Shooting my lyman plains pistol

[Buckskins&BlackPowder]

Sat down with the Lyman Plains pistol .54cal today and first start with 40gr 2fg Gearhart-Owen black powder, .020" spit patch, .530 round ball. They loaded nicely without having to hammer them down the bore. Looks like I will need to tap the sight over to the right a bit to center it. 40gr 2fg grouped ok, but then I lowered it to 30gr 2fg and it REALLY came together and shot very well. Next, I'll try 3fg and see how it does.
I also lapped the bore last night to smooth out any burrs that the lyman barrels are famously known to have.
Target was shot from 25 yards.

 

[Ben Lamb]

That .54 should like the 2f much better. try some 1 or 1 1/2 f too.

Really cool pistol!

 

[David58]

It's always been interesting to me how little powder a pistol needs to do pistol things. 2f might be the best charge, but your plan to try 3f is a good idea. You might be pleasantly surprised, or not.