Need muzzle loader help

[bigpete]

Spit lube.
And yes,make a short starter. Its just a short stick with something on the end so you don't spike your hand.

[Oldbloke]

Spit lube.
And yes,make a short starter. Its just a short stick with something on the end so you don't spike your hand.

Yep, I was just looking at YouTube. Ill make one. Easy peasy. Will look for some brushes tomorrow.

Can I just use cotton sheet or shirts for wads? And do they need to be round, or is squat OK?

[bigpete]

Cotton sheets are fine,flannelette shirts are fine if they're pure cotton. Just as long as they fit reasonably tight. And I just use square patches. I rip a length of cotton about an inch wide ( big enough to go around the circumference of the ball ) and stuff it into a little pocket I've made and I just pull it out like a tissue and tear a square off each time I load. It works well

[Oldbloke]

I need to buy the FFF powder soon. Any brands I should avoid or recommendations?

[bigpete]

I just use wano

[Noisydad]

OB Wano is probably all you’ll find. Swiss is made from unaffordium and is over $120/kg now if you can find a stockist.
If you’re loading smaller cartridges with BP you could try Wano 3P. It burns a little hotter and cleaner and gives your bullet lube a chance at keeping the fouling soft.
I’ll be loading .44-40 with 3P this week for Sunday’s long Arms comp day at Seymour BP club.

[Oldbloke]

I picked up 1kg of wano fff and a ball starter today.
I was going to make one but he knocked $5 off. Also picked up a bronze brush, and have about 90 balls. Sooo, just need a jag now.

Then it's "thunder birds r go"

Put in an order for a Lee .490 ball mould today.

[sungazer]

Where in Seymour is it Noisy I might come for a looksee?

[bigpete]

Bentaz,you were saying you were setting up a smoothbore 50 ? Have a look into cheewed balls for it

[Oldbloke]

Here it is.

CVA .50 cal BLAZER.jpg

Did the old bastard cry when he had to hand it over?

TBO, I think he was a bit sad.

[bigpete]

It also helps provide a better fit without excess friction bentaz. I've made a couple but as yet haven't tried them

[Oldbloke]

As I know SFA about these I need to ask.
What is this for?

ML Thingy.jpg (139.49 KiB) Viewed 12501 times

[bigpete]

Holds the barrel in. If you cock the hammer,pull that out,pull the ramrod out,you should be able to lift the barrel from the muzzle end and it hooks at the other end into the stock

[Oldbloke]

Well, I'll be. Don't want to lose that.

Bigpete is it normal for the ram rod to only be held in by friction? I expected a clip, latch or similar. Seems to just pull out.

[bigpete]

Yes that's normal

[Oldbloke]

Thanks

[Noisydad]

It’s very common for ramrods to sneak forwards a little with recoil. It’s no biggy just shove it back in.

[sungazer]

Hey OB are you going out to Seymore on Sunday to tey it out and get all the tips from the experts. I know one of the guys other than Noisy and he will tell you history you never knew and never wanted to know. Sorry I tune out short attention span.

[Oldbloke]

Hey OB are you going out to Seymore on Sunday to tey it out and get all the tips from the experts. I know one of the guys other than Noisy and he will tell you history you never knew and never wanted to know. Sorry I tune out short attention span.

Would like to, tempting. . Unfortunately I'm flat out at work and issues with elderly parents. Looks like being a while before I get out. I haven't even had a chance to clean/oil the rifle yet. Just dumped it in the safe.

The blokes here have been great helping me out.

[sungazer]

Mate you have to put 5 mins aside for yourself to get an oily rag and caress that gun just a little. It might Rust

[Oldbloke]

Mate you have to put 5 mins aside for yourself to get an oily rag and caress that gun just a little. It might Rust

Yeah, will try for it Sunday. But that's in doubt.

[Oldbloke]

Sooo, I've finally got some time today to check out my CVA Blaser. I plan see how it comes apart & give it a good clean and oil.
Just 3 questions if you don't mind.

When cleaning at the end of a days shooting should I pull out the breach plug? (I assume the CVA has one?)
And I assume its just hot soapy water then oil the barrel?
And similar treatment to the nipple using a pipe cleaner?

Thanks Bigpete & Noisy. (hope it goes well today in Seymor)

[Oldbloke]

I gave the bore a clean todayjust using about 10 patches with eds red. It has a loose spot 5 inches from the plug. I'm not sure if that will make a huge difference to accuracy or not. Anyway going to let it soak for a week or so then give it another few patches.

Here is the the result.

Clean CVA.jpg (91.7 KiB) Viewed 12315 times

[bigpete]

I just use hot water,no soap. No you don't take the breech plug out ( you would struggle to anyway if its like mine ). Once your drying patch is coming out clean,oil the barrel. I use something I got from green rivers when.they were still operating that looks like a water based machinists oil. I've also use rp7 when I'm lazy lol. But any sort of natural oil or grease is ok.

[Oldbloke]

OK, that's what I thought. You have been great pigbete. I owe you some KFC. Beats crow mate.

All set up now I think, just gotta get out and have a shot. I feel a bit like a kid, can't wait to try out the new toy.

I blame bentaz, bad influence that boy.

[bigpete]

It'll be fun.

[sungazer]

Bloody cold out Seymour way today. All the guys were having a good time and I think I may have been told a few tall tales by some of the old fanatics. Good to meet up with Noisydad he had a fair few toys not the loudest I heard in the morning. . There was certainly a big range in dB from some that were not more that a 22 to quite a bang. You should have a lot of fun with it OB but dont bank on it for the invasion of the zombies. I think even at zombie pace you would be overrun between loadings

[Oldbloke]

Bloody cold out Seymour way today. You should have a lot of fun with it OB but dont bank on it for the invasion of the zombies. I think even at zombie pace you would be overrun between loadings

Yeah, cold at home today too.

Would have liked to go but lots of family related issues at the moment. Perhaps the next one.

Anyway I cleaned the rifle and I think I'm now ready to go.

PS. The zombies are safe.

[bigpete]

That's why they carried a pistol, a tomahawk,and a long knife

[Oldbloke]

That's why they carried a pistol, a tomahawk,and a long knife

Sounds like I need a pistol!