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What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie

Posted By: Nathan at Fork

What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/08/15 05:06 AM

I am buying my first muzzleloader to hunt deer and pigs with. I had been looking for a Lyman Trade rifle in 54 but looks like Im getting a Lyman Great Plains rifle in 54cal. I have never shot a muzzle loader before. I know Ill need to do some experimentation with different bullets and powder loads to find out what will work best with this rifle, but Id like to get the necessary accessories and any recommended upgrades bought and in hand. I don't know the barrel length or twist on the rifle Im getting yet.

Can someone give me a list of things that are needed and things that are good to have to get started in muzzle loading. Id rather pay a little more for a quality item than get something cheaper that is harder to use/less accurate/break easy. Also, if there are any upgrades that I can make to the rifle itself Id like to hear those as well. Also, how do I know what powder to get and projectiles to try? IF there a good website for an intro to BP? Id also like to end up casting my own bullets. So to do this Im guessing I have to experiment with store bought until I find what works best then try to find a mold for that particular bullet?
Posted By: Choctaw

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/08/15 01:55 PM

Congrats on your GPR. Which barrel twist did you get? 1/66 will be a roundball barrel. 1/48 will shoot either conical or roundball. 1/32 is a sabot barrel. As for powder, I only shoot blackpowder in my rifles and pistols. I recommend going to the Muzzleloading Forum since you bought a traditional rifle and not an inline. These guys can get you up and running.



Muzzleloading forum
Posted By: mudman

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/08/15 03:42 PM

Go to Traditional Muzzleloading Forum. Be sure to get a loading/cleaning range rod. As far as powder I use Goex 2f in my .54 Great Plains Rifle. .530 round balls and .018 pillow ticking. You can order all the stuff you will need from places like Track of the Wolf. Hope this helps.
Posted By: nuprofessor

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/09/15 01:28 AM

Don't forget a short bullet starter and (depending on the ignition type) a pick to keep the primer hole clear.

MUDMAN,
Have not used round balls much. Do you use a lube on the pillow ticking or go dry?
Posted By: whistler

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/09/15 01:58 AM

lube the patch
Posted By: Nathan at Fork

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/09/15 02:32 AM

The Lyman GPR I am getting is a sidelock percussion cap. He doesn't know what the twist rate is so Ill have to figure that out once I get it. Anyone know how to determine this?
Posted By: whistler

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/09/15 04:11 AM

put a tight fitting patch on a rod and measure distance and turns as you push it in
Posted By: Nathan at Fork

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/09/15 05:16 AM

here is a list I have so far. Please let me know if Im missing anything or if anything I have listed is not needed. Thanks.

projectiles (roundball or conical depending on barrel twist)
black powder or bp substitute
percussion caps
percussion cap capper/holder/dispenser
powder measure/dispenser
lubed ball patches
short rod for starting bullet
brass range rod for seating bullet and cleaning
nipple wrench
ball puller
patch puller
cleaning patches
bore cleaning brush
cleaning jag for cleaning patches
Posted By: Choctaw

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/09/15 01:40 PM

That list is looking good. When I hunt I carry my powder and bullets in pre-measured containers. You can buy "speed loaders" for this, but I use 35 mm film canisters. You should look into getting a shooting pouch or a belt bag to carry the necessary equipment in while you hunt. I try to carry as little as possible while in the field.
Posted By: hangfire

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/09/15 07:58 PM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/25-Black-Powder-...=item27df00f65b I bought these and am very pleased with them. They are air tight when the cap is on. b
Posted By: Nathan at Fork

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/10/15 02:42 AM

How do I know whether to use .530" or .535" roundballs?

Anyone here have the Lyman GPR in 54 and have any reccomendations on powder? From what Im reading, it seems most my best options are pyrodex RS, FFG, FFFG or Triple 7.

What do yall use for patching roundballs? some prelubed patches? Pacth sheet and cut at the barrel?
Posted By: huntnfool

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/10/15 01:58 PM

Originally Posted By: hangfire
http://www.ebay.com/itm/25-Black-Powder-...=item27df00f65b I bought these and am very pleased with them. They are air tight when the cap is on. b


I have these too. Work like a champ.
Posted By: Nathan at Fork

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/11/15 02:21 AM

Looks like cci #11 percussion caps and pyrodex RS powder is what I need to start out with.

Does anyone know if its worth the 6x.75mm #11 nipples with 6x.75mm musket nipples? How much of a difference would it make?

Does everyone here shoot inlines or are there any side lock percussion mz shooters? What supplies do you use? Prelubed patches or spitwads cut at barrel? Anyone shoot 54 cal?
Posted By: whistler

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/11/15 03:29 AM

hope this readable



Posted By: Nathan at Fork

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/11/15 04:33 AM

That's great, thanks for posting it! Think Im going to find a muzzle loading manual to buy. There is to much I don't know.
Posted By: Nathan at Fork

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/19/15 01:25 AM

Got some of my supplies. All from Midway USA

.530 Hornandy roundballs box of 100 for $8 on sale
cva brass powder measure
tube of bore butter
lyman #11 nipple wrench
.018 prelubed pillow ticking patches
.015 dry cotton patches

Think Im just going to use a plastic mustard squeeze bottle as a powder container.

When I can get out to BPS or Academy, I plan on picking up Remington #11 percussion caps and some pyrodex rs. Still have a few things to get , hoping to be able to blow some smoke within the next two months.
Posted By: whistler

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/19/15 01:10 PM

The bps in grapevine carries Goex black powder
Posted By: Choctaw

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/19/15 01:41 PM

Originally Posted By: whistler
The bps in grapevine carries Goex black powder


Is it out on the shelf or do you have to ask for it?
Posted By: whistler

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/19/15 05:28 PM

You have to ask for it
Posted By: Choctaw

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 02/19/15 11:08 PM

Originally Posted By: whistler
You have to ask for it


That's what I thought. Thanks.
Posted By: Nathan at Fork

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 03/01/15 03:42 AM

Gander Mountain in Corsicana is NOT the place to buy BP stuff. They had no #11 percussion caps and didn't have Goex powder. They did have Pyrodex RS. Going to have to find some #11 percussion caps somewhere.
Posted By: 1860.colt

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 03/01/15 10:25 PM

Originally Posted By: Nathan at Fork
How do I know whether to use .530" or .535" roundballs?

Anyone here have the Lyman GPR in 54 and have any reccomendations on powder? From what Im reading, it seems most my best options are pyrodex RS, FFG, FFFG or Triple 7.

What do yall use for patching roundballs? some prelubed patches? Pacth sheet and cut at the barrel?

Whistler postrd the diagram for checking proper ball & patch. The size ball, .530 + patch should equal thr diamitor of barrel not the grove part. I shoot a .440 ball & .010 patch =.450, its been awhile. Might have it wrong. In a ball & pistal should be a small ring arounfd chamber hole. Best wishes. flag
Posted By: Rocklock

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 03/01/15 10:43 PM

In my experience ball diameter + 2x the patch thickness should be ar least the same as the grove to grove diameter in order to seal the gasses behind the ball. My .54 has .012 deep grooves so groove to groove is .54+.012+012 = .564. I shoot balls .535 with .018 to .024 thick patching. If the ball patch combo is greater than the groove to grove diameter the soft lead will deform and no problem. Just pop the ball and patch into the bore with the nub on a short starter then push with the short starter it'll slide down with the rammer.
TC
Posted By: 1860.colt

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 03/02/15 02:14 PM

Originally Posted By: Rocklock
In my experience ball diameter + 2x the patch thickness should be ar least the same as the grove to grove diameter in order to seal the gasses behind the ball. My .54 has .012 deep grooves so groove to groove is . 54+.012+012 = .564. I shoot balls .535 with .018 to .024 thick patching. If the ball patch combo is greater than the groove to grove diameter the soft lead will deform and no problem. Just pop the ball and patch into the bore with the nub on a short starter then push with the short starter it'll slide down with the rammer.
TC

What he's talking about is the bores cut for rifleing. Wich also makes it easier for 2&3rd shot with out cleaning. i tend ta fart alot, & the excess build up of gasses during the combustion stage some times causes a breach around the O-ring leaving powder stain in me shorts. flag
Posted By: Knightdiscshooter

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 03/03/15 12:18 AM

I'd use CCI #11 caps instead of the Remington. CCI's burn just a little bit hotter
Posted By: PrimitiveHunter

Re: What upgrades and accesories for Lyman muzzleloader? Newbie - 03/28/15 05:04 PM

A couple of things that come in handy is a 1 piece aluminum ramrod and a speedloader block. The speedloader block is just a piece of wood with 8 holes drilled in it. You put a patch over a hole and push a ball halfway through. When you load your rifle you just set the ball over the bore and push it through with the starter. A double set trigger is really nice. Both my GPR rifles have them. Once set, the "fire" trigger is about a 1lb pull. Track of the Wolf has everything you could ever want. I get my BP from Graf & Sons. Instead of using powder measures, I cut the end tines off an old rack and hollowed them out till one holds my plinking load and one hold my hunting load.
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