Much more than a modern firearm that has had 200 rounds through it. Use lubes like olive oil or crisco or whatever you like best while you're shooting to keep the fouling soft enough to re-load. Even the small amount of wax in my paper fiber wads helps a lot to keep the fouling soft.Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.Its a fine grained powder. Swiss 3f is a spunky powder! That charge with a .490 ball out of an old Renegade chrono'd 1750 fps. The Pennsylvania Hunter has 6 more inches of barrel, so I expect it'll be a wee bit faster. The triggers on both of my rifles are really excellent. Best TC sidelocks I've ever had.The old standard for 12 gauge full choke was .040" constriction. Modern guns with modern loads really don't need that much constriction but with muzzleloaders we still are duplicating the old loadings. So the recess for a full choke 12 is .020" deep, which of course enlarges the bore diameter by the required .040".Location. Maine. Mar 26, 2019. #1. I bought a Spanish .50 cal Hawken made in Ardessa Spain. The bore was cruddy but it cleaned up with some elbow grease.This isn't a CVA Hawken. This one is a very good copy, actually put a T/C to shame. It's double pinned, hooked breech, long tang and double set triggers.Jun 25, 2022. #10. About 6 weeks ago, Midway USA blew out their remaining stock of the Lyman/Pedersoli Signature Series GPR, and they are now discontinued on their site. Sale price on a flint kit was $480 and finished guns were under $600. Left hand in .50 caliber was a little less than $585.Modern muzzleloading hunting forum & muzzle loading classifieds. Modern muzzle loading forums for inline muzzleloading, white muzzleloaders, bullet casting, …Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.H-48 Primer compound formula by weight: Potassium chlorate 51%. Antimony sulfide 27.3%. Sulfur 9.1%. Glass powder 12.1%. Sodium bicarbonate trace (optional) Aluminum powder trace (optional) Or go to ebay, search "priming compound". It'll be at the top of the page.8,508. Location. Phoenix, AZ. Dec 30, 2020. #1. By popular demand for a sticky showing Skychief's method of loading smoothbores to get the most uniform patterns, I'm posting this link to the thread. The actual thread is a sticky in the Muzzleloading Hunting area of the forum. Click on this link and the computer will take you to it.33,410. Reaction score. 8,508. Location. Phoenix, AZ. Feb 26, 2019. #2. A company that called itself Ultra-Hi tried getting into the black powder muzzleloading game back in the 1970's by importing low cost guns. I'm not sure where they were made but I … Smoothbore | The Muzzleloading Forum. This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks you get. Mar 1, 2024. AZ Muzzleloaders posted the thread FOR SALE 54 Caliber Custom Hawken. Built from TOTW Parts Set, Curly Maple in Firearms For Sale/Trade/Wanted . Built about 1986 from a Track of the Wolf parts set. Barrel measures 32 1/4" x 1" (actual 0.985"), 1:66 rate of twist.They are all Pedersolis, much to my pleasure, and are 1)a 50cal Pennsylvania long rifle, 2) a double SxS 12ga percussion shotgun and 3) a .62cal/20ga Indian Trade Musket. They all arrived within a four day period and, damn, this is one happy boy here. The reason I'm bothering you on this frosty fall morning is my utter amazement at the Trade Rifle.Vintage Thompson center .45 cal flintlock. Excellent condition and solid wood, brass shows patina but can easily be polished. Double set triggers and a 28" browned octagon barrel held in place by wedge. Overall length is 46". Never fired by me, but lock is in great working condition and previous... muskethunter1109.Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.The proposed rule changes could make Roth accounts and Roth conversions even more valuable than ever, since they are not subject to RMDs. The Internal Revenue Service has proposed ...Dec 16, 2023 · Patrick Rumora said: There is a huge difference between black powder and smokeless black powder and I want to make a few things clear. 1) Do not try to use any smokeless powders in any type of muzzleloader, UNLESS IT SPECIFIES IT. 2) If you don't understand the difference between black powder and smokeless powders. At my last range session, I shot a 4 inch group at 75 yards off my elbows (no bags) with a .50 caliber Traditions Kentucky. The load was 50 grains of Pyrodex P (3f), cotton patch with spit and beeswax/olive oil lube and a .490 home cast round ball. Next time, I hope to remember and take the sand bags.Both rifles will produce comparable accuracy/precision. Using a 50 yard zero, the difference in drop between the two at this range is less then an inch, 45cal (4.9"), 58cal (5.7"), The initial gap in velocity evens up at 100 yards with the 45cal at 997FPS compared to the 58cal at 992FPS, even with the 300FPS difference at the muzzle.Pedersoli makes a very strong barrel. Having said that, I would. join in with Musketeer and cap the loads at the 100 grain limit or equal with pellets/powder. Triple 7, 50-60 grains. The actual load you will get to by working up to with targets, so. adjust yourself based upon results.Jan 23, 2024. #5. It was pre-Covid, but Bobby Hoyt bored & rifled a couple of barrels for me at IIRC, $135 each. One he did he was going to freshen, but the rifling was a left hand twist and he couldn't do that so bored it out from .50 to .54. That was a T-C Pennsylvania Hunter with the reverse twist. ~Kees~.Clay Smith kits | The Muzzleloading Forum. This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks ...Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.40 Cal. This is a Numrich Arms Swivel Breech rifle in .45. Build by Hopkins and Allen in early 70s. I bought this rifle for a much grander project. I was planning to make wooden side panels for barrels and reset ramrod pipes. Stock had damage to toe, that I repaired, as well as a cracked buttplate. Had to take a much larger one and refit it. Flintlock Rifles | The Muzzleloading Forum. This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks ... 2,427. Location. Federal Way Washington. Nov 23, 2022. #1. Thompson Center traditional muzzleloaders, arguably the best production blackpowder guns ever made. That ought to get some blood boiling.Location. Andover, VT. Aug 25, 2012. #2. Nitric acid is technically aquafortis, for sure, but the solution folks use to stain rifles is saturated with iron. Make the 10% or up to 25% solution, add iron shavings or small nails, let it cook uncovered until it is done consuming iron. Filter through a coffee filter, etc, and use this to stain maple.32 Cal. When I discovered a 72 cal Pedersoli Double rifle being offered for sale for only $675, I couldn't believe no one jumped on it before me. Well, I jumped because $675 is a super bargain. These rifles usually sell for $1200 - $1600.Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.Mon Jul 23, 2018 8:45 pm. Knight Manual Articles. This board contains articles and passages from our owner's manual to better help those who own Knight Rifles, both new …Patrick Rumora said: There is a huge difference between black powder and smokeless black powder and I want to make a few things clear. 1) Do not try to use any smokeless powders in any type of muzzleloader, UNLESS IT SPECIFIES IT. 2) If you don't understand the difference between black powder and smokeless powders.Here, in Henry's case he has a Pedersoli Frontier rifle. This is an advantage in that the Pedersoli is a factory made rifle and Pedersoli has a recommendation of a 0.440" ball and 0.015" thick patches. Patch lubricant can be a variety of mixes or store bought concoctions. 60 to 79 grains, black powder volume measure should be good for that ...Indiana. Jan 1, 2024. #21. French Colonial said: This is for cleaning a flintlock with a pinned barrel. First you must have a pattern makers vice on one end of your bench and a support on the other for the stock. Clamp the buttstock in the vice while the other end is supported, remove the lock using gunsmith specific screwdrivers.Oct 10, 2020 · Weighs just over 8lbs, so it's quite handy for a double barrel gun. Barrel swivel detents are nice and solid. Seems in decent shape overall. These are fairly uncommon so if you're thinking about playing with a swivel breech this is about as affordable as it gets. $550 Shipping Included. Last edited: Oct 24, 2021. I've looked around for a bit trying to find one of these, but I haven't had any luck so I'm gonna create my own. I'm gonna take my Traditions Kentucky and cut it down, recrown,etc. Then refit the nose cap, drill and tap the underside of the barrel for it. I know the Tennessee Rifle is a double wedge setup and the Kentucky is a pinned barrel.Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.In other words, a tablespoon of stain to a tablespoon of alcohol. With this thinned stain, use a small, fine hair paint brush about 3/4" to 1" wide and paint the stain onto the wood. Apply the stain "with the grain". Try not to overlap the strokes but also try no cover all of the wood so there are no unstained places.42. Reaction score. 16. Oct 15, 2012. #1. It's been rumored that Thompson Center stopped making their Hawken rifles. I called their customer service today and the operator confirmed that they discontinued the Hawken. My .50 cal flinter shoots low and way to the left.Nov 21, 2020. #3. I have owned a Lyman GPR .50 caliber flint for better part of 10 years. My usual load is 80-85 grs. Goex FFg with a Hornady swaged .495" round ball with .018" mink oil lubed patch. With a witness I once-upon-a-time was able to pull off a 3 shot cloverleaf at 100 yards. Once and only once.Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.216. Mar 11, 2022. #1. Hello all. Thought maybe I would share a few pictures of an Underhammer that I've been working on this past winter. The gun was finished basically to in "the white" by my gunsmith. The barrel is a 32" GM LRH 50 cal 1-28 twist. The action is from Taylor Machine.Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.You don't want this so, what you need to do is to get a damp rag. Then, thoroughly wet the surfaces of the wood and sit it aside to dry. When it is dry, pick the stock up and rub your hand gently from muzzle to butt. In one direction it will feel rather smooth. In the other direction, it will feel very rough.But it is what it is. **DGG in a circle, or without a circle is the gun maker mark of Giuseppe Doninelli, Giacomo Grassi, and Silvano Gazzola. It also became the mark of Armi San Paolo and Euroarms, Italia SRL. These three were an Ialian manufacturer founded in 1970. By 2002, they were integrated into Euroarms Italia SRL.**.i have a .45 pedersoli kentucky. using 2fg, start with at least 60 grains. once you get the patch thickness sussed out, increase 5 grains at a time and shoot 5 balls for each. with good weather and careful bench shooting, you'll find a charge load yer rifle will like best. make SURE to run a lightly lubed patch down and out ONCE between each ...Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.45 caliber. Yeah, I will keep watching for a .32 and/or a .36 cal. I will gladly pay about what I've paid so far ($100 each for my 2 Hawkens), or can afford to pay a little more. I also have a Dart brand Kentucky rifle in .45 cal that I paid $50 for and an unbuilt CVA kit from the 70s that I paid $75 for.Back in 1978 I was introduced to a couple in Cascade Montana who had a wonderful collection of Sharon and GRRW guns, mostly Hawkens. They must have had between 6 or 8 guns in a presentation rack. Talk about a Pavlov's dog response, it made a young muzzleloading enthusiast drool.Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us. The Craftsman. Muzzleloading related things you've made or have questions about making - Knives, Tomahawks, Horns, Clothing, Bags, etc. Traditional Only - no modern designs. Do not post items unrelated to Muzzleloading. This is not a "general craft" category. Stack all that over FFFG black powder. Start your charges around 45-50 grains of powder. Increase the charge 5 grains at a time until you find what the rifle likes. Consider getting a range rod for loading, use the short starter you have shown in the photo.Here, in Henry's case he has a Pedersoli Frontier rifle. This is an advantage in that the Pedersoli is a factory made rifle and Pedersoli has a recommendation of a 0.440" ball and 0.015" thick patches. Patch lubricant can be a variety of mixes or store bought concoctions. 60 to 79 grains, black powder volume measure should be good for that ...Messages. 7,913. Reaction score. 1,950. Apr 21, 2013. #8. According to the Greenhill formula for calculating the spin required for a given bullet length or, conversely, length of bullet which can be stabilized by a given twist, a twist of 1:66 will work for bullets .568" long or shorter in a .50 caliber. Spence.7. Location. Vista, CA. Aug 26, 2023. #1. In my trying the patch over powder I did find more accuracy and consistency of point of impact. That being said, I was wondering about different techniques. I was placing the patch into the barrel only the depth of the short starter and then ramming my patched ball home.Oct 10, 2023. #1. Hello all, I have recently acquired a new Pedersoli Frontier (Cabela's Blue Ridge). Although I am familiar with muzzle loading I have never owned a rifle or musket with a double set trigger; and have a few queries regarding their mechanics. I have noticed that prior to engaging the set trigger it can move back and forth freely ...Jun 6, 2008. #11. I received a box of Hornady Great Plains bullets in .58 caliber with a lightly used .58 cal Zouave. When I got to the range I wiped the bore, poured 60 grains of Pyrodex RS down the hole and started the pre lubed bullet. It got about 12 inches down the bore and stopped.Apr 20, 2017. #2. Russ Hamm died years ago. His early locks were OK, his later locks were POS. You would have to check with Chambers to see if they had a suitable replacement. Russ worked 3rd shift at a GM plant. Whatever metal the plant was casting is what he used. I built a flintlock using a Russ Hamm lock.Hey guys, I tested out a new load for the traditions .54 blunderbuss based on someone's .54 smoothbore hunting load in another thread. I used 60 grains hodgon's triple 7 3f granulation( I don't want to hear it about not using real BP).54 wool wad over powder 80 grains of shot(#6) and a wad over shot At 20 yards the pattern had 30 average hits into what I consider the kill zone.In the cannon you show the breech block is inserted making it a complete gun. The breech block is loaded from the muzzle end. A Ferguson is a good example as a breech loader the ball is inserted into the breech then the powder. This is like a modern cartridge gun as the cartridge does not contain the weapons breech (different than the cannon ...Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.Jan 17, 2024. #20. Yes sir, you have got it right. It's a muzzleloading Creedmore Henry rifle. Actually in the 80s they were manufactured by a couple of artisans from Eibar (the gunsmithing city of Spain), whose workshop signed the weapons with the name of A.M.R. (initials of gunsmith Antonio Marcos Relea).I went grey squirrel hunting with a buddy this morning. He used a 36 and I tried my T/C New Englander 12 gauge with cylinber bore. I shot and killed with the first pull of the trigger at a squirrel between 20-25 yards away. The rest of the morning I fired 3 more shots at squirrels from 30...1,161. Nov 20, 2023. #1. Today I received a call from Shiloh Sharps that my percussion 1863 Shiloh Sharps was ready for shipping. However, they said that it had to be shipped to an FFL. When I asked whose rules this was, eventually the lady said it was UPS's rules. I said you could ship through USPS and she said, "If that was an option we would ...Kevin Houlihan said: There's a ton of room for the rear lock bolt. The bolt will screw into the bolster to the rear of the screw that attaches the bolster to the plate. Next drill your front lock bolt so it will screw into the lock plate in front of the main spring. Be sure to miss the barrel and the ramrod groove.Dec 16, 2023 · Patrick Rumora said: There is a huge difference between black powder and smokeless black powder and I want to make a few things clear. 1) Do not try to use any smokeless powders in any type of muzzleloader, UNLESS IT SPECIFIES IT. 2) If you don't understand the difference between black powder and smokeless powders. Its a fine grained powder. Swiss 3f is a spunky powder! That charge with a .490 ball out of an old Renegade chrono'd 1750 fps. The Pennsylvania Hunter has 6 more inches of barrel, so I expect it'll be a wee bit faster. The triggers on both of my rifles are really excellent. Best TC sidelocks I've ever had.Reducing width by 25% reduces spring strength by 25%. Thinning by narrowing reduces strength proportionally. Thinning reduces strength relative to the square of the thickness. 3/4 times 3/4 = 9/16. 4/4 times 4/4 =16/16 or one (unchanged). 16/16 minus 9/16 = 7/16 loss or 43% loss.Location. mexico. Apr 17, 2023. #1. Everyone has bushel basket of hunting stories that they can share, unless you're very young or don't hunt. I saw no place to tell/post my adventures, so it looks like it will default to here. There had been a drought in 1986 . . . or maybe it was in 1988, I really don't recall, but no matter.The patent breech in percussion guns is safer and easier to clean. Drum and nipple breeches are manure from several perspectives. Most modern patent breeches on the factory made guns are designed to be cheap to make and install. I believe the Nock antechamber breech gives better velocity but experience is limited.Dec 8, 2022. #42. Campbell said: The future of traditional muzzleloaders is bright! I have a 27 year old son, two mid 20's sons-in-law and a grandson. They are all involved in traditional black powder shooting (except the 18 month old grandson ;-) ! Give him time. , , and 1 other person.Ok, so this pandemic thing finally gave me the time to finish out the CVA 45 cal percussion Kentucky Pistol kit I picked up a while ago. While I have a number of guns, this is my first black powder kit and before I screw something up firing it, I thought it would be prudent to post on here for some advice.Kevin Houlihan said: There’s a ton of room for the rear lock bolt. The bolt will screw into the bolster to the rear of the screw that attaches the bolster to the plate. Next drill your front lock bolt so it will screw into the lock plate in front of the main spring. Be sure to miss the barrel and the ramrod groove.The Everything store has yet to attract brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Prada. A few businesses are still immune to Amazon: dollar stores, auto parts, home improvement, and h...FOR SALE F/S Rare British Military Saddle Carbine Flintlock Lock - 1835. For sale & a very RARE find! King William IV saddle carbine lock. Has a slide safety and an "internal" frizzen spring. The lock plate measures 5.5 inches overall and is marked with a crown, W.R., TOWER and dated 1835.This is the best feeling | The Muzzleloading Forum. This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the ...40 Cal. There are many variables to consider when working up a load for any muzzleloading rifle. Bore size, rare of twist, patching material for round ball, powder type, lube for your bullet/patches. all of these things will affect accuracy and the type of powder you use and the best charge to use.Many would say the Pennsylvania is more correct due to it's length, I got the Kentucky because I always wanted one and for no other reason. If you compare the two the only real difference is the length and the Pennsylvania doesn't have a patchbox other than that everything appears to be the same.This method will tell you if the flash channel is clear of any debris left over from cleaning and storage. Place a cap on the nipple and point the rifle in a safe direction and pull the trigger. Remove the first cap hull and place another cap. Point the rifle toward the ground. Pull the trigger again.SDSmlf said: For roundball I would suggest 1-56 to 1-60 at most. I had a 54 in 1-66 and it shot great, but it didn't start to get there until you were loading north of 100 grains of powder. Was still showing signs of improvement up to 135 grains, but my crowns and fillings were starting to loosen. Sold it.It is nice and small and reasonably easy to make. The pattern is drawn on 1" squares. The area above the "dot-dash" to the "dash-dash" can be used in one of two ways. 1) folded under and sewn or 2) separate piece from thinner leather and folded as an edging as can be seen in the first photo.Virginia. Dec 21, 2022. #2. Thanks for sharing the link! With how esoteric the pre flintlock systems are, it would be great to consolidate information on making each type (snap matchlock, normal matchlock, snaphance, wheellock, combination lock). Obviously something like a wheellock requires a high level of skill and forgoing resources, but if ...Both rifles will produce comparable accuracy/precision. Using a 50 yard zero, the difference in drop between the two at this range is less then an inch, 45cal (4.9”), 58cal (5.7”), The initial gap in velocity evens up at 100 yards with the 45cal at 997FPS compared to the 58cal at 992FPS, even with the 300FPS difference at the muzzle.
The Gun Builder's Bench | The Muzzleloading Forum. This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the .... Katrina kaif sexxx
Feb 9, 2015 · 40 Cal. There are many variables to consider when working up a load for any muzzleloading rifle. Bore size, rare of twist, patching material for round ball, powder type, lube for your bullet/patches. all of these things will affect accuracy and the type of powder you use and the best charge to use. Republic mo. Jul 5, 2017. #10. Just look at the ballistics data a .54 loaded with 120 grains 3f will get about 1800 fps in a 35" barrel or so. At 100 yards will slow to 1050 or so. An 80 grain charge will do about 1500 fps and will slow to a little more then 900. Fater charges won't buy you a lot down range.Hi, I will occasionally post photos and descriptions of my work on a Chambers Little Fella's rifle kit I am building for Rifleman1776. Frank wants a small light rifle and this kit should fill the bill. Despite building >60 muzzleloaders over the years, I've only built one kit gun. That was a Navy Arms 1863 Springfield musket.Researchers have been asking this question for almost a century and now we're a little closer to the answer. Advertisement It might seem like geologists are just studying a bunch o...Got a new toy. | The Muzzleloading Forum. This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks ...Location. The Meat Counter. Jun 25, 2023. #5. I tried to sharpen a flint once. On the second or third tap with a small hammer a small flake made a bee line for the corner of right eye and hit my skin. Put down the hammer, jumped on the TOTW website and bought flints. Happily paying the delivery fee and taxes.Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight. We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.Muzzleloader Rifles, Muzzleloader Pistols & Muzzleloader Supplies - #1 Source for Muzzleloaders. Black Powder Rifles, Pistols & Black Powder Kits. Shop all the top …i've been shooting the pietta remmington 1858 new army revolver since 2009 and still use the pietta nipples that came with the revolver and remmington #10 caps. never had a misfire or cap jam and use the grease over ball so far. up to a few years ago i shot the hornady 451 balls and never had any issues. read that the .454's were better so i bought …Location. Colorado. Dec 21, 2017. #3. Black powder needs the length to burn completely. The short barrel like 20 or 22 inches is cute but has lots of short comings in muzzle loaders. The old timers sorted out how long a barrel needed to be and as powder got better the barrel got shorter.2 days ago · I tried blasting it out atleast 10 times it hasn’t moved. I tried the grease gun but the grease went around the minie so that didn’t work. I broke two ball pullers of on the ball, JB welded the last puller into my rod and it still stripped the puller. I took it to a gunsmith with air and pullers and he couldn’t budge it. Colorado. Feb 22, 2006. #7. It's my understanding that Jack farmed out some of the work on these rifles. I personally know a gunsmith who did some of the work. But, Jack supervised and still has his name, and reputation, involved. I wouldn't hesitate one minute to own one of the West Virginia University rifles..