I have a Lyman Deerstalker in .54 that I have the devils own time getting to shoot accurately. I was at the range today getting groups larger than 10" at 100 yds, from the bench. I use a rear peep sight and front fiber optic. I get 1-1/2" groups sitting at the same distance with a centerfire rifle, so I don't think its me.

I originally shot .530 balls with a .015 patch, with lousy accuracy, and fiddled with the load but did not improve the accuracy much.

Switching to .535 balls and .015 patch seemed to shrink the groups down to about 4" at 100 yds, but today it was off again. I believe the twist is 1 in 48".

Any suggestions? I was thinking of switching to powerbelt bullets (legal in Colorado, unlike sabots) for elk hunting, so I may try those.

I haven't had any experience with the Deerstalker but a trick to try is a Wonder Wad, or TC Wad, between the powder and the patched ball. I've had good luck with Thompson's .018 lubed pillow ticking patches, the aforementioned wad, and 530 balls in a couple of my muzzleloaders.

Corax,

Welcome to the forums here!

What are you using- Black Powder, pyrodex, 777, etc? How many grains?

Have you recovered any of your patches, if so how do they look? Also, did you cast these balls, if so were they wheelweight or pure lead?

Do you swab between shots, if so what do you use on the patch?

Sorry for the questions, but they will help in finding out an answer for you.

Mark

A cousin has the Deerstalker and quite likes it, but I recall he uses conicals. As I understand it the 1:48 is a comprimise twist; probably too slow for sabot'd pistol bullets, just right for full bore diameter conicals, and not too fast for patched roundballs. As they loose steam in a big hurry were I using roundballs in a 1:48 I'd try for a 50 or 75 yard zero working up the charges until just before the groups go kerflooey. If that's not enough oomph to suit you then you get to try powerbelts, the two different T/C conicals, and the Hornady great plains bullets. I bet you'll find something you like. (My 209x50 Encore really likes the 295 grain hollowpoint powerbelt. My other BP guns are flintlocks, a slow twist .54 and a smootbore .62, so they are shot with the patched roundball exclusively). Good hunting!

I have a Lyman Great Planes rifle in 54cal it has a slow twist. I shoot 100grs Pyrodex RS and a .535 balls and .015 patch I found out that the patch thickness had a lot to do with accuracy. I started with a .010 patch and went to a .015 patch and the group size shrank considerably from 5gal bucket size to about 3" at 100yrds on a good day off a rest.

I know your rifle is a faster twist but you might want to try a thicker patch.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

Thanks for the help. I am using 100 grs of Goex FFg and .015 pre-lubed (wonder lube) patches. I have some .020 patches, and they seem to shoot better, although I pretty much need a mallet to get them started. I guess that would be OK for a first shot, loaded at the truck.

One further note: I am using .535 Hornady swaged balls.

Comment on switching from .530 to .535 - As with many other things in life, bigger balls solved the problem.

Mark - thanks for the interest and I apologize for the disjointed reply. To summarize:

.540 Deerstalker
.535 balls with .015 wonderlube patch over 100 grs of Goex ffg. I did not check the patch last week, but they generally do not show signs of cutting or burn-through.
I clean between shots with a patch wet with 'OL Thunder black powder solvent, then dry the barrel with two more patches (each patch reversed and used twice).

Thganks again.

Corax,

The load sounds good to me, what I'd suggest next is focusing on consistent seating pressure.

OK, now you're going to think I'm weird, but here goes-

What you want to strive for is an even 40 pounds of seating pressure. Do it this way- take a bathroom scale and stand your gun on it, notice what it weighs or else just use the adjustment to turn it to zero when the gun is standing on it. Now load your gun but do not seat all the way, then put it on the scale and gently but evenly apply pressure till the scale reads 40 pounds. Do not pile-drive the ramrod up and down, just do the even seating press and leave it at that.

After a while you will develop the feel for it, but this really helps you learn how much pressure to use when seating bullets over the powder.

Do you have a ball starter or do you only use the ramrod. I use a ball starter and they are hard to get started but after about 2" to 3" they go easy enough.

I met a guy at the range that made a pressure scale to put on his ram-rod he said it made a lot of difference. I tried to talk him into makeing me one but no luck.

Are you planning on useing the smoke-pole to deer hunt. I have shot several with an inline took the lyman last year but didn't get a shot.

I like your last line "As with many other things in life, bigger balls solved the problem" you should add it to your profile.


Good luck and keep trying.

348 gr. Powerbelt & this one below. Start with 80 grains. Spit-swab after every 2nd shot until groups are satisfactory.
Should the Ballet be inconsistent, fill the hollow base with bore butter.

310 gr. Buffalo Ballet

Thanks for all the feedback.

I was always curious about bullet seating pressure. What I have been doing is pushing down hard on the ramrod (I use a SS range rod with a plastic bore guide), then take a standard delrin ramrod and lift it about 9" and drop it until it bounces. If the bullet is not down tight the ramrod will not bounce. The intent is to produce a consistent seating pressure, but I have no idea how much pressure this is equivalent to.

If you are bouncing your ram-rod on your bullet/round-ball you will deform it causing lack of accuracy down range. A push down the barrel with even seating pressure is a more consistent method.

Good luck.