I got everything put back together and the ramrod finished today, so I took the gun out for a spin at my range. I posted a thread on this rifle in the gun building forum:
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=46527.msg457636#msg457636In light of another topic I read here recently, I would like to confess up front that I used square-ish patches for this session, cut with my patch knife from a strip of cloth. I tried one store bought round patch but found it too small to easily get the ball positioned properly. I also cut one at the barrel but I think I am too clumsy to make that enjoyable.
Recovered patch:
First I fired a couple of test shots at 20 yards to see if I would even hit the target, starting with 40 then 45 grains of Goex 3f. Both shots were close to dead on so I got a fresh target and moved it to 30 yards. There are 8 shots on this target, shot from a rest - all were 50 grains of Goex 3f, .015 patch and a .395 ball. Never had to touch the sights! The low shot was the round patch, not sure if I just shot low or it was because of the patch. The high shot was the first one I fired. No wiping between shots.
It was getting late by the time I got the eight shots in. I took the target down then from a rest and using the same load I shot a gong at 50 yards, then 100 yard, and rang them both. After that I shot one freehand at the 50 yard gong and rang it as well. I think it will be a shooter! That grouping about as good as I can expect with my eyes and open sights. It should scare a squirrel anyways.
The strangest thing was I fired 5 of the shots with Lehigh Valley lube, and the last three with Hoppes #9 BP lube, as well as the three gong shots. I never before had those two lubes put balls in the same grouping as each other - one usually shoots quite different from the other.
Here is my setup at the range:
Thanks for looking!
Curtis
