Paper Patching for Muzzleloaders (Video)

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i wish I’d have thought of doing this years ago, I’ve still never tried it yet but, I did have a few moulds I cut that came out small. Probably would have worked great on those bullets. Most of them I cut to a larger diameter bullet. A couple I pitched.
 
Lewis
I started to order some 400 grn .441 or .444 bullets from Buffalo Bullets, the .442 are out of stock, but when i calculated it up the shipping will be as much as a box of 50 bullets. Seems a little excessive to me. Going from $.50 a bullet to over a $1.00 a bullet. I may just stick with the GP bullets. Can get Hornady GP 285 grn HBHP for $11.95 box of 20 for my Wolf 45 cal 1:28 twist. Anyone try these before? May try to size down some of my 385 grn 50 cals down to .451 dia. Ever try this big a jump down before my friend?
DL
:think::dance2:
 
Lewis
I started to order some 400 grn .441 or .444 bullets from Buffalo Bullets, the .442 are out of stock, but when i calculated it up the shipping will be as much as a box of 50 bullets. Seems a little excessive to me. Going from $.50 a bullet to over a $1.00 a bullet. I may just stick with the GP bullets. Can get Hornady GP 285 grn HBHP for $11.95 box of 20 for my Wolf 45 cal 1:28 twist. Anyone try these before? May try to size down some of my 385 grn 50 cals down to .451 dia. Ever try this big a jump down before my friend?
DL
:think::dance2:
You will have no lube band left. Course if you’re gonna PP them, don’t need one. If you do it in steps, it can be done. Like .005” at a time. Much more and you’ll end up with some funky bases. Might anyway. May have to go nose first, then base first alternating on step downs to keep anything remotely copacetic.... Be interesting to see what they would look like....
 
Lewis
I started to order some 400 grn .441 or .444 bullets from Buffalo Bullets, the .442 are out of stock, but when i calculated it up the shipping will be as much as a box of 50 bullets. Seems a little excessive to me. Going from $.50 a bullet to over a $1.00 a bullet. I may just stick with the GP bullets. Can get Hornady GP 285 grn HBHP for $11.95 box of 20 for my Wolf 45 cal 1:28 twist. Anyone try these before? May try to size down some of my 385 grn 50 cals down to .451 dia. Ever try this big a jump down before my friend?
DL
:think::dance2:

That’s WAY WAY to Far to Size Down, A few of the Guy’s that i Whole Heartedly Trust what they Say, Have told me that they don’t advise Sizing anymore than .003, That said, I have personally Sized 458-.459 Bullets Down to .449 MANY MANY Times, and they Shot STELLAR For me, But that is as Far as i have ever Sized, I used LOTS of Lube, and did it in 2-3 Steps. It’s not ideal By any Means, But it has Worked Very Well for me the Times i have done it. If you could find the 285 Grain Hornady Great Plains 45 Cal Versions, You could do those (They are Hard to Come By, haven’t been made in years) But NOT the .50s, You would need a PILE of Sizer Dies, And They would Stil be Completely Distorted.
 
Lewis
Yeah i changed my mind. It would be too much. I have 3 boxes of the 285 grn GP on order from Deer Creek. I will try some bore size and some PP and some as regular GG bullets. Should find a combo this barrel likes.
DL
 
Lewis
Yeah i changed my mind. It would be too much. I have 3 boxes of the 285 grn GP on order from Deer Creek. I will try some bore size and some PP and some as regular GG bullets. Should find a combo this barrel likes.
DL

DL, I have heard good things about those 285 GP Bullets, They should do Darn good in that 1:28 Twist. It’s a Shame they Quit making them, along with the .54 Cals
 
DL, I have heard good things about those 285 GP Bullets, They should do Darn good in that 1:28 Twist. It’s a Shame they Quit making them, along with the .54 Cals

And the 410 grn 50's. I just checked Deer Creek and they have at least 18 boxes of 425 grn 54 caliber Hornady GP on hand and 14 boxes of the 410 grn GP 50 cal on hand, i got plenty of those now.
DL
 
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I am interested in doing this . I have ordered the paper and template. How do I get in touch with you. Tried to msg but it won’t allow me. Thanks.

It’s a LOT of Fun, But also requires a LOT of tinkering to get right. I will start a Conversation/Message with you now :lewis: I keep that feature turned off
 
Thanks for your help. I am also looking for a tang or peep sight for my Hawken. The lyman and Williams sight seem to have totally disappeared or are backordered. I did find a TC tang sight on ebay and would like your opinion on it. I am a retried school teacher and have a cabinet shop with.an overhead mill and lathe so I do a lot of tinkering. Here is a picture of the sight.
 

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Hi hidaho, I’ve been wondering what would be the bullet weight for a 54.cal. The more i read your threads, the more i think a .45 would be more interesting to shoot , i can take recoil but there is a limit, it also has to be fun. My toy is a TC renegade .54 cal
thanks
 
Thanks for your help. I am also looking for a tang or peep sight for my Hawken. The lyman and Williams sight seem to have totally disappeared or are backordered. I did find a TC tang sight on ebay and would like your opinion on it. I am a retried school teacher and have a cabinet shop with.an overhead mill and lathe so I do a lot of tinkering. Here is a picture of the sight.

Those old TC Tang Peeps are getting harder and harder to come by, and usually bring a premium when you find them. They are just fine for “Setting and forgetting” But They are NO good for Field adjustability, They were not Designed for it. If you don’t plan to Shoot various distances where you need an adjustable sight? The TC Tang Peeps work great for that :lewis: I have, and use 2 of them on Rifles that are Setup as 100 Yard Guns

If you want the Ability to adjust in the Field the Williams FP Hawken, or Lyman 57SML are the ONLY way to go, unless you want LOTS of Adjustment? Then you would need a Soule type Tang sight
 
Hi hidaho, I’ve been wondering what would be the bullet weight for a 54.cal. The more i read your threads, the more i think a .45 would be more interesting to shoot , i can take recoil but there is a limit, it also has to be fun. My toy is a TC renegade .54 cal
thanks

I love my .45s, they are my most Shot Rifles. My new .50 Cal Rice 1-24 Twist is a LOT of Fun to me as well. .54s are least fun to me, and Don’t get shot anywhere near as much as my .45s and .50s, I have several .54s, My .54s Recoil Harder/Different to me than my .45s or .50s using the Same Bullet weights & Powder Charges, It’s not HUGE different, But noticeable to me as much as i Shoot.

With .54 Cal your Bullets are gonna Start about 450-460 Grains. If you have a Fast Twist .54 Cal (Say 1-28) According to the Stability Calculators you need a Bullet in the 700 Grain Range to be Stable, This would be for Shooting Long Range. I have shot the Lyman Plains .54 Cal Bullet a BUNCH, all the way out to 260 Yards and it shoots Great. They measure .85 Long, and weigh 460 Grains when Cast of PURE Lead
 
I love my .45s, they are my most Shot Rifles. My new .50 Cal Rice 1-24 Twist is a LOT of Fun to me as well. .54s are least fun to me, and Don’t get shot anywhere near as much as my .45s and .50s, I have several .54s, My .54s Recoil Harder/Different to me than my .45s or .50s using the Same Bullet weights & Powder Charges, It’s not HUGE different, But noticeable to me as much as i Shoot.

With .54 Cal your Bullets are gonna Start about 450-460 Grains. If you have a Fast Twist .54 Cal (Say 1-28) According to the Stability Calculators you need a Bullet in the 700 Grain Range to be Stable, This would be for Shooting Long Range. I have shot the Lyman Plains .54 Cal Bullet a BUNCH, all the way out to 260 Yards and it shoots Great. They measure .85 Long, and weigh 460 Grains when Cast of PURE Lead


Question do you have to clean the bore between every shot ?
 
Question do you have to clean the bore between every shot ?

Most Definately! I swab 2 Wet/Damp, 2 Dry. There is no way to get a Paper Jacketed Bullet down a Swiss Real Blackpowder fouled Bore, The Fouling is DRY and ROUGH, it will Strip the Paper right off
 
Those old TC Tang Peeps are getting harder and harder to come by, and usually bring a premium when you find them. They are just fine for “Setting and forgetting” But They are NO good for Field adjustability, They were not Designed for it. If you don’t plan to Shoot various distances where you need an adjustable sight? The TC Tang Peeps work great for that :lewis: I have, and use 2 of them on Rifles that are Setup as 100 Yard Guns

If you want the Ability to adjust in the Field the Williams FP Hawken, or Lyman 57SML are the ONLY way to go, unless you want LOTS of Adjustment? Then you would need a Soule type Tang sight
Both the Williams and the Lyman are hard to find with Lyman being closed due to Covid.one on EBAY is going for $180.
perhaps they will come back. I have also looked at the Skinner peep.
 
Both the Williams and the Lyman are hard to find with Lyman being closed due to Covid.one on EBAY is going for $180.
perhaps they will come back. I have also looked at the Skinner peep.

I set my Dad’s Old TC Renegade up with a Skinner Peep sight and he LOVES it, I personally don’t care for them. I am so accustomed to a Tang Peep sight & Globe front sight that anything else is DIFFICULT for me to like. I am also more of a Target Shooter with my Muzzleloaders, I rarely Hunt with them.

it really depends on what you plan to do?
 
I set my Dad’s Old TC Renegade up with a Skinner Peep sight and he LOVES it, I personally don’t care for them. I am so accustomed to a Tang Peep sight & Globe front sight that anything else is DIFFICULT for me to like. I am also more of a Target Shooter with my Muzzleloaders, I rarely Hunt with them.

it really depends on what you plan to do?
Mostly target shoot. I did a lot years ago with a rifle I built but not much with the Hawken. Would a Lyman tang made for a .444 Marlin adapt to the tang of the Hawken?
 
Mostly target shoot. I did a lot years ago with a rifle I built but not much with the Hawken. Would a Lyman tang made for a .444 Marlin adapt to the tang of the Hawken?

I am not Familiar with that Particular Lyman Sight?

I just did some quick internet searching and I can’t find the Lyman or Williams either? Those 2 are the only options I know work well on the TC Hawkens & Renegades. If it were me, I would keep searching HIGH & low for either of these
 
Both the Williams and the Lyman are hard to find with Lyman being closed due to Covid.one on EBAY is going for $180.
perhaps they will come back. I have also looked at the Skinner peep.
I just hope that these small business people will be able open again some day !
 

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