New to me Parker-Hale .451 whitworth.

I went and shot the Whitworth today.
Was shooting at 100yds, with 80gr of 2ffg Schutzen, 3/8"thick cut hex fiber wad lubed with bore butter. Cleaned after powder/wad loading

First few shots were a bit off, had to prime the throat passage. I guess the few starting caps on the empty gun didnt fully clear it...
After about 3 shots it cleared fully.

Those shots were pretty wild, about 6"+ for the first 5. The original nipple was pretty big hole, so it definately had effected the accuracy.
I had did an adjustment on sights, to be more on paper.
5 more confirmed velocity loss on the nipple escape.

The last 5 shots were with a new nipple and it tighten up a bit more...
Got that down to about 5" spread.

Probably need to up the charge about 5gr, and see what that does,

Overall this was really cool....definately not a busy day... 15rnds still took me about 2hrs....
But really good time... definately learned alot.
I like this gun....
 
So those that know, I seen in some people's loading procedure, they use cards and wads, either powder/card/wad/ bullet OR powder/wad/card/bullet....But also some other variant of these +/- wads and or cards???
I know the wads help in the buffering and also sealing of the propellant, What would be an advantage or detriment to using/not cards?
 
I've never owned a Whitworth, just rifles with conventional rifling, but I have done a lot of paper patching. There is a big difference in the sealing qualities of various wads. The very easiest to get shooting is just a lube wad (same thing as a lube cookie) between thin card wads. For me the most accurate, particularly at long range, is a 0.060" thick ldpe wad. I have no idea how well that would work with that style rifling though.

You can tell a lot about how well the bullet is sealed to the bore by using a chronograph to look at velocity spreads. If it's sealing well the spreads will be very tight with no random shots that suddenly loose 20-30 fps. Looking at the patch remnants is also a big clue. If there are burn marks on them you are getting gas cutting. Gas cutting can also make for really bad leading. If you can recover a few fired bullets you'll see the gas cutting which usually happens at the land corners.
 
Right... okay..

I found a few remnants earlier.. and it showed similar signs like a patched round ball, so I dont think there is a cutting action going on..

Im currently using a fiber wads ha are cut from 20ga shotgun fiber wads. They are old.. but cut cleanly. Then lubed
My next outing.. I'll try with some cards I have. I think they are 1/16" or 1/8" 20ga cards, ill cut them from that...
 
Nice score those Parker‑Hale Whitworths are sweet rifles. Totally different animal from the Bess, that’s for sure. For bullets, the Volunteer‑style cylindrical ones work great, so you’re not missing out by going that route. As for wads/cards, they’re not mandatory. Some guys swear by them, some don’t bother. A card over the powder can help keep things consistent, and a felt wad can tighten groups, but plenty of Whitworth shooters run powder bullet and call it a day. Just play around and see what your rifle likes. Either way, you’ve got a beauty there. Enjoy dialing it in.
 
I look out for the felt for later on.... I have a bunch of those fiber wads.. so thatll have to do for now...

It happens to be a decent shot enough... on friday had gone up to the club in mission, where they were having a Cowboy action shoot event, a big one for the club.
They had side matches for long range, and one was called the Quigley shoot. 3 shots off hand, take all the time you want, 300yds. 16"x16" square plate.
I just so happened to have hit once, and the one and only shot that hit, out of at least 6 shooters.

now obviously that, a bit different than how actually accurate is it, but, i did get it narow down enough to get my accurate enough to hit a plate.

On my next outing ill go for a paper target at maybe 200, see how that goes...
 
Take a bathroom scale out with you next time put the butt of the rifle on the scale , when seating the bullet on powder/wad combo seat all bullets to same weight on scale …see if groups improve also a powder drop tube inserted down the bore , drop your pre measured load down the drop tube
The drop tube should almost touch the breach at bottom if barrel
 
Ok, ill look into that and the drop tube.


With a "pre-measured charge"... what method of measure the amount?
Im currently using a regular volumetric muzzle loader style. I do take note of how regularly pouring into the measure and make sure the amount is piled high enough to strike off evenly.


Im going to post a pic here soon of the patching that Im doing. Currently as stated im doing it dry, but this is really new to me.

My last session here yesterday, was a little peculiar... Im not totally seeing what id expected to see based on others shooting the same gun.
I know there is alot of variables to factor in, in this style of shooting. But im having a hard time trying to get more consistent similar results.
I've got about ~25 shots on a new SS nipple.

I got ~6"+, at 110yrds.
 
I would measure my loads by volume and then compare on digital scale to ensure same weight , I would measure loads before the range and store pre measured charges in glass vials. Makes things a little faster on the firing line.
 
barbarossa said:
If you don’t t have them already you need to get some platinum lined nipples for the whitworth as the standard nipples will burn out fast ruining accuracy.I believe Peter Dyson in England sells them.Also I believe Pedersoli makes a hex mold and wadcutter

I myself currently have a Pedersoli Baker Rifle on order that should be arriving hopefully soon
Click to expand...
Track of the wolf possibly, they have a vast inventory.
 
Actually, I went to Buffalo Arms. They had a really good deal for one in my size... still cost me $110CAD, and sadly right now its been in customs for the last week.
Just got off the phone from them to see what the export description is and hopefully there isnt too much more issues for just one nipple.....
Overall much cheaper than from the UK or Europe.
 
Its a platinum lined, musket cap.
I ordered it first before saw they even had types like that, but none for #11's I saw.
Its a 5/16"x18 thread. so pretty much a whitworth only.
 
Okay, cool... good to know...
If I can fine one that would be a bit better on finding #11 caps, as I can for the most part find those much easier than Musket caps.
 
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