T/C .58 cal Big Bore!
I got to go to the range this past Wednesday...and it has taken me until TODAY to write it up!
I took both my Lyman .54 Great Plains Rifle flintlock and T/C .58 cal Big Bore to the range. Both rifles are USED but are new to ME!
The GPR came to me with fiber optic aftermarket sights on it I guess installed by the original owner. I don't care for such sights on traditional rifles so I contacted Lyman concerning some replacements of the originals and they got them to me in short order. Boy do I hate removing/installing iron sights! Talk about a pain in the A$$! I got 'em on there and eyeballed them as best I could. I set up targets at 30 and 60 yards and got the GPR set up to shoot first. I used Swiss fffg in the pan and Swiss ffg down the barrel with a Hornady .530 ball and .018 pillow ticking patch.
You know...Lyman Great Plains Hunter/Rifles are sure nice looking rifles IMO. I think they are about as close as one can get to "the way it was back then." They just look great!
I swabbed with a clean dry patch and fired one squib load then loaded up with 80gr ffg Swiss and fffg in the pan. That 60yd target was just sitting there and I decided what the heck...I'll just shoot the first shot at it. Low and behold I HIT it! I continued to shoot five more shots without even so much as TOUCHING the SIGHTS! Swabbing between shots with Ballistol/water, I shot a pretty good group if I do say so myself! Group was about like the one I shot with the Traditions Hawkin Woodsman F/L but certainly not as good as my T/C PA Hunter FL will shoot! :wink:
More than likely...this rifle will be the next rifle I shoot a hog with...I'll play with loads a little bit(may even try some WANO) but I feel like the patch/ball fit was about RIGHT! Average velocity for the above load was 1706fps which is pretty much hauling a$$!
Next up was the T/C Big Bore .58! Boy was I EXCITED to shoot this rifle! The person I bought it from said he didn't think it had even been shot. I looked at all areas and IF it's been shot..it hasn't been shot much! I figured if it HAD been shot...it should be pretty close at 60yds so I changed targets and decided to shoot the 60yd target again. I loaded up with a .570 Hornady RB/.015 Wonderpatch and again 80gr ffg Swiss. THIS time I wasn't so lucky! It didn't hit the target. So I swabbed and loaded up again and took a crack at the 30yd target and just BARELY hit the top left corner! With the sight adjustment THAT far off it is hard for me to believe this rifle has ever been shot! I moved the rear sight a good bit lower and to the right and got it shooting thru the bull at 30yds then shot at 60yds. AGAIN just hitting the top left corner. I shot three shots and moved the sight after each shot THEN shot four shots without touching the sights. I was NOT pleased with the group!
At 60yds they SHOULD have all been no larger than the bull at WORST. This rifle is going to need some more work...ball/patch fit was tight and seemed to be just right! I WILL admit that the barrel was getting pretty HOT! AGAIN... I'll try a different powder charge and may try some WANO blackpowder. At least I have the sights close for next time! Average velocity for the 278gr roundball was 1482 fps.
I got to go to the range this past Wednesday...and it has taken me until TODAY to write it up!
I took both my Lyman .54 Great Plains Rifle flintlock and T/C .58 cal Big Bore to the range. Both rifles are USED but are new to ME!
The GPR came to me with fiber optic aftermarket sights on it I guess installed by the original owner. I don't care for such sights on traditional rifles so I contacted Lyman concerning some replacements of the originals and they got them to me in short order. Boy do I hate removing/installing iron sights! Talk about a pain in the A$$! I got 'em on there and eyeballed them as best I could. I set up targets at 30 and 60 yards and got the GPR set up to shoot first. I used Swiss fffg in the pan and Swiss ffg down the barrel with a Hornady .530 ball and .018 pillow ticking patch.
You know...Lyman Great Plains Hunter/Rifles are sure nice looking rifles IMO. I think they are about as close as one can get to "the way it was back then." They just look great!
I swabbed with a clean dry patch and fired one squib load then loaded up with 80gr ffg Swiss and fffg in the pan. That 60yd target was just sitting there and I decided what the heck...I'll just shoot the first shot at it. Low and behold I HIT it! I continued to shoot five more shots without even so much as TOUCHING the SIGHTS! Swabbing between shots with Ballistol/water, I shot a pretty good group if I do say so myself! Group was about like the one I shot with the Traditions Hawkin Woodsman F/L but certainly not as good as my T/C PA Hunter FL will shoot! :wink:
More than likely...this rifle will be the next rifle I shoot a hog with...I'll play with loads a little bit(may even try some WANO) but I feel like the patch/ball fit was about RIGHT! Average velocity for the above load was 1706fps which is pretty much hauling a$$!
Next up was the T/C Big Bore .58! Boy was I EXCITED to shoot this rifle! The person I bought it from said he didn't think it had even been shot. I looked at all areas and IF it's been shot..it hasn't been shot much! I figured if it HAD been shot...it should be pretty close at 60yds so I changed targets and decided to shoot the 60yd target again. I loaded up with a .570 Hornady RB/.015 Wonderpatch and again 80gr ffg Swiss. THIS time I wasn't so lucky! It didn't hit the target. So I swabbed and loaded up again and took a crack at the 30yd target and just BARELY hit the top left corner! With the sight adjustment THAT far off it is hard for me to believe this rifle has ever been shot! I moved the rear sight a good bit lower and to the right and got it shooting thru the bull at 30yds then shot at 60yds. AGAIN just hitting the top left corner. I shot three shots and moved the sight after each shot THEN shot four shots without touching the sights. I was NOT pleased with the group!
At 60yds they SHOULD have all been no larger than the bull at WORST. This rifle is going to need some more work...ball/patch fit was tight and seemed to be just right! I WILL admit that the barrel was getting pretty HOT! AGAIN... I'll try a different powder charge and may try some WANO blackpowder. At least I have the sights close for next time! Average velocity for the 278gr roundball was 1482 fps.
