58 Caliber Roundball Loads

[Nate Eller]

I have just recently picked up my first left handed flintlock today, it has a 35 inch Bill Large straight octagon barrel that looks to be about 1:70 ROT, micro click adjustable target sights and an L&R lock. Any advice on general flintlock rifle reliability and loads for the 58. I've already got some 570 balls and 18 and 20 thousandths patches.

 

[shb]

Like every other rifle on the planet, you'll have to try some different combinations.

I had a 58 plains rifle made up with a flintlock. I started off with 75gr of 3f, and a .562 w/ a .018 patch.


It ended up liking 90gr of 3f, with a .575 ball.


75gr 3f




90gr 3f




Field testing

 

[Nate Eller]

How hard was it to fit that l&r lock into the existing lock mortice on your rifle? I have a Lyman 54 percussion that id like to put a new lock into, but I am distrustful of the l&r being supposedly drop in.

 

[shb]

I dont know, it was a custom made for me by a gunsmith friend. I dont possess those skills.

 

[Sheltowee]

Like every other rifle on the planet, you'll have to try some different combinations.

I had a 58 plains rifle made up with a flintlock. I started off with 75gr of 3f, and a .562 w/ a .018 patch.


It ended up liking 90gr of 3f, with a .575 ball.


75gr 3f
View attachment 391237



90gr 3f
View attachment 391236



Field testing
View attachment 391238








View attachment 391235

 

[Nate Eller]

I dont know, it was a custom made for me by a gunsmith friend. I dont possess those skills.

How does it do on large game? Do you usually get exit holes? WHat would your max range be?

 

[shb]

I shot one deer with it.

She didn't slow it down much.

My max would be about 125 with these old eyes.

 

[Nate Eller]

Thank you

 

[BrentD]

Sweet!

I have two Bill Large guns. A .54 halfstock and a .45 full stock.
I would use 2 fg or 1.5 fg to start with. 4f in the pan.

 

[shb]

Sweet!

I have two Bill Large guns. A .54 halfstock and a .45 full stock.
I would use 2 fg or 1.5 fg to start with. 4f in the pan.

The best gun show luck i ever had, was a Bill Large Plains Rifle in .54 - a Sharon Trade Rifle in .54, and Browning Mountain Rifle. In one day, all in for $930

I gave the Large to friend who knew what it was, for his birthday.

Used the Sharon parts to make a percussion plains rifle.

Traded the mountain Rifle for a .36 half stock plains style squirrel rifle.

 

[Bullshot]

I did kill a buck a couple years back with around a 70 grain 2F charge but it really did not react significantly to my 1st hit and it was an unpleasant ensuing rodeo to track it and followup.

I'll be experimenting with my 58 hunting load this month which I raised to 90g and may raise up to about 110 grains 2F. Many people go a little higher still with good results. A good polished bore and the right patch make a big difference, and a wool wad under the PRB may also be beneficial.

 

[David58]

70 grains is a bit lite, imho, if the rifle is heavy enough 90-110 shouldn't hurt too much. I would tend toward that bigger load behind a 58.