Colt 1851 Navy accuracy

dixda

dixda

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
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Location
Kamloops B.C.
I was shooting my BP Colt and the first cylinder printed about 2in. at 20yds from a rest. The following ones wouldn't hit the 6"X9" paper at that distance. I had to get within 10yds to even get on the paper. I used 20 gr of FFFg, felt wads(cut from insoles),LEE cast .380" roundball weighed to 82 gr(+or-.5 gr),beef tallow/mink oil lube, and Remington #10 caps. Do you suppose that the black powder fouling had anything to do with this shift in accuracy? KD
P.S. The wedge was in tight.
 
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This was after a single cylinderfull? Your accuracy is about on par for my 1851 (21 grains fffg, .375 ball, homebrew over-ball lube) but I've never had my point of impact shift like that. Was the wedge in good and tight?
 
Hmmmm, my Uberti '58 Remmies were printing 2-3" groups at 25yds this past weekend. Was using 27g of Goex 2F, WonderWads, and Frontier cast .454 balls. Caps were Remington #10 with Treso nipples. This accuracy held up for 5 cylinders. I wipe off the front of the cylinder when I pop it out to load it. I load the cylinders outside of the gun in a stand that has a rammer. Otherwise, I didn't wipe out the bores or anything else. Basepins were well lubed with BoreButter beforehand, and my barrels and chambers get stored with a light coating of Ballistol after they are cleaned.
 
It was...

...the lube, or lack there of. This time I skipped the felt wads and after seating the balls against the powder, applied more lube, and now get six cylinders of acceptable accuracy. This was suggested by my black powder bud, and he was right.KD
 
Make sure you clean the cylinder, shaft and pawls when they start to feel a little stiff on cocking.
If you don't, it can screw up with the cylinder etc.
Ask me how I know.
 
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