

REAL bullets would come close to the length of the PA bullets. You just never know what that twist will shoot until you give it a go. My 1:48 twists arent supposed to be shooting a 454gr conical the way they do.

My problem with the REAL bullets is they always loaded too loose. Those were in TC sidelocks though. Not sure about the GPR?

As far as I know the only thing close to the Buffalo's is the Hornady PA's. I thought the Buffalo's were discontinued. ??? There is also the Keiths availble from PR Bullets but they are longer than the Buffalo Ball-ets.

Buffalo Maxi Ball-et 270 gr .643" lg
Buffalo Ball-et 245 gr .563" lg
Ultimate 1 Keith HP 300 gr .735" lg


HA

My REAL mould throws them at .517
Is Your 50 cal barrel is bigger than .517?
Ron

The gun is on the way to me still. Maybe a couple of days it should be here.

It better not be .517. A PRB will fall through. That seems big Ron. What size it your barrel?

I have 245 grain Buffalo Bullet Ball-ets. Do you think they would shoot well? I can't remember trying them. But might give them a shot tomorrow. I have a 50 with a 1-66 twist.

Give them a try. I'd like to see how they do. Don't you have a GPR .50?

I thought you had one of everything? :)

Muley, if your ranges aren't going to be too long you could always load with two patched balls and double the weight you're putting on target. At 50 yards two balls will usually hit within an inch and a half of each other.

Not fond of that idea. :confused:

I have a 50 caliber Green Mountain Barre with 1-70 twist. I also have a Traditions Flintlock with a 1-66 twist. And a Traditions Woodsman with a 1-48 twist, so I will test them tomorrow. Its supposed to snow tomorrow and its always fun to shoot in the snow.

Any powder charge suggestion you want tried?

I'll be using Goex 2f. Try that if you have some. No idea what grain load. See what works for you.

Thanks.

I agree about the snow. As long as it's not too cold and windy.

Long standing practice, and safe if loaded properly. T/C's early owner's manuals provided loading data for double ball loads. Surely you've heard of "loaded for bear". If I recall correctly, double ball loads were used on occasion by the Lewis & Clark expedition.

Yes, i've read about it, but I assumed they did it, because all they had were round balls. We have more choices now, and frankly.....I don't want to shoot 350gr of lead with enough powder to push them.

If I was back in 1830, and had no other choice. I'd do it.

Were the double ball loads done with a smoothbore? I would worry that in a rifled barrel, the second might be an obstruction.

MH... I will try 85grains. I know the 270 grain don't shoot out of slow twist.

With rifled barrels, often with the same powder charge as the single ball load. Each ball is patched separately. First one is loaded sprue down and second one loaded sprue up.

Have you tried this Semi?

Myself and a friend use double balls in a 45 deer hunting for years, it works quite well if done right. You have to patch both balls I filed the spure off mine he loaded his first down last up. We both tried a lot of loads before we were sure we had the best one our loads were a bit below the regular load for PRB in that gun. The way we determined what load was best was by how close together the balls hit at 50 yds, we considered side by side edges touching as ideal but did not achieve that on a regular bases.

As interesting as that sounds, I just don't think I could make myself do that.