Any one have a lyman trade rifle ?.I'm thinking about getting.
wondering how accurate at 100 yards with round ball and conicals. I'm new to BP rifles, so also not sure what else to get for it, can the rod that comes with it be used for cleaning etc ?.what about patch puller and such. and what size ball and patch.

Hi, Bulletman:
I don't have one myself, but they have the 1 in 48" compromise twist. Usually they'll shoot both round ball and conicals into 4" at 100 yards and often better. Don't drive a round ball too hard, but usually conicals do better driven hard with a slow twist. Anymore than a 100 grain load in a .50 is a waste of powder and money.

The ramrod should be tapped for cleaning accessories. One thing, black powder accessories often use a 10-32 thread instead of the smaller 8-32 thread for smokeless gun brushes, etc. Many rods have both threads, one at each end.

Necessary accessories: Powder measure, powder flask, cleaning jag, brush, short starter, nipple wrench for a cap lock and shooting bag. A patch puller and ball puller may be very useful.

Normally we shoot a ball .010" undersize with a .010 patch. If that's too loose, try a .015" patch. You can buy prelubed patches and that's what I'd start with. So if you're buying a .50 calibre, get .490 balls.

Read and understand the instructions. It's a whole 'nuther ball game.

Bye
Jack

Very helpfull ,thanks jack.

Any one have a lyman trade rifle ?.I'm thinking about getting.
wondering how accurate at 100 yards with round ball and conicals. I'm new to BP rifles, so also not sure what else to get for it, can the rod that comes with it be used for cleaning etc ?.what about patch puller and such. and what size ball and patch.

Get the great plains rifle, it comes with a 1-60 twist for patched round balls, you will get a real good group at 100yds and quality rifle, if you want you can now get an extra 1-32 bbl for conicals. That .490 round ball (with .015 patch get the prelubed ones for hunting ) is around 173gns and over 80 to 90 gns of 2f will equal the punch of a 30-30 at ranges out to 75yds and at 100 still better than a 7.62X39, due to the fact that you will be using a round ball made of soft pure lead that will deform yet stay together in the end, at much slower velocity. If you like to practice a lot I would recommend using a water soluble oil at 20 parts water 1 part oil, for a patch lube this is commonly know as moose milk. Then if you like that, try this take a bunch of pre cut patches and mix a small batch, using a teaspoon, 1 part water souluble oil, 3 to 6 teaspoons of water, let dry overnight on a piece of glass or formica, and viola pre lubed hunting patches. Water souluble oil is use as cutting oil in industry, also a lube for sheet metal when drawing the panel in a draw die. It is usually a milk white. You can genrally get it at industrial supplies or a lube supply. Take care and have fun. Swany