More powder

[hudson]

I shoot allot of silhouette so my findings are related to that. I use a heavy charge in my .54 with I in 70 twist. I have played with a ballistic program (now gone) and the relationship of velocity and rotation (rpm). I found that Accuracy with 65 gr. 2f is good at 50 yards but has drops of about an inch in group size at around 80 + - yards think the ground hogs. As I only have access to a 100 yard range I was able to calculate with increasing the charge to 110 gr. it gave me the same velocity as about 75 yards therefore similar rpm at 175 yards. Yes those nasty turkeys at Friendship and it worked. I keep it simple and use 110 from 100 yards on.

[Dphariss]

I shoot allot of silhouette so my findings are related to that. I use a heavy charge in my .54 with I in 70 twist. I have played with a ballistic program (now gone) and the relationship of velocity and rotation (rpm). I found that Accuracy with 65 gr. 2f is good at 50 yards but has drops of about an inch in group size at around 80 + - yards think the ground hogs. As I only have access to a 100 yard range I was able to calculate with increasing the charge to 110 gr. it gave me the same velocity as about 75 yards therefore similar rpm at 175 yards. Yes those nasty turkeys at Friendship and it worked. I keep it simple and use 110 from 100 yards on.

At 175 yards s 54 will be well under 1000 fps. At 1900 mv Lyman BP Handbook shows 858. 2100 mv is 908. It took 43” barrel and 140 gr of FFF G-O to make 2100. 110 FFF G-O (Gearhart-Owen) 1824. I have a 38” barreled flint in 54 that makes about 1900 with 100 gr of FFF Swiss.

 The rotational RPM will not degrade significantly. At most a few percentage points. If it falls apart at 80 yards it likely does not do well at any range. But it requires multiple multi-shot targets from from a consistent rest or machine rest  to prove in some cases.

[Dphariss]

I have a Kibler Colonial 54 that makes mid 1600s velocity with 66 gr of FFF Swiss. Don’t remember checking it with 90 gr.

[Dphariss]

This is a 535 RB launched at 1800 fps.

This is why 1000 yard shots with the typical ML rifle are impossible falling  about 39 ft from 975 to 1000 Time of flights, assuming they are correct, show that even to 400 yards TOF is less than 1.5 seconds. So there is not much time a RB to bleed off much of the 185814 rpm rotational speed. Which is for a 70” twist at 1800 fps.  With a 48 twist its 27000. Formula is MV X 720 / twist in inches. 48” makes 27000.

This table is generated with a ballistics app on my iphone called “Shooter”. it is dead on for my modern stuff. But I don’t shoot a ML far enough to really need it.

[Daryl]

The program I have on my computer is adjustable, "on the fly", which instantly shows how changes effect the trajectory.
With it and showing the trajectory over yardage, it is possible to project the maximum range by changing the zeros at any
"proposed"velocity.
Using this charting system, I was able to show that my .69's moose load has a maximum range of about 600yards, on a perfectly flat/level range.
Of course, if the angle was slanting upwards, the maximum range would be less and conversely, longer on a downward slant. Smaller calibres
plugged into the program showed less maximum range than the .69, even though 1,550fps was the figure used for it.
Now, that is the computer program's projected absolute maximum ball travel, certainly not it's accuracy range.

[smylee grouch]

More powder was the title of this post and a switch from GO to Swiss and a bump up to 110 Swiss from 100 GO got my groups back to small size again . the 100 Go group was good at 130  but fell apart by 150. When I switched to the Swiss load and the velocity increased the groups shrunk. Can I assume the ROS of the bullet also increased or didn't   slow as much with that increase in velocity?

[Bob Roller]

Dpharris has an interesting point when he said 25 yards possible group can be seen.I haven't shot black powder for years and still think the only reason for 25 yards with a RIFLE is a waste of powder and caps plus lead.Primitive sights may also contribute to close range shots as well.I haven't bought powder or caps for years and the poster that gave the name of SCAMDEMIC should copyright it. .
I would like to make another long range 451 but now with my wife's inoperable knee the chance of making one is not good and even a lock is doubtful.These rifles and the muzzle loading Schuetzen Rifles are my personal favorites.I made a New York style with a Hoyt barrel years ago and it was a 38 and I trades a German style cap lock and trigger to Ken Breseine for another 38 but sold it later because the flintlocks
I was making for target pistols took all my shop time.
Bob Roller