NEEDED: Load for .50 cal New Englander

[sse]

The other buddy who told me that is reliable...the one who's got the rifle isn't sure about much...

[Riley/MN]

HA - Well, if you're sure, go for it! Pull the nipple & put a little powder under it if you can fit some....

I have found that once you drill a hole through a projectile with a ball puller, your options for shooting it out are greatly reduced!

[sse]

Still like to know if anyone has successfully pulled one...

[Two Steps]

Pulled more RBs than I can remember... But I've never tried a conical & don't think I would  
Al

[sse]

I'm pretty sure it wasn't dry-balled...not being a gun smith, I think putting some powder under the nip is the best alternative.  Another, question, IF it had been dry-balled, I wonder if a small amount of powder under the nipple has enough oomph to push out a big ole conical...

I shot a few maxi-hunters out of the .50 T/C Hawken I used to have, but never ran into this problem with it...didn't keep it long enough.

[Hank in WV]

If a little powder doesn't push it out, it may push it enough to get more powder in the next time. Make sure you re-seat the conical.

[Riley/MN]

Another trick you could try would be to replace the nipple with a grease zerk and pump grease into it until it lets go. Never tried it myself, but it is 'spost ta work... must be a mess ta clean up!

[sse]

Well, got a look at it today.  It's loaded alright.  The bore looked pretty bad, so I cleaned out a fair bit of rust using WD-40, patches, rubbing alcohol.  Then I ran a brush down and ended up pulling out quite a bit of fowling.

Decided to leave in some WD-40 for a few days, then I'll patch it out, maybe even brush it again, if necessary.  Will say after some effort, checked the bore and it looks pretty good!  That was nice to see.

Meanwhile, removed and replaced the nipple.  The one in there was rusted up pretty good, but after some cleaning, still screwed in and out fairly well, but for good measure a new nipple was installed, anyway. The snail/drum threads don't look too bad at all so I don't really see any safety issue with shooting out the conical.

The original RR is cracked, too, but I think replacements should be available on line.  May have a trip to the range on Saturday, unless I manage to get out deer hunting again.

[sse]

Update...went to the range yesterday.  Capped her and she shot just fine, no delay, hangfire, nuthin...that New Englander is a nice firearm.  Nice hunk of walnut on it, too.  I wonder what kind of accuracy it'll get.  I fixed the guy up with some lubed conicals for when he starts shooting, but I'm hoping to get him switched over to PRB's...

At home, went through and cleaned it out very well....far as I can see the bore is fine.  pretty easy to clean, as well, with only one shot through it and the short barrel...it's like a carbine.

[Bigsmoke]

Unless your buddy wants to go elk hunting with it, I see no real reason to shoot conicals in it.  More trouble and expense than it's worth.
Keeping a reasonable charge with those New Englanders provided good accuracy.  I hate to say it, but I have missed the one I used to have.  Also had the 12 gauge barrel with it, and it shot a round ball pretty straight at 50 yards as well.
John

[sse]

Thanks for chiming in, Mr. powder horn...a/k/a bigsmoke...

Another thing about shooting out the lead, a lubed conical will leave some lead in the bore that will need to addressed...

[sse]

well, I loaded the thing with a conical.  Thing is, I used the brass handle of the range rod (shaped like a little hammer) to get it started.  After it was started, no problem at all ramming it down.  

Anybody know of a better was to start it without using a hammer?

[Fletcher]

Well, I have a Lyman bullet press/swager and I could force the diameter
down with the right cone.  These cones also have lube ports to prelube the
bullets or maxi balls.  Short of that I would trade the mold you got for one
known to be a few 1000ths smaller dia.  No sense bugering the barrel or
giving yourself a hernia   Also send me your address and I will send you a
free sample can of Just Good Lube - a Product of Ol' Thunder Manufacturing
(which I bought from Bigsmoke)  I will also throw in a couple maxis of different
style for you to try.  I will mic them and note the diameters.

[Ron T.]

I have an older model .50 caliber CVA caplock Hawken with a 28-inch barrel (7½ lbs) that I designated as my "target rifle".  I found it likes a .490 ball with a .016 denim cotton patch lubed with a mixture of bee's wax and liquid Crisco Oil.

My "target" load is 47 grains of either Swiss or Goex FFFg and will shoot interlocking 3-shot groups at 25 yards off the bench-rest... or 1½-inch, 3-shot groups with most rifle ball's holes "touching" at 50 yards.

I also have an older CVA Hunter-Carbine (24-inch barrel, 6½ lbs) .50 caliber caplock that shoots the 47 grain load as accurately as my "target rifle", but shoots a 70 grain Swiss black powder FFFg load (for deer hunting) with the same accuracy as my target load in either rifle.  

This hunting load will shoot through BOTH sides of a whitetail deer's "kill zone" at my self-limited range of 80 yards or less.

I use the Swiss black powder in my hunting load due to it's somewhat higher muzzle velocity compared to the same load of Goex.

I use .490" Hornady swagged lead rifle balls in all loads in both rifles.


Strength and Honor...

Ron T.

[sse]

Well, I thought it would be easier for my bud if he just shoved conicals down the gullet, so I loaded a pre-lubed Hornady Great plains hunk of lead.  The box is marked .50 cal, so I assume they are slightly smaller than the the bore lands.  The weight is indicated to be 385 gr.

Like I say starting it was tough, but the thing goes down easily after it get's past the muzzle.  Would have already shot one out, except I ran into a weird issue with nipple/cap size.  Took care of that, so she should fire OK tomorrow afternoon.  I loaded it with what I figure will be the hunting load, 70g of Goex FFFg.  385 gr is a lot of lead, so I don't think that is overly hot.  Almost wish now I would have just used one of the suggestions for a patch and ball...

But, if this thing shoots halfway decent as is, will put the guy on a deer stand and let him have at it.

P.S. Fletch,may take ya up on that.