Thread: muzzel loader

hi picked up a h&r handi with 4 barrels one of them is a 50 cal muzzle loader. Any one got one or used one ive not had any thing to do with muzzle loaders yet so hoping to get some tips on powder and projectiles that would be suitable and any other tips and info

How does a .50 cal muzzle loader work on the rifle? How do you ignite it? Photo?

its not a full on muzzle loader its based on a handi rifle set up its a factory option

Honestly we want to see it.

well its not set up with the muzzle loader barrel currently its a 243 at the moment if you google the h&r site you should be able to see one cheers

The ignition will be along the inline design with a 209 shotgun primer

thanks for the info I need to get some of those and it uses black powder im not sure what type I should use or if there are different types. Also not sure if I use round balls or a bullet shaped projectile ill also have a look on greybeards as I don't think theres many of this kind of set up in nz

Does their web site not have the details for it?

no they don't make them any more

Without seeing it Im thinking its probably a inline muzzleloading barrel. It would have a pocket or nipple to fit a primer or percussion cap (proberbly No #11 caps) at the back end to ignite the powder when struck by the hammer, Right??.

Load it with 60 - 90 grains of Black powder 3F (FFF) or 2F(FF). F is a granuel size.

Take a rod and wind a patch of cloth around it and push it down the barrel and count how many times the rifeling turns the rod then work out how many turns it has to the inches.

To shoot patch and roundball it about 1 turn in 66 inches.

1 turn in 48in is a consession so will shoot Patched round ball or conical bullet. Its a inbetweener so accuracy is ok but not astounding.

About 1 turn in 32 inch is for Conical and sabbot bullets. Id start this one on 60 grains of Powder.

Love to see a photo of it!!

If you start shooting it with black powder, I just make my own and it as cheap as chips. Not sure as haven`t worked it out but think about $5 a kilo.
750grams Potasium nitrate, 150 grams willow charcole, 100 grams flowers of sulpher, 400ml?? stale urine (yeh I know bloody wonderful).
Run the lot through a sive SEPERATLY. Bring the potasium nitrate and Stale urine to the boil in a alloy pot (outside on a gas cooker).The potasium nitrate will desolve under the heat.
Having mixed the charcole and sulpher together well, add it slowly to the potasium nitrate and stir in well, Watch it dosn`t boil over.
Boil off some of the urine and keep stiring with a wooden stick untill about bread dough consistancy (10min).
Take it off the heat and the mix will harden as it cools. force it through a course kitchen sive and let it dry. Once you have made it you will understand what they mean by keep your powder dry. Just a bit of moisture and it isn`t great but have the powder dry and it works just like the bought stuff with good consistant shots. I get about 2 in groups at 50yds with my Thompson centre hawken flintlock (Flinchlock) it me flinching that causes the problems.

thanks that's really helpful info I think its a huntsman it uses the sb2 frame and its got a plastic primer holder so the hammer strikes the primer. I will try and get a pick up at some stage I haven't taken any pics of it yet its got a 204 ruger 223 and 243 barrels as well its set up with the 243 barrel at the moment and once I get that shooting well ill try the muzzle loader barrel next as they are the only two that intrest me. After using black powder do you need to wash the barrel out with boiling water I heard it corrosive

Originally Posted by northdude

thanks that's really helpful info I think its a huntsman it uses the sb2 frame and its got a plastic primer holder so the hammer strikes the primer. I will try and get a pick up at some stage I haven't taken any pics of it yet its got a 204 ruger 223 and 243 barrels as well its set up with the 243 barrel at the moment and once I get that shooting well ill try the muzzle loader barrel next as they are the only two that intrest me. After using black powder do you need to wash the barrel out with boiling water I heard it corrosive

Have had a look around on the webb and you will need to prime it with 209 shotgun primer. To clean it just take the barrel off and stand it in a bucket of hot water and dishwash detergent. Use your rod and a patch of cloth and pump it up and down in the bucket. Run a few oily patches up and down the barrel on your rod as per normal barrel cleaning and its done. I just use engine oil.

This rifles barrel will most probably be the tighter twist for conical or sabbot bullets. If you PM me at some stage I can post you a few
50cal roundballs and Minie bullets.
Casting roundballs and Minie bullets you want to use soft plumbers lead. On the Minie bullets I use axel grease for bullet lube and engine oil as patch lube for the roundball (patch lightly dampened). Cloth nappies make great bullet patch , only problem is you generally need to have kids to get the nappies!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went to "spotlight"and got a mtr of pillow ticking,washed,and split into 2 inch strips.Lubed with LEE caselube.
You will need to experiment with different thickness of patch to get the best fit in your bore.

Homemade Black Powder - YouTube

couldn't do an edit(403 forbidden)

this guy is good if you can stand his comentry.