A lot of folks like to load for bear. As a rule, I'm target shooting, and I load for accuracy. In practicality there isn't much around here that is going to stand up to a well placed 50 cal round ball, so I played with increasing the load until my accuracy started to suffer. They sell Buffalo bullets, that are pre lubed hollow point bullet shaped projectiles. due to the shape they mass about 2.5 times as much as a round ball of the same caliber; and they are a tolerance fit, and don't need wadding . The ideal rifling twist is different for a round ball than a conical bullet, so a gun built for a round ball will be more accurate with a round ball. My first black powder rifle , built from a cheap CVA kit, which I have given to my #1 son; has compromise rifling, half way between the ideal for a round ball and a conical bullet.
My 50 cal pistol (a Pedersoli David 50 cal flintlock pistol) has never been right, the Lock geometry is not right and I had to modify the jaws that hold the flint; also it shot way low. it had a heavy trigger pull, which with the cane like handle , caused the barrel to nose down. I altered the handle, and did some judicious filing on some of the lock parts to minimize that, and it still shot low. My son determined the front sight was too high, and I ground some off of it. we need to test it, and probably grind some more off. Vertically it shoots dead on, and if you put the bottom of the front blade in the notch instead of the top it will bullseye regularly. Once I get the sights modified to get it on target, I can mess with the load. Black powder produces a lower muzzle velocity, and thus a gentler kick than what you would likely get from a similar grain bullet from a smokeless charge, so if the kick pushes you around excessively , likely the gun is heavily overloaded. They do kick, but due to the lower muzzle velocity it should be a slow motion kick; more of a gentle shove . Of course with a rifle or a shotgun you better have that stock tight to your shoulder, or you will regret it.
I also have a reproduction Remington old army cap and ball revolver. I do load it for bear, as I have found that filling the cylinder up to the brim gets a more consistent load than trying to measure for each cylinder. I use 1F (Musket grade) black powder the coarsest stuff normally available, as filling it up with the finer stuff would be pushing it too far. they sell treated wool plugs, called wonder wads you can put between the ball and the powder. the wool is impregnated with a lubricant that helps clean the bore as you shoot, and it seals the powder in the cylinder off so you don't need to grease it to prevent chain fire, which I understand can ruin your whole day.
Bill Nelson
have busy with a lot of family stuff, but finally got some work done on the station. Am close to rounding the corner and working on the helix side of the station, as the Possum Hollow side of the station nears completion.
Tom, I only stuck myself once, and it was very minor, no bandaid needed, just 5 minutes of pressure with the thumb. Those little surgical blades are sharp!!!
I got the last of the pesky individual foam "stones" on the possum hollow side of the Union Station. When I get off work on Monday morning i may get the first coat of gray paint on the new stones. It takes lots of paint, and multiple touch ups to get every little nook and cranny covered. eventually I will probably add in a darker wash to get some artificial shadows in the cracks.
mystery solved, and window work
Thank you. In looking at this I don't see the photo of the stones !/2 way done I swore O posted. I must be loosing my tiny little mind. but here it is.
