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  • kmittleman

    Active Member
    Nov 22, 2010
    857
    Howard County
    Lyman rifles are made by Investarms who also made them for early Thompson Center, Cabelas etc. They are the best you are going to get unless you want to start spending Pedersoli type bucks. Don't waste money on the Spanish made that Traditions sells, they use soft steel and their quality control is spotty.

    The one thing that you will have to do with a Lyman, if you shoot patched ball, is to double patch for about the first hundred rounds. Their rifling is very sharp and will tear patches until it is dulled. If you are handy, like machinist level, you can make a lap and lap it.

    Midsouth has about the best prices on Lyman rifles. Unless you really want a new one, they hold up really well if cleaned and I have found used ones at half price both here and Gunbroker.

    https://www.midsouthshooterssupply..../deerstalker-50-caliber-right-hand-percussion

    This one on Gunbroker is in excellent shape including the barrel crown. It even has a Lyman sight which is almost $100 itself. I would keep an eye on it if I were you.

    https://www.gunbroker.com/item/877973974

    Ok I ordered the .54 cal Lyman. How do you double patch round balls?
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,728
    Socialist State of Maryland
    It isn't like you put one over the other. It is stuffing a patch over the powder before you load the ball/ patch combination. The second patch reduces the gas blow by that the cut patch would get if you didn't double patch. The easiest way to do it is to start the patch with your short starter and then ram it down with your ram rod. If you didn't do this, you wouldn't get consistency with your shots as patches don't get cut the same all the time. It's been my experience that it takes about 100 rounds to dull the rifling and stop the cutting.

    I used to shoot Lyman Great Plains 50 and 54 in competitions and at NMLRA events. I also hunted with a Lyman deerstalker using the Lyman Maxi ball. With 100-110 grains of powder, that 420 grain slug would give me two inch groups from the bench at 100 yards.

    If you are going to shoot your gun a lot, I recommend the following two things. 1 a Lyman peep sight and 2 a Davis Deerslayer trigger. If you are handy, you work a Lyman trigger somewhat but it is not the right geometry to get a really fine trigger. For $50, a Davis drops right in and is smooth and crisp. The Lyman sights will extend your deer hunting out to 150 yards or maybe further if you use T7. It only costs $75 and is drop in also.
     

    kmittleman

    Active Member
    Nov 22, 2010
    857
    Howard County
    It isn't like you put one over the other. It is stuffing a patch over the powder before you load the ball/ patch combination. The second patch reduces the gas blow by that the cut patch would get if you didn't double patch. The easiest way to do it is to start the patch with your short starter and then ram it down with your ram rod. If you didn't do this, you wouldn't get consistency with your shots as patches don't get cut the same all the time. It's been my experience that it takes about 100 rounds to dull the rifling and stop the cutting.

    I used to shoot Lyman Great Plains 50 and 54 in competitions and at NMLRA events. I also hunted with a Lyman deerstalker using the Lyman Maxi ball. With 100-110 grains of powder, that 420 grain slug would give me two inch groups from the bench at 100 yards.

    If you are going to shoot your gun a lot, I recommend the following two things. 1 a Lyman peep sight and 2 a Davis Deerslayer trigger. If you are handy, you work a Lyman trigger somewhat but it is not the right geometry to get a really fine trigger. For $50, a Davis drops right in and is smooth and crisp. The Lyman sights will extend your deer hunting out to 150 yards or maybe further if you use T7. It only costs $75 and is drop in also.

    Cool - thanks so much for the response. I looked at the Davis trigger which is a double set trigger. Is it ok to swap that out for the Deerstalker’s single trigger?
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,728
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Cool - thanks so much for the response. I looked at the Davis trigger which is a double set trigger. Is it ok to swap that out for the Deerstalker’s single trigger?

    Oops, I forgot about that. I believe I had to get a Great Plains trigger guard and then inlet the stock to make it fit. It was not a drop in on the single trigger models.

    :o Sorry, old brain.
     

    Clovis

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 1, 2011
    1,408
    Centreville
    It isn't like you put one over the other. It is stuffing a patch over the powder before you load the ball/ patch combination. The second patch reduces the gas blow by that the cut patch would get if you didn't double patch. The easiest way to do it is to start the patch with your short starter and then ram it down with your ram rod. If you didn't do this, you wouldn't get consistency with your shots as patches don't get cut the same all the time. It's been my experience that it takes about 100 rounds to dull the rifling and stop the cutting.

    I used to shoot Lyman Great Plains 50 and 54 in competitions and at NMLRA events. I also hunted with a Lyman deerstalker using the Lyman Maxi ball. With 100-110 grains of powder, that 420 grain slug would give me two inch groups from the bench at 100 yards.

    If you are going to shoot your gun a lot, I recommend the following two things. 1 a Lyman peep sight and 2 a Davis Deerslayer trigger. If you are handy, you work a Lyman trigger somewhat but it is not the right geometry to get a really fine trigger. For $50, a Davis drops right in and is smooth and crisp. The Lyman sights will extend your deer hunting out to 150 yards or maybe further if you use T7. It only costs $75 and is drop in also.


    For what it may be worth as to the above bold I've used wonder wads over the powder and found that one would improve accuracy quite a bit and then found trying two over the powder was even better. Now it's two down on the powder and then the patched ball. Seals the bore better, I guess but it also seems to kind of wipe the bore between shots too.
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    When patching a round ball, experiment with different diameters and make sure to at least get a thumbnail imprint into the lead.
    Take the time to pull a load and examine the ball to se if you can detect the thread pattern of the patch material on the ball.
    If your lucky enough to find an abandoned hornets or wasp nest, the material pulled from that makes an excellent wadding to shield the patch from getting burned through.
    Picking up a couple patches from a few feet in front of the muzzle will give insight to how well the gas seal is working.
    You should see a dark spot right behind the ball and then a slightly less dark ring at the juncture of the tops and sides of the ball.
    When you fire the rifle, have an assistant close by to listen to the sound of the report.
    A nice sharp crack instead of a lower pitched boom means a good gas seal and efficiency of the projie- powder combo.
     

    kmittleman

    Active Member
    Nov 22, 2010
    857
    Howard County
    When patching a round ball, experiment with different diameters and make sure to at least get a thumbnail imprint into the lead.
    Take the time to pull a load and examine the ball to se if you can detect the thread pattern of the patch material on the ball.
    If your lucky enough to find an abandoned hornets or wasp nest, the material pulled from that makes an excellent wadding to shield the patch from getting burned through.
    Picking up a couple patches from a few feet in front of the muzzle will give insight to how well the gas seal is working.
    You should see a dark spot right behind the ball and then a slightly less dark ring at the juncture of the tops and sides of the ball.
    When you fire the rifle, have an assistant close by to listen to the sound of the report.
    A nice sharp crack instead of a lower pitched boom means a good gas seal and efficiency of the projie- powder combo.

    Thanks for all of the details ! Does it matter if the patches are lubricated ? Another fellow mentioned on the Lyman that I should double up on the patches for the first 100 rounds.

    K
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    For plinking or repetitive shooting where the rifle will only remain charged for a short period “spit patching “with saliva will usually suffice.
    Lubricant like spit ball, bore butter or even Crisco is better for more effective accuracy or pronounced shooting.
    Something that doesn’t migrate into the powder itself with a means of lubricity that stands up to a little heat And doesn’t dry out works best.
    Theirs probably a ton of home made and off the shelf products that are suitable.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,728
    Socialist State of Maryland
    8 to 1 Water and Ballistol is a pretty standard patch lube. Some people spray, let it dry and shoot like that. I spray and wipe off excess so patch is damp.

    Wonder wads work well, you just have to pay for them. :lol:
     

    kmittleman

    Active Member
    Nov 22, 2010
    857
    Howard County
    For plinking or repetitive shooting where the rifle will only remain charged for a short period “spit patching “with saliva will usually suffice.
    Lubricant like spit ball, bore butter or even Crisco is better for more effective accuracy or pronounced shooting.
    Something that doesn’t migrate into the powder itself with a means of lubricity that stands up to a little heat And doesn’t dry out works best.
    Theirs probably a ton of home made and off the shelf products that are suitable.

    8 to 1 Water and Ballistol is a pretty standard patch lube. Some people spray, let it dry and shoot like that. I spray and wipe off excess so patch is damp.

    Wonder wads work well, you just have to pay for them. :lol:

    Thanks Guys! Do you all ever add coats of Linseed or something similar? This would be for the Lyman Deerstalker.
     

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