I got the #57 sight in yesterday's mail and installed it on the .54 Lyman flinter. I lined it up with the existing iron sights but just a tad higher.
I did a bit of experimenting with this rifle today as far as the loading process which I will explain later.
I shot the first target with the 100 gr charge of FFg under an over powder wad and .530" RB with .018" pillow tick patch/bore butter lube. Shots 1 and 2 as you can see were touching. Then shot 3 went a bit high.
The next target everything was the same except the charge was 90 gr of FFFg. This shows promise but I am going to continue load work.
Now for the loading sequence. I started out swabbing the bore with and alcohol patch and dry patch to get the oil out of the bore. Then dumped the powder. I tapped the stock in the area of the grip about 4 times wit the muzzle up. Then a large paperclip inserted into the touch hole. Filled the pan with FFFFg. Following the shot, I swabbed the bore with a damp spit patch both sides and a dry patch both sides. Using this process, the only miss fires I had was when the flint got fouled and needed to be wiped. I wasn't too concerned about this as it is nothing that would happen during a hunting situation. And it also showed that I wasn't flinching or coming off target on the bags.
One more thing. I tried the 90 gr charge @ 100 yds and it resulted in about a 6"-7" group. Not very impressive. Rifle needs more work. I may try some .535" balls next time out as the .530" ball was snug but not really tight. (not as tight as a sabot/bullet combo in my other rifles)
This evening's project is to prepare some more patch strips.

You should try 110gr 3f goex, my GPR FL loved that with a 530 round ball and .018" patch.

Looking good Bronko. I think down the road with load development you will find your best load shoots best without a wad. That's been the case in all of my round ball shooters, though I still use a dry felt wad for a hunting load that will sit in the barrel for hours. I also think that barrel will show continuous improvement over the first 100-200 shots.

Here are a couple of targets I shot using bear grease for a lube.

Still work to be done.






I still need to get some more shotting in with my 54. It just got way too hot out there with wayyyyyyy to many mosquitos, black flies and deer flies out there!!! They turn target shooting into a bloodsport!

HA

You're getting about the same results as I am HuntAway. For some reason, my MLs rarely put the first shot from a clean barrel out of the group. Wife and I are heading to the drive-in tonight and she wants to stop at Walmart. I just may take up Semisane's suggestion and buy a bottle of Liquid Wrench for a lube.
From what he says it is a lot less messy than bore butter, olive oil or bear grease. Anyway, bear grease is too hard to find this time of year. I did come across a couply piles of bear droppings earlier today though. I wonder if that would work and can I get any offers from someone to lube some patches for me. Ah, but then I will have to wear rubber gloves to load my rifle! Nevermind.