50 degrees and raining

[pilgrim]

   Went to the range to finally shoot Misfits refined sister.   That is the second .45 Kentucky rifle I have.  Iam not at all impressed with it,  BUT in all fairness I was not in my best form today.  Rain and hip arthritis just do not go well together.  But I was shooting from a bench rest at 50 yards.  I first shot 5 shots using  45 gr 3F with .015 prelubed  Oxyoke patches,  with a .440 rb.  Next I shot 5 shots with 45 gr 3F  and .445 rb  using the Oxyoke patch.  Then I decided to shoot   40 gr 3F  with a .020 patch lubed with Mink oil and a .440 rb.  Another 5 shot group.  Or so I thought.  I shot 4 shots and reloaded and fired and only the cap went o0ff, picked the nipple and  tried another cap,  still nothing.  Removed the drum screw and picked the  nipple and still nothing.  Apparently I dryballed,   yet,,  I  do not feel I did dryball.  Checked with the ram road,  still not sure what I did??   Either I DID  dry ball or there was crud build up from swabbing the barrel after every shot, that blocked up the breech and nipple and drum.  Got home,  went to remove the ball with the ball puller and NOTHING,  the ball is stuck.  So  I poured water down the barrel,  hoping to free up the mess. 

     Just returned from the garage.  I put the T end of the brass ramrod with the ball screw and yanked to ball out. 

    Overall,  I enjoyed myself at the range,  Need to do a lot of work to find  what this rifle likes.  The sad part is that when I shot the .440 rb with .020 cut at muzzle patch with mink oil and 40 gr 3F.  Out of 4 shots,  only one hit the lower edge of the paper.  I also had trouble with the rear sight reflecting,  but it could have been my eyes playing games,  again.    But at least I have a target I can sadly turn in for the Postal shoot, BUT will be shooting more this month.  Definitely NEED to shoot more.

[Hanshi]

  Pilgrim, One shot out of 5 on the edge of the target is a good day for me!  I'm planning to go out again Tuesday and shoot at least the offhand and the bench target.  It is and will be in the mid 90s Tuesday with the threat of rain in the afternoon.  Tuesday and Thursdays are the only days I can get out to shoot.  I'll take as much of the heat as I can stand (normal for my native Ga) but rain will chase me away.

[pilgrim]

    I am not pleased with this rifle.  I wasted  good $$$ on this piece of JUNK.  I figure the person who built it, put a lot of work into it to make it HIS rifle.  Even Crowned the   muzzle.  But apparently,  when not in use it became a wall hanger,  and my thought is that the person never got around to shooting it after the last time it was hung on the wall.  I sort of suspect the person may have passed and another family member, who knew nothing about the rifle,  decided to sell it for cash.  The first 8-12 inches of the barrel are heavily pitted.  This is what makes me think it was a wall hanger.  Would make sense that the front of the bore would be the part to be  most effected from humidity.    SO,  on to Plan B,   now I will use  valve grinding compound and try to smooth out the pitting.  What harm can be done??   The barrel is already trashed.   

    Today I shot with 40-45 grains of 3F,  and it shot 2"  low.  Maybe the front sight had been filed down for use with a stouter charge.  May try using 60 grains 3 F,  before going on to plan B

       

[Dogshirt]

Before you resort to valve grinding compound, you might want to look at this stuff.

https://www.frontiermuzzleloading.com/t9546-new-frontier-s-shoot-out-patch-lube-bore-enhancer

I have some that I haven't gotten to use yet, but if his claims (and photos) are true, it will be worth trying.

But it WON'T do anything about the rain. 

[old salt]

pilgrim  I would life you to send some of that rain. When I go out to mow all I can do spread the dandy lion seeds and stir up a lot dust and make neighbors mad

Old Salt

[pilgrim]

     I  have no complaint about the rain.  We can always use rain.  No rain, NO BEER  etc.  Besides,  I had the rifle range all to myself,  no other NUT  would be out shooting in that rain.

[Red Badger]

If you don't have one get one of them fancy CO₂ Ball discharger kits... I have one and am very popular at the rondies I go to - I am usually called to the firing line once or twice an event to use the kit on  a firearm :) even them big ol AMM folks will stoop to using it if their buddies arn't around...

[graybear]

Red Badger is correct (can't believe I said that). I've got one of the CO 2 Ball discharger kits sold by RMC-OXYOKE I've had somewhere around 8-10 yrs. Previously I used one from Thompson Center. They're the best thing since sliced bread. I on rare occasion will dryball. but usually I use it to blow out unfired loads after hunting. Fired over bare ground or road surface, I can usually recover the ball and put it w/ my lead to recast  when my supply of ball or R.E.A.L. bullets runs low. Scots-Irish so I AM cheap.

[beowulf]

Before you resort to valve grinding compound, you might want to look at this stuff.

https://www.frontiermuzzleloading.com/t9546-new-frontier-s-shoot-out-patch-lube-bore-enhancer

I have some that I haven't gotten to use yet, but if his claims (and photos) are true, it will be worth trying.

But it WON'T do anything about the rain. 

interesting idea , actually one I thought of about twenty years back , was told to forget it , and that I was crazy  , maybe I was`nt as nutty as I was told . if ,and , or when you get to try it , let us know how it works !

[Patocazador]

I have used Shoot Out and it works but it takes a lot of shots to smooth out a bore. It really seems best suited to smooth out machining irregularities in a new barrel. To use it on a pitted or rusty barrel will result in lots of wasted balls and powder.

JB Bore paste or Remington 40X bore cleaner used with a cleaning rod would be more the ticket. 0000 steel wool wrapped around a jag works too.

[pilgrim]

I have used Shoot Out and it works but it takes a lot of shots to smooth out a bore. It really seems best suited to smooth out machining irregularities in a new barrel. To use it on a pitted or rusty barrel will result in lots of wasted balls and powder.

JB Bore paste or Remington 40X bore cleaner used with a cleaning rod would be more the ticket. 0000 steel wool wrapped around a jag works too.

    I checked the video on the Shoot Out and also feel it is best used for new barrels.     I do have a bore brush that has 0000 steel wool wrapped around it.  Have used it before for another barrel.  So  I figure that with this setup and  valve grinding compound,  it will be a start.  Problem is,  only the first 12 inches are  pitted,  and if I just do the first 12 inches,  how will it effect the overall accuracy of the barrel??  But if I can smooth out some of the pitting, then I will need to clean the entire barrel with a several passes,  just to try to even things out.  Then go to the  JB Bore paste.

[flintboomer]

I have used white tooth paste to clean up a slightly rusty bore, but like valve grinding compound you need to be careful with it. I cleaned up one VERY RUSTY but not too badly pitted barrel with it followed by JB compound but I could never get that barrel to shoot. I have too many other choices and too little time to bother with that one. I should get rid of it but haven't.

[pilgrim]

I have used white tooth paste to clean up a slightly rusty bore, but like valve grinding compound you need to be careful with it. I cleaned up one VERY RUSTY but not too badly pitted barrel with it followed by JB compound but I could never get that barrel to shoot. I have too many other choices and too little time to bother with that one. I should get rid of it but haven't.

     Accuracy is a major concern of mine also.   Not sure what I will do.  And  I too have several other choices with which to shoot, that need to be shot.  Thinking on this Kentucky rifle,  I could always do as "Dryball"  would do.  Instead of a 33 1/2" barrel,  it would have a  21 1/2 inch barrel.  Probably best to just use it as a Wall Hanger and not waste any  time or $$ on it.   And shoot what I know is in excellent  shape and is begging to be shot.

[old salt]

pilgrim  I would life you to send some of that rain. When I go out to mow all I can do spread the dandy lion seeds and stir up a lot dust and make neighbors mad

Old Salt

pilgrim I do not know if you are the who is responsible or not but we got almost 3" of rain last night. So thanks.

[pilgrim]

pilgrim  I would life you to send some of that rain. When I go out to mow all I can do spread the dandy lion seeds and stir up a lot dust and make neighbors mad

Old Salt

pilgrim I do not know if you are the who is responsible or not but we got almost 3" of rain last night. So thanks.

      We  just went through a bit of what you had.   Very strong winds followed by severe  thunder storms. When I got home from work the power was off.  Just came back on a bit ago.   But  we can always use rain,  just do not like stong winds as trees get uprooted and take down power lines etc.

      I am glad that you finally got some much needed rain.   Now you can go out and cut the grass.  I do not know about you,  but I am sick of having to cut the grass twice as week.  Bring back winter.  NO GRASS CUTTING.