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I am now experimenting with patch lubes, and aside from LehighValley lube, which works perfectly in my .45 Flinter and bro's .60 Jaeger rifle, we've found a couple with good results. A 50/50 mix of Murphy's oil Soap and Castor oil works as well as LehighValley lub ein my rifle and my bro's. Another, with Windshield washer antifreezxe, Murphy's and Olive oil, mixed 1:2:2 works well too and is my bro's favourite due to the relatively high cost of Castor oil up here.
: For me, the ultimate lube must allow shooting all day without having to wipe the bore, and must remain pliable down to -20F, -40 would be even better. The very cold temps are an 'extra' for the 'ultimate' lube. Shooting all day long are normal requirements, which are met with the above lubes.
: A very good friend of mine has a "Purdey" style single barreled rifle in .75 cal with a deep grooved custom barrel. Unfortunately, our barrels are rather fast twists and require very snug patching to keep the powder gasses behind the ball. Being able to use the very same patch for a 5 shot group shows no gas cutting or blow-by in my .69.
: With the deep groove barrel on my firend's rifle, his patches burn a bit, although giving good accuracy.
: The .75 worked splendidly on Moose, with 200gr. charges, and .735" balls exiting and from about any angle. It is a "Devil Stomper" in it's own right. He's tested to 250gr.2G and even his 200gr. charge kicks to much for this lad. The .69, with up to 6 drams (and more) is quite manageable and shoots into 1-1/2" at 100yds for 5 shot groups off the bags. This barrel's 66" twist and .012" depth rifling required a .684" ball with .022" denim patch to withstand the twist and velocity. Accuracy was relatively unchanged from about 120gr. to 200gr., giving from 1,350fps to 1,700fps. a 'sqib' load of 3 drams(82gr.)of 3F actually gave 1,225fps. and could use .015" patching.
: The word "Folding" applied to large game shot with these very powerful round ball rifles, is quite correct.
: If going after Cape Buffalo, I-too would reach for a double 10 bore, but an 11 bore would suffice- HA!
: A close friend has an original 6 bore ball and shot gun, that weighs some 13 lbs. with 34" tubes. It has an elevator block rear sight with centre silver line, for a point blank sight for ball, which is quite intriguing.
: He's shot trap with it using 2 1/2oz. 7-1/2's Good display and surprisingly good patterns from it's non-choked bores.
: Large bore round ball rifles are intriguing, for sure.
: I live in the physical centre of British Columbia. Lot's of moose here.

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Daryl

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

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