Posted: 11/23/2016 12:22:50 AM EDT
| I had a nice doe in my crosshairs tonight. Pulled the trigger and heard a "pop", the same sound you would hear from a kids cap gun. My primers are good. I think the powder may have a moisture issue for some reason. I recently sighted in this muzzleloader with the same powder I use for hunting, no issue at that time. I think I could have one of two problems. First, moisture effected the powder for some reason, I loaded the gun and left it loaded one week ago in 55 degree weather and it is now a high of forty at best (condensation?). Second, I cleaned the barrel about one hour before headed out hunting. I used some Hoppes and Bore Butter. Is it possible I may not have swabbed the barrel until it was dry and free of the cleaner I put in the barrel before I loaded with powder and bullet. Any chance the powder pellets absorbed the cleaner I used? What do you guys think and what have you experienced? |
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condensation.
the biggest problem with people and their BP rifles is basically putting in fresh loads. differences in weather and other issues cause powder problems. I shoot a round out atleast every other day and I do not bring my gun into the cabin at night. I always leave it in the truck to maintain temperature. |
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think it was Hickok who fired his revolvers every morning, cleaned and reloaded. Others of the day did not and maybe left them
loaded for weeks...took a shot to the back of the head to out gun him.. personally I wouldn't leave the powder over night, some do and say its OK.their opinion, not mine. I pull the bullet, put in a cotton patch and burn off the powder, clean and wait to reload next morning. Also make sure you're nipples clean and clear doesn't take much to foul it.. |
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What kind of rifle, what primer and what powder?
I have an inline I shoot with BlackHorn 209 using 209 magnum primers. I have left this rifle loaded during a weeks worth of hunting, with up to 30 degree temperature swings each day due to our wonderful VA weather, and I've never had an issue. But that's with a BP substitute known for having good hydroscopic properties and using a hot primer. I wouldn't do that with a sidelock or inline using #11 caps, and I wouldn't do it with any other powder. Before I load a muzzleloader to go hunting, I verify the flash channel is completely clear. I swab out the barrel with an Isopropyl Alcohol patch, which will help remove any moisture or lubricant. I pop off two primers to further verify ignition. Then I load. |
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I have a CVA wolf. I am using Hodgdon 777 powder pellets with Remington clean bore primers. Anything special for storing or maintaining the primers? Actually the "cleanbore" primers are weaker than standard primers. Switch to a standard or magnum 209 primer. I personally despise 777 powder. I use Blackhorn 209 and W209 primers in a Thompson Center Triumph - I load it on a clean DRY bore & leave it loaded all season until I fire it at an animal... |
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years ago I had some difficulties with ignition in side locks. The cause was oil migration down the barrel.
typically, the routine is clean, then oil, then the rifle gets put away. How do most people store the rifle? usually, its butt down, muzzle up in a cabinet or safe. Oil migrates down into the chamber. You end up with oil soaked pellets or powder, and inconsistent ignition. The fix is easy. After oiling, run a dry swab or patch down the bore and remove excess oil. Then store for a week or two MUZZLEDOWN. you'll often be surprised with the amount of oil that comes out (I stow muzzle down, on a rag). Time to load up, use no powder or bullet. Load a cap and fire once or twice. It will blow any residual oils out of the tiny flame hole. then load normally. you'll have no issues at this point...... |
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Before loading my old T/C Big Bore I unscrew the nipple and use a safety pin to ensure the nipple is clear. I then use a pipe cleaner to make sure the channel from the nipple socket to the main chamber is clean and clear Stick the pipe cleaner in and be sure you can see it when looking down the barrel with a light. After pouring in my powder charge (still using GOEX FFg Black Powder) I then tap the side of my lock to help make sure some of that powder migrates into the channel to the nipple. I then seat the bullet. I then remove the nipple and make sure some of the powder migrate in under the nipple. If not I will put a very small pinch of FFFg in under the nipple. Screw the nipple back in and put a cap on. Never had a miss fire in the field. |
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Quoted:
years ago I had some difficulties with ignition in side locks. The cause was oil migration down the barrel. typically, the routine is clean, then oil, then the rifle gets put away. How do most people store the rifle? usually, its butt down, muzzle up in a cabinet or safe. Oil migrates down into the chamber. You end up with oil soaked pellets or powder, and inconsistent ignition. The fix is easy. After oiling, run a dry swab or patch down the bore and remove excess oil. Then store for a week or two MUZZLEDOWN. you'll often be surprised with the amount of oil that comes out (I stow muzzle down, on a rag). Time to load up, use no powder or bullet. Load a cap and fire once or twice. It will blow any residual oils out of the tiny flame hole. then load normally. you'll have no issues at this point...... This is what I learned the hard way when I was first getting started in Muzzleloading. I bought a CVA Hawken and the first few times I fired it were fine. Cleaned and stored it and next time out I couldn't get it to fire no matter what I tried. Took it to a shop that specialized in muzzleloaders and they were able to remove the ball. They then told me how to properly clean and store my muzzleloader and pre- loading. From that point on I never had another issue. |
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Do you know if Blackhorn is available in pellet form? I am apprehensive about doing the measuring thing as I am new to muzzleloading. No, loose only. Buy some of these https://www.amazon.com/Glass-Vials-Dram-Pack-12/dp/B002JV6976/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1479954356&sr=8-4&keywords=glass+vial Measure your powder, pour in vial, carry with extra bullets. I usually carry 2-3 of these along with extra bullets and primers. As for the primers, find some Federal 209's. While I haven't used the Remington, I know the Winchester of various types aren't good enough or consistent. Now regarding your problem, did you pop a cap before loading? When I clean my Encore for storage, I'll usually run a patch saturated with RIG grease. For general cleaning, a couple of wet Ballistol patches. But before loading, I'll run at least one dry patch, followed by snapping a cap to ensure the breech plug is clear and the barrel is dry. It isn't unusual for me to leave the gun loaded for the entire two week season. Twice over the years I've forgotten to unload at the end of the season. Once with a T/C White Mountain Carbine (Goex black, lead bullet). I finally remembered to unload in July (loaded for seven months). Gun went bang immediately. Second time was with the aforementioned Encore, same situation. Hunted late season, it stayed loaded until June. Again, bang with no problems. If you're having problems with a 209 not igniting the powder, I would examine my loading and cleaning practices. |
| I have NOT been firing a primer before loading up for hunting. I really do think my problem was improperly cleaning prior to loading. I underestimated the care that must be taken to be successful with muzzleloading. I am learning a lot from the responses on this forum. Very much appreciated. |
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And everybody needs one of these
http://www.namlhunt.com/mlcleaning.html Best 20 bucks I ever spent. Between switching to weighed Blackhorn 209 charges in vials and using the cleaning tool I've solved my problems and those of several buddies. I use Winchester 209 primers with zero problems. I've got ten thousand for Winchester AA reloading and just use them. |
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And everybody needs one of these http://www.namlhunt.com/mlcleaning.html Best 20 bucks I ever spent. Between switching to weighed Blackhorn 209 charges in vials and using the cleaning tool I've solved my problems and those of several buddies. I use Winchester 209 primers with zero problems. I've got ten thousand for Winchester AA reloading and just use them. My main problems with Winchester primers was that my gun wouldn't close on them most of the time. Haven't had that problem at all since I switched to Federal. |
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I use Goex 2F and ONLY Nobel 1075 caps with Redhot nipples.
Only use soap and HOT water to clean and light coating of Bore Butter. Run a bunch of dry patches before I load. Have left loaded for months and ALWAYS goes boom. Had issues many years ago where had to recock a time or two. Nipple was beat to hell after hundreds of shots. Swapped it out and gtg. ETA As far as caps I used to keep them in a sealed ammo can with dessicant along with CF primers, as I bought them by the thousand. But once I pulled 100 out, they stayed out. No issues at least with Nobels. Have had issues with other 11 caps |
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I use Goex 2F and ONLY Nobel 1075 caps with Redhot nipples. Only use soap and HOT water to clean and light coating of Bore Butter. Run a bunch of dry patches before I load. Have left loaded for months and ALWAYS goes boom. Had issues many years ago where had to recock a time or two. Nipple was beat to hell after hundreds of shots. Swapped it out and gtg. ETA As far as caps I used to keep them in a sealed ammo can with dessicant along with CF primers, as I bought them by the thousand. But once I pulled 100 out, they stayed out. No issues at least with Nobels. Have had issues with other 11 caps If you're using a sidelock and Goex, that's the only way to go. |
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If you're using a sidelock and Goex, that's the only way to go. Quoted:
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I use Goex 2F and ONLY Nobel 1075 caps with Redhot nipples. Only use soap and HOT water to clean and light coating of Bore Butter. Run a bunch of dry patches before I load. Have left loaded for months and ALWAYS goes boom. Had issues many years ago where had to recock a time or two. Nipple was beat to hell after hundreds of shots. Swapped it out and gtg. ETA As far as caps I used to keep them in a sealed ammo can with dessicant along with CF primers, as I bought them by the thousand. But once I pulled 100 out, they stayed out. No issues at least with Nobels. Have had issues with other 11 caps If you're using a sidelock and Goex, that's the only way to go. LOL its what I use in inlines too. When everybody was converting from #11s to 209 ignition, I was going the other direction. Again, ALWAYS goes boom. |
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Mine stay in the factory package in my toolbox. No problems as yet. Same here. In the off season I store all my powder in ammo cans with a rubber sknife al. I toss in a silica gel pack and call it good. Primers just stay in climate controlled basement. |