Author Topic: black powder newbie - range report (Read 529 times)

iiibbb · « **on:** December 17, 2004, 02:28:24 AM »

Well, after reading T/C's instruction mannual and being thoroughly convinced the Encore was going to explode I made my way to the range yesterday to try out the new 209x50 barrel I got. Muzzleloader season starts Saturday and I wanted to get the thing sighted in.

So, I was shooting 245 gr powerbelt aerotips, and 2 50 gr 777 pellets. Pretty tight groups at 50 yrd... got it zeroed. After about 8 shots at 50 yrds I started shooting at 100 yrd. I was getting it on the 8 in plate one a little high, one about dead on and just right. However, I ran out of (dry) cleaning patches.

I was trying to follow the swab with 13, swab dry, swab bore butter, fire routine. So on my last 2 shots I tried reusing one of my previously used dry patches. Loaded and pffft!. Hmmm... Check the barrel to make sure it's clear. Clean it again. Fire some primers... Load... Pffffft!.

Ok, now I know the consequences of having any moisture in the barrel .... some trenchcoat mafia in the booth next to me... the Pffffft! was embaressing

I like the way it shoots. I'm still not a fan of TC open sights, but these are way better than what's on the .308 barrel. I'll have a scope next year for sure. Good enough to kill a deer with though (at the ranges in my stand).

So, with the data I gathered. I'm spot-on at 50 yrds and maybe 2-3 in high at 100 yds (although I only got 2 shots off at 100). Anything I should know about the balistics?

Cleanup was pretty easy. I've never cleaned up pyrodex, but the 777 sure cleaned up pretty easily.

Anyway. I hope I land a deer with it Saturday... or Monday. I have a week before New Years if I can't get one this weekend.

savageT · « **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2004, 09:50:26 AM »

Hi,
I'm sorry, all this cleaning between shots seems a little much...........
Here's what Cecil from Precision Rifle told me: Spit-patch between shots but don't get carried away with the spit. All you're trying to do is smooth out the fouling in the bore before reloading....not really cleaning, OK?
I don't bother using a clean, dry patch either. I turn the spit-patch over and give it a one-two swipe and then reload the powder and bullet. Forget the damn borebutter too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All that does is lodge in the fire channel and give you a pfffffft results.

Jim

iiibbb · « **Reply #2 on:** December 17, 2004, 11:07:36 AM »

Well, as I read around... perhaps even the TC book, they said when sighting in, you want to "clean" each time to get a consistant result.

Dunno... first time... gun goes bang. I'm certain it wasn't the borebutter causing the pffft.... it was the wet patch.

thanks

savageT · « **Reply #3 on:** December 17, 2004, 11:55:44 AM »

Yes Sir....a really wet patch will do it. That's what makes a spit-patch betterrrrr. You can't spit near as much as that bottle of #13. Some don't even bother cleaning every time....all depends on the powder and the crud ring you might get.

Jim

robk · « **Reply #4 on:** December 17, 2004, 04:52:16 PM »

your shooting the exact set up i am on my encore. i clean with the presoaked tc patches and run one or two to make sure the barrel is clean then dry patch it until i feel it is completely dry then i just load up and give a go. the gun likes a clean barrel and i am shooting 2 to 3 inches high at a 100 so you should be good out to 150 yards. the power belts are an excellent bullet and are so easy to load. also make sure you clean after each shot and your fine and if your shooting open sights just remember to hold a hair low when at 100 yards and dead on at 50 or less and your there. good luck and give her heck
rob k

iiibbb · « **Reply #5 on:** December 18, 2004, 06:00:10 AM »

Rob... thanks for your suggestions. It is a breeze to load and clean.

Went out today, but the deer just weren't where I was. I was trying a different spot. Perhaps Monday I'll go back to where I got one before... I've seen a bunch of deer up there.

iiibbb · « **Reply #6 on:** December 18, 2004, 06:15:22 AM »

Follow up question... how much lube should I put on the breech plug threads? Just enough to fill the groves... or more... or less. They don't provide much when you buy it...

savageT · « **Reply #7 on:** December 18, 2004, 08:26:55 AM »

iiibbb,
I've worried about that issue also.....I'm using a copper-filled antiseize grease and wipe it into the threads just enough to cover. I worry about getting grease into the powder and causing petroleum poisoning.
The othe option is to use teflon pipethread tape and wrap a double layer around the threads. Seems to be the safer approach.

Jim

iiibbb · « **Reply #8 on:** December 18, 2004, 08:52:08 AM »

Less messy too... good idea!

iiibbb · « **Reply #9 on:** December 18, 2004, 09:34:55 AM »

Super Lube (by Synco) is a synthetic lubricant FWIW... they sell that at my local hardware store... good to know.

http://www.super-lube.com/