Post by: Sabotloader on March 30, 2014, 04:28:57 PM
I had taken another PRB gun, a 54 TC Renegade caplock. I was really interested in getting some velocities shooting T7-3f with different powder loads. The gun is sighted in with a load of 60 grains T7-3f, 0.015 Ox-Yoke cotton patch and a wad. I was out of my preferred wad, so I stopped at the local store to pick up a pack. they did not have the one I wanted either but did have a pack of 'Muzzleloaders Originals' Felt Wads - Center Lubed with Precision Lube 2000 Plus. I did pick up the pack and after using - I wish I had passed. They are way to soft and difficult to load in the bore - no they are easy to load but very difficult to keep them and on top of the powder flat. In my experience OX-Yoke wads are much stiffer and load great. The Ox-Yoke wad just seems to be made for a more dense felt...
Got all the equipment set and started the shoot. I had decided to shoot 60, 70, and 80 grain loads with the mentioned round ball and patch. Patch - that turned out to be another possible problem. I had only taken 0.015 patches with me and I am thinking that a 0.018 would have been the better patch in this particular 54 barrel.
The wad and the patch were two of the three problems I had. The third was that I was shooting wearing my prescription glasses (progressive lens) - which I never do - I always shoot with contacts. Glasses are terrible!!!
Anyway, this is a composite picture of the shoot...
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv130%2Fsabotloader%2FShootComposite-9.jpg&hash=d8f0604aa5a574b469c8d5c0d936d821f3166d81) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/sabotloader/media/ShootComposite-9.jpg.html)
With the complications - mainly the glasses - and the wind - I gave up on accuracy and went directly to velocities... This table shows the velocities achieved.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv130%2Fsabotloader%2FVelocityTable-1.jpg&hash=0c694a2e01fbde7c7483744033e91b6b0a18de46) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/sabotloader/media/VelocityTable-1.jpg.html)
The reason for this testing - last week shooting the 50 cal Renegade - shooting PRB's - I was wondering about hunting with such a small load of powder (60 grains). But several people assured me the velocities that I was getting was more than adequate - so I felt I wanted to get 54 velocities to compare with the 50. It seems to me more people prefer to hunt with a 54 round ball versus a 50 round ball.
I think this information - still leads me to believe if I were going to - I would hunt with the 54 PRB in preference to the 50???
Post by: oneshot12 on April 01, 2014, 11:26:08 AM
Post by: Sabotloader on April 01, 2014, 12:06:24 PM
:yeah:hey like the specks ! nice load info think i will have to start trying the T7 in my 54 and see if i can may be reach out just a tad bit farther now thanks for the post . Great stuff to add to my list Keep shooting :IBCOOL:
I am headed back sometime this weekend, just to shoot targets with the 54 + I found some 0.018 patches to try in that bore.
The 54 really puts the hurt on clay pigeons and the ground behind the pigeon. Not sure which is more fun to watch the 'eruption' of the bird or the blow of wet soil behind the bird...
Post by: oneshot12 on April 01, 2014, 12:14:21 PM
Post by: Sabotloader on April 01, 2014, 12:59:01 PM
:mgun2: looks like it is loads of fun no matter which shooting any time is great fun :chuckle: its still great to watch clay birds fly apart let me know how the 18 thou patches work .are you still burning them up or cutting them on the way down ?
I will do that next trip out...
Post by: oneshot12 on April 01, 2014, 03:45:41 PM