what 54 cal ball?

Inline or Traditional rifle? is good to know first. As they (both) require different types of projectiles because of their barrel twist rates. As far as a 54 cal ball? .530 dia. would work good for your application with a 10-15ths patch. I personally shoot .535 dia. with a 10ths. patch out of my 54s. Like I said. Just my personal preference is all. Again just my humble opinion.;)
 
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Sure Shot + 1

Inline or Traditional rifle?
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Good point as in order to define your optimum load, you need to address the requirements of your rifle. Twist is going to come into play. I'd guees you have a SideLock but it's only a guess.... :confused:

Be Safe !!!
 
A round ball isn't going to perform well with a twist faster than 1:48. Something like 1:60 is a lot better for round ball.
 
Sorry, no pic yet. Hawkin custom gun at least twenty years old, would assume a slow twist, havent checked, twenty nine inch barrel, flintlock.
 
Great Choice !!!

Hawkin custom gun at least twenty years old, would assume a slow twist, havent checked, twenty nine inch barrel, flintlock.
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You do have good taste and I welcome you to the forum as well ..... :D

Be Safe !!!
 
RW, I have a hawken-type rifle in.54. It has a Green Mtn barrel w/ 1:70" twist. it shoots a patched rb real well and my fav combination is a .520" ball & .020" patch. It: 1) loads easier and 2) is as accurate (out of my gun) as tighter ball/patch combination.
 
FWIW, Bore sizes on .54 vary with maker. Some, like Pedersoli, tend to run a little tight, like a Santa Fe Hawken, and the .520 is the ball that will work. Most TC's want a .530 ball. If they don't patch tight enough to suit you, get thicker patches. If it still don't suit you, they sell .535 balls. How tight you patch is up to you and your rifle. Some guys, myself included patch real tight for the first load, then back off .005 on the patch thickness for a speedy reload.
The difference is the second load pushes just fine without the ball starter, and you save a little time. With a flintlock you need the time to prime.
 
Well actually doc I do have a couple of production revolvers, nothing special.

58remingtonpistol003.jpg



58 remington, pietta.
 
Welcome!! Love the user name btw. I must see this rifle. Get to snappin. :D
my .54 Lyman GPR runs great with the ball patch info I recieved here from Hawg Haggen I think. Anyway it will dang near put them in the same hole with a .535 ball and a .015" patch.
 
Sure Shot Mc Gee said:
Inline or Traditional rifle? is good to know first. As they (both) require different types of projectiles because of their barrel twist rates.
Click to expand...
I have an inline .54 cal with a 1:60 round ball twist - A Pedersoli Gamma 9000.

Lyman's Great Plains Hunter, a traditional side lock, has a 1:32 twist.
 
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