Just got back into smokepole shooting.

bunny

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Well I just bought a Browning caplock M.L. 1:62 twist 50 cal., should be good for round ball, Its been many years since I shot Black Powder. I could use a little help getting started again, should I use bp. or one of the new synthetic substitutes, how much,ect. ect. any info sent my way would be helpfull.
Thanks
 
when I read the thread title I thought:better be careful,he's likely to shoot back :D

there is an abundance of information in the stickies at the top of the forum...a great place to start.
 
Well I just bought a Browning caplock M.L. 1:62 twist 50 cal., should be good for round ball, Its been many years since I shot Black Powder. I could use a little help getting started again, should I use bp. or one of the new synthetic substitutes, how much,ect. ect. any info sent my way would be helpfull.
Thanks

Some of the sustitutes like Pyrodex are well suited to caplocks but others like T7, Blackhorn, etc require the extra spark of a 209 primer to ignite.
 
Bunny, it sounds like you have a nice rifle. As far as powder, I would use black if you can get it, if not Pyrodex works good, and so will 777. It will help to use a "Magnum Spitfire" or "Hot Shot" nipple, and CCI # 11 caps with the subs. Get some pillow ticking patching, lube, some like Hopps #9 plus, and start shooting. 50g of powder is a good starting point and work up till you find what you want, it should be around 80-90g, 777 should be a little less. Make sure the rifle is clean at the end of the day, and have fun.
 
Ball and patch

You will want to try both the .490 and .495 caliber balls. Get some precut patches in 10 and 15 thou. thickness to see what combination ball/patch your rifle likes the best. Due to the slow twist your rifle has it will not be so fussy so getting accuracy with roundball will be a given. If you want to use a black powder subsitute Pyrodex or 777 seem to be the best for the traditional muzzle loaders (I find that 777 smells like burning car tires). A good patch lube will help. I stay away from the paste lubes unless I am hunting. For the range a "moose milk" lube made from some concoction based in water soluble cutting oil works the best. As stated earlier, make sure you clean your rifle as soon as possible after using it and you will avoid corrosion problems down the road.

Cheers. Steve.
 
were a good bunch of guys, this month it got canceled due to the snow, but hopefully it will be opened up for next month.
 
Well I just bought a Browning caplock M.L. 1:62 twist 50 cal., should be good for round ball, Its been many years since I shot Black Powder. I could use a little help getting started again, should I use bp. or one of the new synthetic substitutes, how much,ect. ect. any info sent my way would be helpfull.
Thanks
The Johnathon M browning is a great rifle!
Some fellas shoot Pyrodex, but i have found with my caplocks that I prefer FFFG for the smallbores, and FFG for .54 and the bigger ones.
Cat
 
bunny I used to have a 50 but sold it to a fellow GN out east I only used round ball with 2f goex. you will find the rifling on the Browning very deep mine shot very well with 80-100gr 2f .....I have a Browning in 54 shoot 90gr 2f patch and ball but have started to play with 3f for more info check out the traditional muzzleloading association forum pages but I am sure you will find what you need here.
 
Got me another one!!

I haven't even had a chance to shoot my new .50 J.Browning and have made another deal on a .36 Thompson Centre Seneca, can't wait to get it. In my research I have seen alot of posts on American Sites that lead me to beleive triple seven is very inconsistent and pressure sensitive in side locks. I think I will stock up on pyrodex, my question now, should I use pyrodex P "3F equivalent" or RS "2F" Equivalent for loading in both .36 and .50, any advice would be great. Can't wait to make some smoke. Thanks
 
I haven't even had a chance to shoot my new .50 J.Browning and have made another deal on a .36 Thompson Centre Seneca, can't wait to get it. In my research I have seen alot of posts on American Sites that lead me to beleive triple seven is very inconsistent and pressure sensitive in side locks. I think I will stock up on pyrodex, my question now, should I use pyrodex P "3F equivalent" or RS "2F" Equivalent for loading in both .36 and .50, any advice would be great. Can't wait to make some smoke. Thanks

:DI'm in your exact boat - I bought a browning mountain rifle last summer - fired it for the first time this winter, looking for more.:p

I've been putting blackpowder through mine and find it very easy to clean and a lot of fun to shoot, so haven't even considered finding alternatives in the way of powder.
 
Once you go black you never go back!! "powder" that is!
I used Pyrodex RS but have much more fun with Goex fffg.
I use a combination of Murphy's oil, alcohol and windshield wash fluid and clean-up is a breeze....keep'n it real!!!
 
I have noticed that the .36 and possibly the .45 Seneca rifles are built with an odd or smaller nipple size. The one I bought has a unused spare, but I have read they are a little on the scarce side. Should I try to find more while I can? How long does a nipple last on a sidelock anyway??
 
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