New Balls

[Wyoming Mike]

This has nothing to do with surgery. 

I have a Bondini .54 Hawken pistol that I shoot on those times that someone talks me into a pistol match.  I have been using the same balls I use in my Santa Fe, a .520 with a .028 canvas patch.  Last month I wondered what a .530 would do in the pistol.  I borrowed a friends mold ran about 100 balls.

Yesterday I went to the range.  I put on a 5 1/2" stick on bull on a large piece of paper and put it a 25 yards.  I was using my shooting box to rest the pistol.  I started out with some .010 linen patches.  It sprayed the shots around in a 5" group.  I next tried some .015 ticking and got the same result.   I then tried the .022 ticking I use in a lot of my rifles.  Wow!  I put six shots into about an inch and a half group about 1 inch below the aiming point.  It was just a big ragged hole.

I ended up with a load of 20 grains of 3F, .530 ball and .022 ticking patch.  I definitely that when I shoot the pistol in a match, any spray will be due to me and not the pistol.

The day was so nice that I decided to do some offhand practice with my .50 Tennessee.  I had recently went to a .495 ball and had benched it a couple of weeks before and was pleased with the results. 

Someone had left a Redfield target up at 50 yards when they left.  It only had a couple .22 holes in it so I used it.  At 50 yards I was a little wobbly but could call where the shots were landing.  The balls were going right where the sights were at when the rifle went off.  Someone else had left a paper with four 2" orange stickers on it at 25 yards.  One of the sticker was still pristine so I decided to try that.  I put four shots touching about a quarter inch high of the center in the orange.  The fifth shot was an inch to the right of the group but still in the orange.

Now all I have to do is do that at a match for some decent bragging rights.

[Red]

Mike

I have a few questions about your Bondini pistol load.  How difficult was it to start the ball in the muzzle with that tight of a patch/ball combo, .530/.022 ?  Do you use a small mallet or has the muzzle been slightly coned for easier loading?  What type of a loading stand do you use?  I have a Thompson Center Patriot and use a typical "L" shaped loading stand that contacts the barrel and the butt of the pistol.  I have read of a few accounts about cracked pistol stocks.  The shooters blamed either their tight load or their loading stand.  My load is a .440 ball with pillow ticking an is fairly tight.  I have varied my powder charge from 15 FFF to 30 FFF.  My benched group is about 3" at best.  I feel I should be able to do better.  I am reluctant to try a tighter load for fear of splitting the stock of my pistol.  Any loading tips will be appreciated and tried at my own risk.  Thanks.

[Wyoming Mike]

The Bondini is "as is" from the factory.  The patch ball combination is what I would call snug not real tight.  It takes a smack on the short starter to start it but goes down easily after that.  The combination has about the same tightness that I use in my rifles.

At the bench I use a loading stand I won somewhere years ago.  It has a standard L shaped design.  I don't generally use it much.  When it is setting in the loading stand you can see all the stress of loading falls right where the stock is weakest.  That has always bothered me whether it's justified or not.  Most of the time I just brace them with my body and use a rap with ball of the short starter to get the ball in the barrel and use my body to support the pistol when I push the load home.  It's a little more awkward but works well.

I don't have a Patriot but have shot them a few times.  They are very accurate pistols and I wish I had one even with the goofy set triggers.  I do have two CVA Kentucky .45s, a flint and a percussion, that I shoot occasionally.  I use 15 grains 3F, with a .440 ball and a .20 patch in both of them.  I haven't benched them in over 20 years.  They shoot alright and I can keep them on the paper at 25 yards one handed but I haven't tried doing any serious load workup with them.

One thing I would try in the Patriot is using a .445 ball with a little thinner patch and see what that does.  If you can't find them locally you can get them from Track or some other vendor.  It sure made a difference in my Tennessee rifle.  I have been using .490s for years with a thick patch.  I tried out some .495s with a ticking patch and the rifle turned from a decent shooter into a tack driver.  It might work for you as well.

[Red]

Mike

Thanks for the info.  I will have to locate some .445 balls and try them in my Patriot with a thinner patch.  Part of my problem is lack of a handy gun range that I can try different loads and components.  I end up trying things out during the rendezvous shoot.

I also shoot a Lyman Great Plains pistol and have just purchased a .45 cal Hopkins & Allen boot pistol at a local gun show.  Been looking a long while for one.  It appears to be unfired.

Red

[DandJofAZ]

That's a major flaw!!!  If you don't have time/place to shoot...send it to any of us..we will gladly fix the "it hasn't been shot" problem for you....
Doug

[tatonka11]

Yes,I also will volunteer to break them in!!

[Red]

Doug/Tatonka thanks for the offers but I'll pass.  I hate to take advantage of you because pretty soon everyone would be sending you their pistols, rifles, shotguns and maybe a cannon or two to get em sighted in just right.  Powder and lead are mighty dear these days.  It would end up costing you a fortune.  I'll just do the best I can.  The silver lining is that I won't hardly be able to wear them out since I only shoot them 5 or 6 time a year. 

[Red Badger]

Doug/Tatonka thanks for the offers but I'll pass.  I hate to take advantage of you because pretty soon everyone would be sending you their pistols, rifles, shotguns and maybe a cannon or two to get em sighted in just right.  Powder and lead are mighty dear these days.  It would end up costing you a fortune.  I'll just do the best I can.  The silver lining is that I won't hardly be able to wear them out since I only shoot them 5 or 6 time a year. 

I think he is gonna fit in just fine! 

[tatonka11]

Bravo  Red!!!!!!!!!!!

[Red]

Thank ye kindly.

[DandJofAZ]

Wear them out...you will hardly break them in....maybe someday your grandkids will get the loads figured out and have the rough spots worked out of the bores.
doug

[Red]

Doug
You are correct.  My son is a good shot but does not care to shoot.  My daughter is also a good shot but is busy with college.  I guess it will have to be the future grandkids to keep the muzzleloading flame alive.  Maybe once my kids have carved out their own lives they will return to the rendezvous way, at least I hope so.  They have enjoyed many happy times at camp.

[killer]

Doug
You are correct.  My son is a good shot but does not care to shoot.  My daughter is also a good shot but is busy with college.  I guess it will have to be the future grandkids to keep the muzzleloading flame alive.  Maybe once my kids have carved out their own lives they will return to the rendezvous way, at least I hope so.  They have enjoyed many happy times at camp.

They will be back. I got out when i started a family and career. But i came back last year and im lovin it. You cant take out of you.

[Red]

Killer

Glad to hear you came back.  Hope your family is enjoying the rendezvous/enactment life.  Its my wish that a lot of the young people I have seen at camp over the years will do the same.  It is a good way to meet new friends and create lasting memories.

Red