W.M.large

[crow1]

I need help i just picked up a W.M Large 54 cal slug/bench gun .What do i need to shoot it all i have is round balls?

[Mike]

I need help i just picked up a W.M Large 54 cal slug/bench gun .What do i need to shoot it all i have is round balls?

First, check the rate of twist. Most likely that barrel is made for round ball shooting but Large did make many things. You might also check the depth of the grooves, if you can. The best way to do that is to un-breech the barrel so a slug can be driven all the way through but you might not want to do that. Another way to "test" it is to take it out and shoot it with a tightly patched round ball just to see how well it shoots. Large commonly made two sizes of .54s, one for a .526" ball (for hunters) and the other for use with a .535" or even .540" ball (for target shooters). Just guessing from far away, you might try some .535s with a .015" or thicker patch. You should also have a short starter because I doubt you'd be able to start the .535s at the muzzle with ease. Target shooters often start those patched balls at the muzzle with a small wooden mallet. Let me ask you, how much muzzleloading experience do you have?

[crow1]

I need help i just picked up a W.M Large 54 cal slug/bench gun .What do i need to shoot it all i have is round balls?

First, check the rate of twist. Most likely that barrel is made for round ball shooting but Large did make many things. You might also check the depth of the grooves, if you can. The best way to do that is to un-breech the barrel so a slug can be driven all the way through but you might not want to do that. Another way to "test" it is to take it out and shoot it with a tightly patched round ball just to see how well it shoots. Large commonly made two sizes of .54s, one for a .526" ball (for hunters) and the other for use with a .535" or even .540" ball (for target shooters). Just guessing from far away, you might try some .535s with a .015" or thicker patch. You should also have a short starter because I doubt you'd be able to start the .535s at the muzzle with ease. Target shooters often start those patched balls at the muzzle with a small wooden mallet. Let me ask you, how much muzzleloading experience do you have?

[crow1]

i have had a50cal lyman for26 years its the only thing i deer hunt with . this gun has a fales end and weights 30.8 pounds how do i post pics of it on here?

[Mike]

i have had a50cal lyman for26 years its the only thing i deer hunt with . this gun has a fales end and weights 30.8 pounds how do i post pics of it on here?

Crow, I don't know how to post pictures either. However, if your gun has a false muzzle then that makes it for elongated bullets. To the best of my knowledge no one made any false muzzle barrels for round ball shooting. I suggest you do some reading about false muzzle shooting and you can find some information in The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle by Ned Roberts. That book is apparently out of print now but it should be easy to find on BookFinder. In fact, I'll take a good.

[Mike]

i have had a50cal lyman for26 years its the only thing i deer hunt with . this gun has a fales end and weights 30.8 pounds how do i post pics of it on here?

Wow! I found one copy of The Muzzle-Loading Caplock Rifle on BookFinder and it can be yours for just $18.68. You'll want that book.

[Don McDowell]

i have had a50cal lyman for26 years its the only thing i deer hunt with . this gun has a fales end and weights 30.8 pounds how do i post pics of it on here?

When you make a post, scroll down to the Attachments bar. Click on browse find the picture you want to post in your computer, click add attachment , and when its finished loading, click on the insert into post button.
or if you have the picture on photobucket ,imageshack or other copy the link, click on the little box at the top of the reply screen, that has the two little pointy things with the round ball above them. Paste the link into the little window that opens .

[MikePifer]

I don't know how common it is to have FM on round ball bench guns, however I have a 14# and a 50# rifle and both have FM.

Mike Pifer

Crow, I don't know how to post pictures either. However, if your gun has a false muzzle then that makes it for elongated bullets. To the best of my knowledge no one made any false muzzle barrels for round ball shooting. I suggest you do some reading about false muzzle shooting and you can find some information in The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle by Ned Roberts. That book is apparently out of print now but it should be easy to find on BookFinder. In fact, I'll take a good.
[/quote]

[Mike]

I don't know how common it is to have FM on round ball bench guns, however I have a 14# and a 50# rifle and both have FM.

Mike Pifer

Crow, I don't know how to post pictures either. However, if your gun has a false muzzle then that makes it for elongated bullets. To the best of my knowledge no one made any false muzzle barrels for round ball shooting. I suggest you do some reading about false muzzle shooting and you can find some information in The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle by Ned Roberts. That book is apparently out of print now but it should be easy to find on BookFinder. In fact, I'll take a good.

[/quote]

Mike, We all live and learn. I had not heard of false muzzles used on round ball guns before. That adds "spice to the soup" about the gun in question being built for round ball. A check on the rate of twist can add support. Mike

[crow1]