T/C Pro-Hunter Question

[1muzzle3974]

I am pretty new to this M L, stuff, but getting hooked pretty quick. I have a T/C Pro-Hunter in .50 Cal, 28 in SS. After suffering, from serious Crud Ring due to 777 pellets, I have switched to B H -209 and Federal 209A primers. I am shooting Rem Core-Lokt, .50 Cal. Sabot with .44 Cal 275 gr. JHP, on top of 90 gr(vol) B H-209.
My question is regarding the seating depth of the charge and projectile. I understand you need to pay attention to consistent seating depth, are we talking within a few thousands or close. I find after 3 or 4 shots, without cleaning, that I may fall short by as much as a 1/8 of an inch, is that acceptable or am I leaving a barrel obstruction......don't want to blow my shiny new barrel up or ME......Thks Alex

[Hopalong7]

      Don't have a Pro-Hunter, but do use a 26" Encore 50cal.   Early on I suffered from the crud ring blues.  This, btw, was long before 777 ever came along.  I was seating the sabot on the crud ring instead of on top of the powder charge(unbeknowenest to me) and getting inconsistent results because of it.  I was shooting patterns that my 12ga would have been proud of.  I was using 150gr max loads and thought I was destroying scopes....went through three before it finally dawned on me what was happening.  The rifle would put 3-4 shots right on top of each other then start throwing them all over the place.  As a long time m-l shooter, I felt like the complete idiot  :-[when I realized the real problem.
     Three simple things cured my problem for good.  1- I marked my ram rod for the proper load.  2- I started using a spit patch between each shot. And, 3- I dropped back to a much more reasonable load.  My 209 X 50 Encore became a vertable tack driver.  I now shoot 777 loose powder(I hate pettets) and love it!
Walt

[martineta]

I use Black Horn 209 Powder also.  100 grains.  I started out shooting Black Powder in the early 70's, started used Pyrodex from whenever it was invented, and switched to Black Horn 4 years ago..  Old habits are hard to break.  Like Hopalong, I always run a Spit Patch down the barrel between shots unless I am in a hurry hunting.  I have never had a problem with the crud rings.

[TRM-1]

I load 120 grains of the Black horn 209 powder with CCI primers and a 250 grain TC shock wave sabot bullet. I get excellent accuracy and no crud ring. I do not run anything down the bore between shots. I shoot and reload and shoot again. Maybe you are not using the proper cleaning solvents with black horn powder. It is recommended to use regular center fire type solvents for cleaning the barrel and breach plug. I use Hoppes #9 to clean mine and about three patches will usually have it clean. I normally clean the barrel a couple times during the hunting season and the breach plug every five to ten shots. I wouldn't recommend spit patching,using water, Bore 13 or the regular muzzle loading type  of cleaning procedures. If you haven't cleaned your bore thoroughly since you switched to Black horn you may still have some of the residue from the other products you may have used in the past. Also if you do a search of the posts here on GB you can find what size drill bit you need to clean out the bore of the breach plug below where the primer sits in the plug. I DO NOT Mean that you enlarge anything only clean up the crud that builds up in the plug. If you were shooting 777 it will defiantly have some crud in it. My experience with black horn is you need a hot primer and a clean breach plug and barrel. F.W.I.W. my opinion is Black horn 209 powder is the best stuff on the market.   

[1muzzle3974]

Thanks, guys for the replies....

TRM-1, since I , switching to BH-209, I have been using Hoppe's # 9, the bore appears to be spotless and my seating is normal until I get to around the 3rd or 4th shot and I come up about an 1/8 of an inch short, I will try the spit patch trick and see if my seating mark comes back to normal. I will post back with my results, but It may be a few weeks, so please be patient....and TRM-1, thanks for responding on the otherside, I posted here, seeing as it had went a couple days.....thks all....Alex

[jde650]

120 gr blackhorn 209 with t/c 250 grain and superglide sabots. The superglide sabots are much easier to load and shoot excellent.

[1muzzle3974]

Ok Gents, as promised here is an update...Over the last few days, I was able to get on the range and the SPIT patch appears to be the solution. I did not encounter any further problem with short seating....WOW that spit patch sure comes out pretty black after each shot....

New question for a rookie......How wet do you create the patch, as in damp or as if it had been dipped in a glass of water??

As a side note, did our ancestors that shot MLs, not all chew tobacco, maybe we need to add someting to the spit??

[DEACONLLB]

Too wet a patch and it will wet your powder and it will not go off, I found that out and had to pull bullet and clean before I could shoot again. Remember the old saying keep your powder dry. I think just damp not wet is the answer also on a clean barrel with your load and bullet seated as has been stated mark the ramrod that will remove any guess work. I have also found that on the TC and shooting sabots If I do not swab between shots the sabot just dont go down easy that is why I switched to powerbelts. I think the sabots leave too much plastic in the barrel because when I clean up after shooting them it takes more effort to get the bore clean just my opinion.

Deaconllb

[Hopalong7]

     Glad to hear it worked out for you.  My spit patch is only slightly damp.  I just wet my tongue and slide the patch over it....nowhere near what I'd call wet as if emersed in water.
Walt

[rdmallory]

What are you hunting you get 3 or four shots off with a ML?
I shoot one shot reload then go field dress the deer. Never had to fire a second shot in 10 years.


Doug

[1muzzle3974]

Thanks to all the responders.....and for the tips offered, I still just at the range, playing with this new toy.  Alex

[Keith L]

One old timer told me when I complained that in a long string of shots I couldn't generate enough spit that the old timers had TB made worse by the smoke in their Tipis.  He told me that I was a sissy when I said I was not willing to get TB for patch lubing.

[1muzzle3974]

Kieth, He he, when I used to smoke a pipe and when I ran a pipe cleaner through the stem, it would come out about the same colour as my spit patch ,between shots, shootin BH 209......thats what kind of reminded me about the tobacco juice..... Alex