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DarylSModerator
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: tinker]
      #343204 - 10/07/20 03:56 PM

COOL!!
yeah - pictures or it didn't happen.
and the measurements were - bore and groove diameters?????????????????????

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Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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Huvius
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: DarylS]
      #343241 - 12/07/20 09:38 AM

Shot the African again today.
100gr charge with the 780gr projectiles were averaging 925fps.
Tried a couple of 130gr loads and got a bit over 1100fps with a noticeable increase in recoil. Still tolerable though.

Only the 100yd range was available so grouping wasn’t stellar.

Still, flying straight and not tumbling.



The stock ghost ring is too big for my liking (like a 20yd fov at 100yds) so I drilled a tiny hole through a screw and used a brass thumb nut to hold it into the original ring making the aperture much smaller.





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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.


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Huvius
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: Huvius]
      #343242 - 12/07/20 10:01 AM

Here’s the Rodda.
I think I had a thread about it some years ago.
Bore is .850” so I think a ball of .840 with a thickish patch would be good. The bore isn’t the best so I think a patch on the thicker side would maybe be good technique - correct?







On the left.


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DarylSModerator
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: Huvius]
      #343243 - 12/07/20 11:39 AM

The picture of the pair of rifles, just goes to show, that Gibb's has good lines. Nice 8 bore!
I might even go with a .835" ball, Huvius, to allow a 12ox or 14ox. denim patch.
The thicker the patch, the more lube it carries. Good thinking on your part.
I'm sure a .710" to .715" ball (provided the bore is .720")on the Gibbs with a substantial patch should improve the 100yard accuracy quite a bit.
The 130gr. powder charge sounds about right for today's powder. I might even try 10 to 15gr. more.
A speed around 1,400fps to 1,500fps is a good goal for the Gibbs and 1,250fps to 1,300fps for the 8 bore.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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tinker
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: Huvius]
      #343244 - 12/07/20 11:40 AM

Looks great!

The thick denim patch has helped me with rough bores.
Give it a try.

--------------------
--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--



"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...


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Huvius
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: tinker]
      #344116 - 08/08/20 02:38 AM

NOW we’re talkin!
Got my .835” mold from ballmoulds.com and now my Rodda will be hurling these 852gr balls of lead downrange soon!

Here, next to the puny 12bore ball.



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bstrick
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: Huvius]
      #344131 - 08/08/20 12:23 PM

Very Nice!

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DarylSModerator
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: bstrick]
      #344200 - 10/08/20 02:51 AM

About ball and patch fit!

I would suggest a tighter patch. With paper patched bullets, you are relying upon obturation of the bullet to fit the grooves. Likely as well, with paper patched bullets, the bore will be wiped
every shot. With a patched ball, the tight fit between the bottom of the grooves and the patch AND ball makes for the cleaning, softening fouling situation between shots.
The patched ball cleans the previous shot as it is loaded. If the patch is not a tight enough fit, there will be powder flame blow-by, burning the patch and destroying it's ability to do it's job,
that of sealing and wetting the fouling. The thicker the patch, the more lube it carries. Lube for a hunting load is very important. We've found real Neetsfoot Oil And Track's Mink Oil to be the best, the mink oil the
best. If you cannot shoot 10 shots without having to wipe the bore, the patch is not thick enough OR the ball is too small for that patch.
I have found 12 and 14 ounce denim to be terrific patch material. I run new material (I buy several yards at a time) twice through the washer, once with soap, the second time without soap,
using a double rinse each time - then into the dryer on medium heat.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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DarylSModerator
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: DarylS]
      #344211 - 10/08/20 07:56 AM

Incidentally, I have a .677" mould for my .69 for shooting hard balls. The mould casts .675" which are .015" "under" just as your new mould is.
I use the 14 ounce denim with those balls, either hard or pure lead. They load very nicely indeed & I actually prefer them to the .682" I normally shoot.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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bstrick
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: DarylS]
      #346159 - 25/10/20 12:13 PM

Huvius, what is the bore and groove diameter? Got a picture of the rifling?

The first shot can be a very tight ball patch combination.


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Kynoch
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: tinker]
      #348686 - 31/12/20 07:13 AM

I know this is an older post, but I wanted to reply regarding Daryl’s “chunky” comment on the 4 bore. He’s right. Please see below when compared with a 16 bore built from a Don Brown Kit. One is like dancing with a gymnast versus a ballerina. Heelerau is right, it may be hard to make it much more elegant especially in the pistol grip version. The 4 weighs 18.6lbs and to be honest could use some weight in the butt for better balance. I thought you might enjoy a different view of the rifle that NitroX provided. Thanks.







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DarylSModerator
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: Kynoch]
      #348692 - 31/12/20 10:00 AM

That 16 bore sure is a nice looking hunting rifle.
I see it has a boss for a tang sight as well.
That 4 bore is all business. Interesting patent breech.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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DarylSModerator
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: bstrick]
      #348696 - 31/12/20 12:02 PM

Quote:

Huvius, what is the bore and groove diameter? Got a picture of the rifling?

The first shot can be a very tight ball patch combination.




Then paper ctgs. with powder and ball after that. I have found they shoot to the same poi as patched round balls, with the same hunting load in both, however, the ball was a mere .008" smaller than the bore and there was 2 thicknesses of paper, each side. The paper ctg. around the ball made for quite a snug fitting in the muzzle, but I could load and fire an aimed second shot in 8 seconds after the first shot. This, of course, including re-capping the nipple. I used a leather wheel capper than carries 24 caps around it's periphery.
Thanks for reminding me of the paper ctg's. Bruce. They are indeed a God-send for large bore muzzleloading rifles, especially if hunting in freezing weather, when normal patch lubes become stiff.
Bruce's site has pictures and methods, if he cares share that.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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EDELWEISS
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: DarylS]
      #348704 - 31/12/20 11:07 PM

How many grains of power are you using in the guns (ffg, fffg)?

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DarylSModerator
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: EDELWEISS]
      #348713 - 01/01/21 04:48 AM

Since your question appears directed at me, I use 165gr. of 2F GOEX for hunting moose. 1st load, as noted, was 165gr. 2F GOEX with 100% natural Neetsfoot or Track's Mink Oil, a 12 ounce denim patch and pure lead .682" ball (not .684").
Paper ctgs. are tapered in shape (cone) and are 2 layers of bond/printer paper - about 20 pound. The small end is folded and glued.
The powder is poured into the cone, then a ball dropped in on top of the powder, then the paper folded over the ball and glued with white glue.
I have carried these 'paper ctgs' in my parka pocket all fall, without any damage to them.
After loading the rifle in camp with patched ball, the round disk capped is placed in an upper pocket and a number of paper ctgs. placed in the parka pocket. No horn nor possible's bag is required to be carried.
The ball in the paper ctg. is usually WW alloy, but can also be pure lead, NP.
To load, the end of the small end is ripped off with the teeth, then it is shoved into to the muzzle. It will stop on the ball. By the time the rod is out of the pipes, the powder has drained into the bore and the rod is choked up on and the ball is shoved into the bore. As I noted, the paper is slightly engraved by the rifling, but does not tear.
The ball with paper ctg. is shoved down the bore onto the powder charge, firmly. The rod is replaced in the pipes or dropped if this is for a fast second shot.
A cap placed on the nipple and it's ready to fire.

In testing from a bench rest, I put 3 pure lead 482gr. denim patched balls into 2" at 100 meters at the club. I then loaded and fired 2 paper ctgs. at the same target to check their POI. Both of the 466gr. balls landed inside the group already there. It doesn't get much better than that. With practice in a timed event, I was able to fire an aimed second shot in 8 seconds after the first. That all happened 'some' years ago when I could see. LOL I still do OK, but haven't done this "trick" for 25 years or so.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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DarylSModerator
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: DarylS]
      #348714 - 01/01/21 04:52 AM

Huvius, I anxiously await your testing of both rifles, with paper ctgs. DPhar of this site also has tested and used these paper ctgs. If having trouble with ball and patch combos, these paper ctgs. are a viable alternative to ball and patch. As I noted, due to the snug fit, I am able to shoot 10 of them before fouling becomes restrictive in loading. Then a VERY wet, dripping wet (saliva) patch and ball is loaded, and fired. This cleans the bore as it goes down and that allows another 10 paper ctg. to be shot.
Another forum member, BStrickling also uses paper ctgs. He has a site detailing this.(if he would be so kind as to post it - I can't find it now)

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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Huvius
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: DarylS]
      #366775 - 16/06/22 07:13 AM

Took the African out again today and am just as happy as ever with the performance of this rifle!
In my opinion, everybody should have one!

Settled on 110gr FF and the 780gr greasers - can shoot quite a few of those comfortably.
The low shot was a ball.







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Iowa_303s
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: Huvius]
      #366779 - 16/06/22 09:06 AM

What was the distance to the target?

--------------------
Matt

formerly known as Iowa_303

"Once your reputation is ruined you can live your life quite freely."

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Huvius
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: Iowa_303s]
      #366781 - 16/06/22 09:41 AM

50yds

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93x64mm
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: Huvius]
      #366795 - 16/06/22 09:39 PM

Awesome group Huvius - you must still have good eyes!
She's a big banger alright!


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Trooper
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Re: Gibbs African Rifle 72 caliber [Re: 93x64mm]
      #366800 - 17/06/22 01:08 AM

Nice shooting! Really like the 12 bore, but must say I love the Rodda!!

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