Lyman GPR I'm Done!

[WhittieHunter]

Well I finally finished it.  Lyman Great Plains Rifle 54 caliber.  Ran into a few problems putting it all together (needed quite a bit of work to a few of the wood inlets so it would all fit), but I had a lot of fun putting it together and really like how it turned out. 
Does anyone have some experience with some good loads with this gun? I ordered several different types of caps/balls/patching/and powder thinking I would try them all out and see how they worked. Has anyone tried conicals or sabots on this twist rate? I'm assuming they wouldn't be too accurate, but just wondering if anyone has had any success.  I'll be taking out to the range next week to see if it shoots straight, just in time for the season!

[CP]

Nice job, she’s a beauty!  Assuming it’s a 1:60 twist you will probably want to stick with round balls.  I’d start with 50 grains of  powder, a .530 or .535 ball and several thickness of patching (.010 and up).  You should also season the bore with something like bore butter.

Once you get her shooting well with 50 grains work your way up until the groups start to open. 

[Gobble]

Great looking gun, Nice job!

I have a .54 cal Lyman Trade Rifle that I used for elk. They shoot great. I used to shoot the Hornady great plains bullets in mine and it was deadly accurate mine was 1 in 48 twist, I beleive they were 385gr

[jdb]

Great looking gun, Nice job!

I have a .54 cal Lyman Trade Rifle that I used for elk. The shoot great. I used to shoot the Hornady great plains bullets in mine and it was deadly accurate mine was 1 in 48 twist, I beleive they were 385gr

I shot a cow elk with that bullet nocked her on her ass! JB

[Gobble]

I shot a cow dead at 125yds as well. Game Over  Great Bullet

[Slenk]

Good job. Don't get discoraged if your a little off for a few shoots some rifles take time to smooth out the riflings . You should find the sweet spot around 80 to 100 grains of 2f powder. Their a great shooter with .530 round balls and .18 or .20 th patch or Hornady great plains bullets. Minie balls work well also. Rifles with 1-60 or 1-66 twist work if you use a hollow base bullet.
Slenk

[WhittieHunter]

Thank you for all the advice everyone.  I'm real excited to shoot it on Saturday!

[MagKarl]

I built the exact same kit last year.  Shoots great.  I settled on 0.015 lubed patches and .530 balls.  I use Goex 2F, anywhere between 50 and 100 grains.  Be prepared to do a fair amount of filing on the front sight to get dialed in, that sucker is tall to start with.  I do not swab between shots.  I clean up with hot water and a drop of soap, rinse, dry, re-coat everything with bore butter.  An old .30 cal brush with a patch on it is just right to get the breech clean and dry.