Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: JDHasty on October 03, 2015, 10:28:01 PM

Title: OK, I picked up a 54 cal Deerstalker for a buck and a half
Post by: JDHasty on October 03, 2015, 10:28:01 PM: and then ordered a Lyman peep sight to put on it. I picked up a 54 TC Maxi Ball mold and now where do I purchase pure lead to cast bullets for it with?

Then, how to make both perform? Neat little rifle and just what I was looking for, either that or a White Mountain Carbine. The peep makes it into a snap shooter. I'm just having a mouth watering wait before I get to shoot it.

I am thinking my Kleen Bore shotgun rod will be perfect for cleaning it. What do you think? What else do I need to clean it?

My buddy has a hundred 530 round balls, so what patch to shoot them with?

I scored the 54 TC Maxi Balll mold of eBay for $20 bucks and other than that got NOTHING and I know NOTHING, except I have the rifle and the mold.

I am qualified with everything except a muzzle loader in the Master Hunter program and that implies that I am at least marginally a reasonably competent shot. Actually, I did not have any problem "qualifying" with rifle, hand gun, shotgun slug gun, pistol and crossbow or compound bow. I can shoot fairly well.

But, muzzle loading rifles are something I am not familiar with at all.

If you can suggest what to go out looking for and what to pass on I would sincerely appreciate it.

Should I shoot black powder or Pyrodex is one question I have. I really taken a liking to thee little rifle and if this experiment into the unknown works out... I could see myself becoming an aficionado.
Title: Re: OK, I picked up a 54 cal Deerstalker for a buck and a half
Post by: lokidog on October 04, 2015, 10:32:51 AM: Sounds like you are off to a good start. Play with the roundballs, a lot cheaper to shoot than maxis. They will also do the job just fine on deer. My most memorable deer with the ML was a nice buck at 80 yards, pass through shot. He had his head in a bush when I shot and I had an either sex tag, it was a nice surprise to see antlers when he wheeled around after the shot.

For those .530's you need a patch that will make them tight in the bore, I think a .015 patch would work. I would stay away from Blackpowder and go with a substitute, there are lots of good ones out there.

In case you have not yet found this: http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/muzzle-loaders/pdfs/lyc-ml-general.pdf

Maximum Loads
Lyman Black Powder Guns
The following loads are maximum combinations of propellant and projectile
for Lyman Black Powder guns except for the Mustang Breakaway Rifle
which can be found on page 44. Do Not Exceed!
Plains Pistol
.50 - .495" RB 40 grs. 3Fg
.54 - .535" RB 50 grs. 3 Fg
Rifles
.50 .495" RB 110 grs. 2Fg or 90 grs. 3Fg
240 gr. Sabot 100 grs. 2Fg or 90 grs. 3Fg
335 gr. Sabot 100 grs. 2Fg or 80 grs. 3Fg
420 gr. Maxi 100 grs. 2Fg or 80 grs. 3Fg
.54 .535" RB 120 grs. 2Fg or 100 grs. 3Fg
335 gr. Sabot 110 grs. 2Fg or 90 grs. 3Fg
450 gr. Maxi 110 grs. 2Fg or 90 grs. 3Fg
Round Ball Selection Guide
.50 cal. .490"/.495" .54 cal. .530"/.535"
Note: Equivalent loads of Pyrodex RS, Select, or P are acceptable.
Pyrodex pellets are not recommended with Lyman side hammer guns
due to difficult ignition.