Getting ready for the next range visit:
# Mixed up a batch of new patch lube - used tallow and olive oil in a 1:2 ratio. Melted the tallow over a low heat and then added the olive oil. The lube soaked in to the patches very easily, but after a few days, the patches have stiffened. Depending on the results, I might loosen up the mixture by adding some more olive oil.
# Loaded up 13 phials with 9gns of Swiss No.1 powder. Noticed that this powder is a lighter grey colour rather than the black of Kranks FFFg, and it also has white flecks in it. This powder is twice the price [~£65 kilo] of Kranks FFFg [~£17 1/2 kilo], so it would have to give a big improvement in the results obtained to justify itself.
# Cut up a flannelette sheet to provide hundreds of 4by2 cleaning patches. A lot cheaper than buying very expensive rolls of 2by4 on eBay.
16 February 2013
3 February 2013
New balls please!
Having run out of my supply of .354 Pedersoli lead balls, today's two cards were the start of testing new combinations based upon .350 Hornady lead balls. This means that I have had to increase my patch size from 0.010 to 0.015 to maintain the same overall size within 'one thou' [0.364 to 0.365].
The first thing I noticed with the group is that it's about two inches low in the 8 ring and slightly left. The set up used was the usual 9gns of Krank's FFFg and number 11 percussion caps, but with a .350 ball seated on a 0.015 patch lubed with Ox-Yoke [pre-lubed]. The initial seating of the ball was slightly easier, as the thicker patch compresses in to the rifling easier than when the thicker ball is used.
During the shooting of the card, I swabbed out after every shot. Below are the swabs after 3 shots, 8 shots, and at the end after 13 shots.
Wrapped around a nylon bristle brush, you can see the amount of 'soot' that accumulates in the barrel after each shot.
For the second card, I used the same set-up but this time the patching was changed. The 0.015 plain patches were from Jeff Tanner and I lubed them with a mix of Ballistol and water in the ratio 1:3. When you add the water to the Ballistol you get a thin emulsion. Patches of dry patches were then dunked in the mix, turned 180 degrees, dunked again, and then squeezed to remove the excess. The patches were then stored in a sealable plastic bag.
The second card gave a new personal best with 2 X-rings shots. Still slightly low but better centred. To confirm, the set up was 9gns of Kranks FFFg and number 11 percussion caps and a .350 ball seated on a 0.015 patch lubed with Ballistol/water mix.
One thing that did become apparent is the the .36 calibre dry patches are slightly smaller than I'm used to. They need to be very accurately centred over the end of the barrel in order for the rifling to be properly engaged all around the ball. They are also a looser weave so tend to shed threads.
Next time I'll look to repeat the set up with different lubes. Currently I have lanolin, tallow, beeswax, Ballistol and aqueous cream to play with.
First card - 79 x 0
The first thing I noticed with the group is that it's about two inches low in the 8 ring and slightly left. The set up used was the usual 9gns of Krank's FFFg and number 11 percussion caps, but with a .350 ball seated on a 0.015 patch lubed with Ox-Yoke [pre-lubed]. The initial seating of the ball was slightly easier, as the thicker patch compresses in to the rifling easier than when the thicker ball is used.
During the shooting of the card, I swabbed out after every shot. Below are the swabs after 3 shots, 8 shots, and at the end after 13 shots.
Swabs
Wrapped around a nylon bristle brush, you can see the amount of 'soot' that accumulates in the barrel after each shot.
For the second card, I used the same set-up but this time the patching was changed. The 0.015 plain patches were from Jeff Tanner and I lubed them with a mix of Ballistol and water in the ratio 1:3. When you add the water to the Ballistol you get a thin emulsion. Patches of dry patches were then dunked in the mix, turned 180 degrees, dunked again, and then squeezed to remove the excess. The patches were then stored in a sealable plastic bag.
Second card - 85 x 2
Stats
Detail scores: 79.0 & 85.2
Average: 80.7
Personal best: 90.1
Barrel count: 235
Cards: 18
One thing that did become apparent is the the .36 calibre dry patches are slightly smaller than I'm used to. They need to be very accurately centred over the end of the barrel in order for the rifling to be properly engaged all around the ball. They are also a looser weave so tend to shed threads.
Next time I'll look to repeat the set up with different lubes. Currently I have lanolin, tallow, beeswax, Ballistol and aqueous cream to play with.
30 December 2012
Final card of the winter season
Even though it had rained heavily and the range was very squelchy under foot, I managed to get to the Club and shoot the last comp card of the season; round 10 of the Kent Black Powder Winter League.
Round 10
It seems I saved the best till last. Not only was it the best card of the season, it was a personal best AND the first time I have ever shot over 90 [just!]. It also meant my running average exceeded 80 for the first time. A bonus on the day was the weather. Although overcast, the shooting glasses proved useful, and the wind helped blow the smoke off the range.
It also marked the end of my batch of 0.354 lead balls that I obtained from Pedersoli by way of Krank's and G.T. Shooting in Surrey. The next time I'll be shooting 0.350 lead balls swaged by Hornady. I'll try these with my current 0.010 lubed patches, but may have to go to the 0.015 to get the accuracy back. This means I have to lube-up the 0.015 dry patches I have. Although I'm looking at mixing up a beeswax/tallow/lanolin combination, several members of the Club have recently switched from Wonderlube to a simple soap/water lube. I don't have the exact details but it appears they just use a liquid soap with a small amount of water added. The down side though seems to be that the patches have to be relubed before every shooting session as they dry out fairly quickly.
Current stats
Detail score: 90.1
Running average: 80.6
Personal best: 90.1
Barrel count: 209
Cards shot 16
17 December 2012
Round 9
A late start to the shooting meant that after acting as duty RO for several details, I only managed to complete one detail. As it was near to midday, the sun was directly behind the target making it impossible to use my shooting glasses. This meant using bi-focals and a shooting hat, with the distance part of the lens being used, rather than the intermediate part.
Beside two flyers off to the far left, most of the group was slightly low and to the left. The load was changed slightly, with 10.3gns of Krank's fine, 0.354 ball and a 0.010 patch, to see if the group tightened up. No change seen so I'll revert back to 9gns for this ball/patch combination.
The score of 81 did not affect my running average. My shooting stats are as follows:
Round 9 - 81 ex 100
Beside two flyers off to the far left, most of the group was slightly low and to the left. The load was changed slightly, with 10.3gns of Krank's fine, 0.354 ball and a 0.010 patch, to see if the group tightened up. No change seen so I'll revert back to 9gns for this ball/patch combination.
The score of 81 did not affect my running average. My shooting stats are as follows:
Stats
Detail scores: 81
Running average: 79.9
Cards shot: 15
Personal best: 88.1
Barrel count: 196
12 December 2012
New load
For rounds 9 and 10, I plan to increase the powder load from 9gns of Krank's FFFg to 10gns to see if it tightens up the groups shot. I'll still be using .354 balls with a .010 lubed patch. Once the two cards are shot, I'll start looking at loads based around .350 balls.
26 November 2012
As promised - current stats
After round 7 and 8 had been shot, scoring 81 and 84 ex 100, my shooting stats are as follows:
Stats
Detail scores: 81 & 84
Running average: 79.9
Cards shot: 14
Personal best: 88.1
Barrel count: 183
Round 7 and 8
Shot rounds 7 and 8 of the Kent BP league inorder to get ahead of the Christmas and new Year range closures. Using my normal loads, I added the extra component of wearing specialist shooitng glasses rather than the normal bi-focals. Although the prescription was several years out of date, the 'intermediate' lenses proved ideal for keeping the pistol foresight and rearsight sharp, while keeping the target slightly out of focus.
Round 7 scored only an 81 ex 100, but with a good group that was slightly low. The low flyer was due to an incorrectly seated ball. Lesson learnt!
For round 8, I tried to deliberately raise my sight picture.
A much better grouping in terms of elevation, but not tight. I might need to increase the powder load to try and tighten the group. Set a PB though - the first time I have managed to get all 13 shots in the black.
I'll post my new average etc once I've checked my stats book.
Round 7 - 81 ex 100
For round 8, I tried to deliberately raise my sight picture.
Round 8 - 84 ex 100
I'll post my new average etc once I've checked my stats book.
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