Lyman Great Plains Hunter conical diameter ???
- Thread starter Abman
- Start date
??? If you have the hunter version, it's not supposed to be patched. You need a sabot or minie that engages the rifling or else the bullet won;t spin down the bore...
If you're having problems, you are likely using Wheelweights or linotype to cast with. This is WRONG. You need to use PURE SOFTLEAD in that gun or else you'll break ramrods trying to seat the bullets while cutting the rifling.
If you're having problems, you are likely using Wheelweights or linotype to cast with. This is WRONG. You need to use PURE SOFTLEAD in that gun or else you'll break ramrods trying to seat the bullets while cutting the rifling.
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
Pure lead in BP Rifles, for sure 
I use a .504 dia. 395 gr. conical cast from pure lead, it goes down the barrel real easy and obturates on firing to fill the bore and is real accurate....I bump them up a bit for hunting so there is no chance of them moving and creating an air space in the chamber!! Barrel twist is 1-60" !!!
Ben, with a 1:60 you have a Great Plains Rifle, not a Great Plains Hunter. They look identical but have different twist rates. If I recall, the hunter is 1:32 or 1:36.
With a 1:60, if you;re using conicals you are likely missing out on the fun of using patched roundball
My Great Plains is a .54 and with patched roundball, it's DEADLY.
With a 1:60, if you;re using conicals you are likely missing out on the fun of using patched roundball
My Great Plains is a .54 and with patched roundball, it's DEADLY.
The other problem is that Lyman bores its barrels oversize. They are a couple of thou over .50 (if its a fifty you're dealing with, by as much as .51-.52). Some of the cast bullets slide down easy - if they're minie style with skirts you're ok, if not, watch that they aren't too loose.
ben hunchak said:
There really should be no difference in accuracy if you have the right patch & ball combo. I use a .535" mould in my .54 that drops more like .537" and I patch with .013" cotton twill. Seals real nice and puts them in a twoonie sized hole at 50 yards. Good enough for me!
As for hitting power, any .54 roubd ball is a 250+ grain projectile. I doubt any buck is walking away from a hit under 100 yards, assuming decent shot placement. It's be like shooting him with a .45-70.
