52 caliber bore

[algentry1]

Hello. I just got an old school heavy flintlock rifle in 52 caliber. I've mostly used .015 soft cotton patching with animal grease and cast round balls. For some reason, probably old age, I don't know what size ball to start with. I would be grateful for any advice if anybody has had a .52, or just good advice.
It has a single leaver double set trigger. Took me a week to figure out you have to set the trigger before you can cock it..
Thanks in advance.

[Ted Kramer]

For hunting, I’ve had success with a .509” ball and .018” ticking patch lubed with Track’s mink oil in my .52. For target matches I use the same ball/patch combo and get the patches damp with either saliva or a liquid patch lube.
Ted K

[smylee grouch]

Yep, I had a 52 and I shot a 530 ball and 20\1000 Teflon patch all loaded through a false muzzle. In your case I would slug the bore and work from there.

[Daniel Coats]

What do you mean by Old School? Is this a 50 year old gun or a 250 year old gun? Might bring into question safety and lots of other questions. Might just be 52 caliber at the muzzle. Can you post more pictures?

[New Fowler]

I watched that gun for a few months on guns international hoping someone would buy it so I didn't have to. I think Ted's advice is sound. Could you post some more pictures of the muzzle for us? Might give the members here an easier time in recommending loads for you.

[Daryl]

Our standard load of ball and patch is pretty much out go-to for all guns. That is a ball .005" under bore size and a 10 ounce denim patch.
Some guns will shoot OK with an 8 ounce denim patch, we measure at .018" to .019" thou, with the 10 ounce denim measuring .021" to .022".
These are compressed in calipers measurements, with the tine of the calipers squeezed on the material as hard as we can between forefinger and thumb.
The muzzle's crown should be filed out, both lands and grooves to larger size, or the rifle's muzzle smoothly crowned as shown, with emery or wet/dry paper
by the thumb treatment.
The top barrel's muzzle shown is mine. The others are from other members of this forum. The smoothness of this rounded crown, allows snug combinations to forum
into the muzzle, without cutting the patch. This allows combinations that actually seal the flame and pressure behind the ball, allowing constant loading and shooting
without having to wipe the bore. In other words, the rifles shoot quite cleanly, as there is never more than 1 shot's fouling in the bore and it is WET or damp, to allow
it to be wiped from the bore and pushed down onto the next powder charge, to be fired out with the next shot. No, it does not 'foul' the powder as proved by close shot
to shot velocities.

[Hungry Horse]

Hey, Smylee Grouch I am not much of a math wizard but it seems to me a .530 ball is gonna have a struggle in a .520 bore way before you add the patching. Please explain.

Hungry Horse

[algentry1]

Hey, folks 
 
I just meant by old school, that it's completely hand made. I don't know how to tell about the barrel, but I think the maker Lewis was known in the 1970s for doing things the way they were done in the Colonies. Lewis is new to me and I would love to know all there is to know about him. I bought the rifle because it looked like something out of "Rifles in Colonial America"

I'll try to get a muzzle picture.

[Daniel Coats]

Oh good it's modern steel safe to shoot and not a pipe bomb. Good looking rifle.

[algentry1]

Oh good it's modern steel safe to shoot and not a pipe bomb. Good looking rifle.

Thank you.

[Daryl]

Now, is .520 the bore or groove diameter?
Some people get those two diameters mixed up.
.520 is an odd size for a bore on a modern made rifle barrel, but what could be the case, is a
a .50 cal. rifle barrel with .010" deep rifling. That would have a .520" groove dia.

[algentry1]

Now, is .520 the bore or groove diameter?
Some people get those two diameters mixed up.
.520 is an odd size for a bore on a modern made rifle barrel, but what could be the case, is a
a .50 cal. rifle barrel with .010" deep rifling. That would have a .520" groove dia.

I just dropped my coning tool in the bore, scribed a line around it and put a caliper on it just below the line. It's not a 50. The seller told me it's a 52. I think Lewis made his own barrels. Lots of 52s in the Colonies. This thing was made with hammers and files. I don't believe it's a commercially made barrel.
I met Mr. Lewis' grandson on line, and I'm going to talk with him.

[Daryl]

Well, I guess that answers that question.
www.ballmoulds.com in the UK will.make any size round ball mould you want. The mould will be made of brass and will fit normal handles.
I have 5 "sets"of these moulds myself, .595, .677", .705, .724 & .740".
Lyman makes a .508" mould.
I think my bro still has this mould. He might part with it, but maybe not. I'll ask him.
.508 is about .012 " undersized to the bore & might be why Lyman has that size. It is not a rin of the mill size as there are VERY few .52 calibre barrels on rifles today.
We normally use moulds that are only .005" under bore size and with .020 to .022" patches.

[New Fowler]

Track of the Wolf sells .509 diameter roundballs you could buy if you don't want to cast. They also sell .515 diameter balls if you want a tighter fit in the bore, or they sell .500 balls if you need a looser fit.

[algentry1]

Hi folks

I ordered some .515 round balls from Track of the Wolf. They didn't have any .509 in stock right now. The fact that it's a 52 is what drew my attention. I think it's a target rifle that Mr. Lewis made for his own use. It has 1 in 72 twist. My daughter says I have to offer it to his grandson.
I have 4 flintlock long guns currently, including a 62 cal smooth rifle, a 36 cal James Turpin Southern Mountain rifle that I got from mister Turpin, and a trusty Pedersoli 54 cal blue ridge rifle. Plus this Lewis one. I bought my first black powder gun in 1971, an early 2nd generation Colt 1851 Navy, and it was all downhill from there. I love the smell of Sulfur in the morning. I really appreciate the information especially regarding mold makers. I just want to add that this is a very nice place to visit. It's been a long time since I had anybody to listen to who really knew their stuff about flint guns, and were calm and respectful of one another. Thank you.