I have too many muzzleloaders, but that is the way it is. One that I picked up cheap is a lovely Lyman .50 Trade Rifle in flintlock configuration. It had red and green inserts on the front and rear sights that were not to my liking. I ordered a primitive rear and blade front sight from Lyman and installed them. I took the rifle to the range today and was shooting at 50 yards. My buddy was spotting for me and was impressed at how well the rifle shot. I let him shoot patched roundballs ahead of 90 grs. FFG and he was putting rounds in the bull. He could not believe how much fun a muzzleloader can be at the range. I saved the target and gave it to him. He plans to put it up in his office in New York City (he works with non-shooters).

This fellow normally shoots high powered rifle matches with an AR15, M1 Garand or M1A. I can see a muzzleloader in his future. All the best...
Gil

Gil,
It is always great to intro a person to a new venture in shooting. Best part about the ML guns is you can spend all day shooting and not expend a pile of ammo or money. The outing makes for a great social event. I am sure your buddy will remember the day for a long, long time.
Ed

Here ya go! I just stumbled onto something that I would like to pass on to all of you! As I'm sure you remember, there was a long discussion on "PowerBelt Bullets". I went out yesterday to shoot a bit and to test a few tricks from the past & current. Well to say my trip was worthwhile is an understatement!

I was shooting my inline & percussion 50s and tried an old accuracy trick from yesteryear, I had found 2 hornet nests this summer and with a bit of planning and LOTS OF DIVINE INTERVENTION I was able to take possession from the original owners ! Hornet nest material has been used for eons as a buffer to prevent patch burning.

Well I loaded with my loose Pyrodex load of 110gr topped with @ 4 layers of hornet nest material, then my 295 gr PowerBelt with the cup filled with Wonder Lube. I also use TCs lube or the Remington. They all smell like wintergreen. Well my 50 yd group of 5 shots were all touching and my previous best of 2" at 75 yards for 5 shots shrunk to just over 1 1/4" for the smallest and the worst was just over 1 3/4". This just made my day as the best that I ever got in the past was 2". I gave it a go at 100 with the peep sights and shot a 2" group of 3 shots.

With this loading all I did was to run a patch with lube worked into the patch down the bore after each 5 shot group, this did not change the impact point more than a 1/4" from the point of aim and the other 4 shots grouped with this shot to constitute the 5 shot group.

BY JOVE, I THINK I GOT IT!!!!!

P.S. - Use CAUTION in obtaining Hornet Nests, the occupants may become slightly agitated upon being EVICTED!!!

Flint,
That must put you in line for some kind of reloader of the year award. Great Scott, beating the hornets out of a nest to try a load, is a bit stronger than tweaking the seating depth of a bullet at the reloading bench.

Just keep the meat tenderizer handy if you run out of wad material in the future.
Ed

I have used a cotton ball as a buffer in my hunting loads for my .54 flintlock for years, it is a little easier to obtain than the traditional hornets nest. I use 100 grains of Goex 3F followed by a cotton ball and then a patched round ball. The cotton ball has to be seated on the powder before loading the patched ball,if not the cotton ball will make it next to impossible to seat the projectile. I saw a definite increase in accuracy using a buffer. I have never tried a buffer with a conical projectile though.

Flint54,

Now that is a true muzzleloader!!!

Gil,
I am working with Lyman .50 and .54 flintlocks for the upcoming season. Just got my doe tag for the area I wanted. Take care...
Joe