ATF Day

I shot my Dixie/G.L. Dech longrifle today with some .480 Hornady balls I picked up the last time I went to Dixon's.  Using a pillow ticking patch, Track of the Wolf's Mink Oil patch lube, and 80 grains 2Fg Goex, it'll hold the 8 ring of an SR-1 target offhand at 50 yards.  It will probably hold the 10 ring from the bench, maybe the X.  The rifle has a 41" barrel which combined with the slow lock time of a flintlock makes it difficult to shoot offhand without a lot of practice. I need more practice.

Loading is noticeably easier than when using .490 balls.  I am able to thumb start the patched ball and don't need a short starter.  I was able to go 5 rounds between wiping the bore.  I probably could've gone a couple more but I didn't try.

To clean I used a mix of 1/3 Ballistol to 2/3 distilled water, then straight Ballistol followed by some WD-40 after I got home (I want to leave a good anti-rust coating in the bore until I shoot it again).

After getting home I grilled some burgers and hot dogs while enjoying a Baccarat Rothschild cigar, and I'm about to indulge myself with a glass of Elijah Craig 18 y/o single barrel Bourbon to make the ATF day complete.