36 cal flinter load??

[Bigmon]

Just finishing up a 36 cal flinter and have never had a rifle inder 50 cal before.
So wondering if ya can give me a good load to start with.
I realize the bore may vary?  It is a 36 cal Green Mt X 42" barrel so should be pretty consistant to other 36 cal GMt barrels?

My other rifle, a 54, I use 018 patching but think that might be heavy to work with in such a dainty bore?  Not much room in there.
And I assume FFFG powder?
But I dont know where to start on load size?
Thanks

[tddeangelo]

I have a 36 caliber with a Getz barrel with square rifling.

I started with 010 patches, 350 balls, and 15gr of 3f. The patches were coming out as ash.

Went to 015 patches and they are much better. I have some 018's to try but haven't had the chance to do it yet.

I shot 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35gr of 3f. 35 is where I got real close to where the sights are pointing out to 50 yards and accuracy was decent (cloverleafs at 25 and approx 1-1.5" at 50).

Groups at 25 were about 4" with the 010 patches.

The 015's were a little beat up yet, which is why I want to try 018's. I don't see 020's fitting without use of a hammer, but I think 018's will and I'm thinking it may be the winner. We shall see soon if I can carve out some range time.

Good luck on your load workup!

[smylee grouch]

I was shooting 40-45 gr. 3f with 20/1000 patch in my GM 36 and it shot fantastic.

[Joe Schell]

I've had good luck with 3 green mountain 36 barrels using 35 grains of 3fff , a .350 ball and walmart pillow ticking for patches.
Lighter loades shot ok but the groupes tightend up with a heavier load.

[Mike Brooks]

.350 ball, .018 pillow tick, wonder lube and 45gr 3FFF. Anything around that ought to work well.

[Bigmon]

Thanks ya'all.
And I think I have all that stuff here.  Even some balls I picked up off a blanket in anticipation.
REgards to all.

And thanks to those responsible for this web site

[tddeangelo]

I didn't venture above 35gr of powder. Maybe I should....

[TMerkley]

If you measure by the old standard of putting the ball in your hand and covering the ball with powder, it should be close to 1 grain per caliber.

[hanshi]

My best loads with .016" ticking patches were 30 grains of 3F.  I've now been using mattress ticking for a long time (.022") and 30 grains is still a good load.  Loads in this range are small game loads.  Try 40 to 55 grains increasing 5 grains at a time.  Loads in this range will put predators down DRT and increase the range.  The .36 spans from squirrels to critters just under deer size.

[rimfire]

What is the twist rate for your barrel. A slow twist usually will require a heavier charge to be accurate.

[little joe]

I have a Rice 36 and use a 350 ball and .022 patching and 30 grs of powder and it shoots quite well however am thinking about trying some other combo,s.

[Fyrstyk]

I have three 36 caliber guns.  All of them have 1:48" twist barrels of different lengths.  All three shoot their best groups with 35 grains of 3f, a .015 pillow ticking patch lubed with mink oil.  I usually get 1" groups at 25 yards about 1" high, and 1.5" groups at 50 yards that drop right on the mark.  My results at 75 yards (my personal limit) is about 1.5" low and about a 2-2.5" group.  I have taken several coyotes with this load out to 60 yards, and multiple squirrels.  I limit myself to head shots on the squirrels, as the 65 grain ball does quite a bit of damage with any body shots.

[Daryl]

.350 ball, .018 pillow tick, wonder lube and 45gr 3FFF. Anything around that ought to work well.

This is a good place to start if you want or need to shoot past 25 yards.   Less powder than that usually doesn't fair well at all at longer ranges as found on some (ours) trail walks.  You will be required to shoot a number of targets ranging from about 9 yards (string cut) to 110yards.

The load that shoots best at 100yards, will also shoot best at 25 to 50yards, however most ANY load will shoot well at 25.

Sight dead on at 25 yards and this will also give 'about' a 50 yard zero - close enough (usually only 1" high to 1" low @ 50) for reactive targets, like gongs.

A charge delivering 1,700fps, will give the following trajectory- or thereabouts.

Note, this chart is developed with the top of the front sight being 1/2" above the centre of the bore. Taller or shorter sights will increase or decrease the rise of the ball between the muzzle and the zero range. (point blank range)

Yards..Vel....Energy...Drop...Drift....TOF(sec)
0      1,700  414     -0.5    0.0     0.000
8      1613   372     -0.2    0.0     0.014
10     1578   355     -0.2    0.0     0.018
15     1502   322     -0.1    0.0     0.027
20     1419   288     -0.0    0.0     0.038
25     1354   262     0.0     0.0     0.048
30     1287   236     -0.1    0.0     0.060
35     1229   216     -0.2    0.0     0.072
40     1178   198     -0.4    0.0     0.084
45     1134   183     -0.6    0.0     0.097
50     1096   171     -1.0    0.0     0.111
75     971    135     -4.1    0.0     0.183
100    873    109     -10.3   0.0     0.265


Using 50gr. to 55gr. should run the speed up to about 2,000fps.
These loadings will  most likely will be more accurate, with a greased or oiled 'substancial' patch.
This will benefit slightly in reducing the drop at longer ranges.

Yards..Vel....Energy...Drop...Drift....TOF(sec)

0      2000   571     -0.5    0.0     0.000
2      1961   549     -0.4    0.0     0.003
4      1922   528     -0.4    0.0     0.006
6      1886   508     -0.3    0.0     0.009
8      1850   489     -0.3    0.0     0.012
10     1816   471     -0.2    0.0     0.015
15     1720   422     -0.1    0.0     0.024
20     1632   380     -0.0    0.0     0.033
25     1552   344     -0.0    0.0     0.042
30     1471   309     -0.0    0.0     0.052
35     1399   280     -0.1    0.0     0.062
40     1331   253     -0.2    0.0     0.073
45     1267   229     -0.4    0.0     0.085
50     1211   209     -0.6    0.0     0.097
75     1031   152     -3.2    0.0     0.165
100    922    121     -8.4    0.0     0.242

[tddeangelo]

I'll chime in that 35gr of 3F is fairly hard on squirrels. I'm sure goosing up the speeds will only increase the meat damage, lol.

[Daryl]

If you are only shooting to 20 yards, about ANY charge will stack the balls.  It's shots past 20 yards that need proper load development as the squib loads that shoot well out to 20yards, no longer have the accuracy for chest or head shots.

[hanshi]

I'll chime in that 35gr of 3F is fairly hard on squirrels. I'm sure goosing up the speeds will only increase the meat damage, lol.

I agree.  There have been reports of squirrels being killed when hit with this load. 

The obvious thing to do, of course, is to make sure no shots hit the body.  Barring a good view of the head, a mid-body hit doesn't damage anything important.  I've hit numerous squirrels with this shot using a .32 & 30 grains of 3F.  A .36 ball definitely will increase that damage.

[Mike Brooks]

Heavy loads aren't needed if you spend time and make sure your light load is actually accurate. I had a H.House .29 that shot 15gr 4ffff very well out to 50 yards which was plenty far enough for squirrel hunting.....I could actually see iron sights back then.

[tddeangelo]

I went up to 35 because that's where my gun shot POA, at least for minute of squirrel, to 50 yards.

I may go hotter just for kicks to see how it groups.

[Daryl]

Just remember, the smaller the caliber, the more quickly & higher the pressure increases. This pressure increase is not dangerous, just that the higher the pressure, the tighter the ball and patch combination has to be for the patch to retain it's integrity & prevent blowby.

Thus, a lower load with less pressure might shoot better than a stiffer load, if the combination of ball and patch is not "up to" the pressure generated - BUT - and a big BUT it is, if the ball and patch combination is up to snuff, the heavier load will likely be MUCH more accurate than the light load. 

Depends on what you need, doesn't it, shooting squirrels out to 50yards, or winning competitions with shots out to 110yards. Different strokes!