As a side note, I also wanted to ask, assuming I have the correct sized bullet loaded, is there any danger of the bullet drifting off the powder when walking around in the woods or similar activity? Perhaps if carried loaded with the muzzle pointed downwards? Ive been reading about the danger of shooting a bullet when its not seated on the powder properly and wondered if it were possible.
Congrats on the New Lyman GPH, They are a Fine Rifle
My Lyman GPH is the Trickiest Rifle i own For getting good snug Bullet fit, Reason being is mine has REALLY Sharp Riflings, I have not attempted to Measure the Depth (Groove Diameter) But they appear quite Deep. When you Try and Push a Soft lead bullet down a Bore like this, the Soft Bullet “Strips” Through the Rifling, it starts good n tight, But about halfway Down you feel the Bullet Starting to “Give up” and by the time you hit the Powder there is hardly any resistance left, Sometimes there is NONE. A harder Bullet is the Answer i came up with to Combat this a few years back, After Some tinkering I settled on 1-40 (8.5 BHN) as it is stil reasonably Soft and Performs very well, I can also buy it already made, Stamp certified from Buffalo Arms. I wish they offered something in the 6 to 7 BHN as I believe it would be even Better? But since they don’t, i chose to not mess around with Mixing and Trying to make it. Trying to Duplicate each Pot of Lead would become a Nuisance in my opinion.
You DEFINITELY want your Bullet to stay put on the Powder, if a bullet slips off the Powder Charge and you Shoot, it is very possible you could “Ring” your Barrel (it might be internal only and not seen from the Outside of the Barrel? But would be felt with a Patched Jag) From what i read this is more likely to Happen the Farther the bullet gets from the Powder Charge (Muzzle end, like a Short started ball) I have not personally seen this, nor do i want to! But i have read quite a lot about it, it is a very real thing! It’s definitely not worth chancing it. This is my BIGGEST pet peeve with Hunting with my Slip Fit Paper Patch Bullets, if i were gonna sit on a Stand and Stay put they would be fine, But i would NEVER trust a Slip Fit Bullet on my Style of Walk Hunt. Same goes for a Grease Groove Bullet that Strips/loosens. I make DARN sure that my Hunting Bullets are a Steady, Solid Push to the powder, The ONLY way my Hunting Bullets will move is when i pull the Trigger
Here is a New Brass Jag, i use Thick Cotton Patches, The Rifling stil leaves a Mark. Give you an Idea how Sharp The Riflings are in my Lyman GPH, Doesn’t hurt accuracy in the least, This Rifle shoots Grease Groove, and Paper Patch bullets equally well, From 450 to 650 Grains. But she Definitely has some SHARP ALLIGATOR Teeth Rifling