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Offline Silvertp

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Unbelieveable
« on: October 13, 2011, 12:54:22 PM »
Can't believe the results at the range today.

Ive got a Browning Mountain Rifle that Ive owned since the mid-70's.  When my eyes were good it was a tack driver.  Now days it consistently shoots 50 yard groups in 1 - 2 inches.

Today at the range I was checking my point of impact, shooting off a rest and got a 4 shot group of about 15 inches.  Just got home and will be taking it apart to see if I can tell what is going on.  There were no shots that were even close together.

Using the same can of powder and charge, same roundballs, same caps and same patches??????

Thoughts on what is going on???

Silvertp
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Offline Bigeasy

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Re: Unbelieveable
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2011, 01:29:39 PM »
That's a tough one.  If it were a badly fouled or rusted bore, you would have noticed it seating the ball.  Maybe a loose barrel wedge, or loose front or rear sight?
 
Larry
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Offline lakota

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Re: Unbelieveable
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2011, 02:42:25 PM »
Just Brain storming-I dont know if it would make that big of a difference but have you changed patch lube? Any damage to the crown? Any loose or bent sites? Is the powder good-no hangfires or misfires? Were you careful to place the guns forearm on the sandbag in the same place for every shot? I have had a few that were finicky about where the forearm would touch the sandbag.
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Offline flintlock

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Re: Unbelieveable
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2011, 04:45:59 PM »
Well, unless you are like me and had cateract surgery lately and can't see the dang sights anymore I'd bet your either cutting the patches or they are burning through...
 
What did the patches look like???
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Offline srussell

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Re: Unbelieveable
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2011, 05:02:11 PM »
worn out nipple
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Offline Hooker

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Re: Unbelieveable
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2011, 05:11:13 PM »
My Hawken always shoots large groups and high from a rest.
From field positions it shoots to point of aim with in 1 1/2 - 2 inches at 100 yards.

Pat
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Offline keith44

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Re: Unbelieveable
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2011, 08:01:40 AM »
Go back to the bench, and ensure that the gun does not touch the bench.  You should hold the gun with your arms being steadied by the bench surface, and sand bags, instead of trying to let the gun ride the bench.
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Offline Black Jaque Janaviac

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Re: Unbelieveable
« Reply #7 on: October 21, 2011, 07:38:03 AM »
Unfortunately that seems all too believable.  Every once in a while I'll have a day with nothing but frustrations and mysteries.
 
It could be - barrel wedges altered, debris in the barrel channel, worn out nipple, worn out/damaged crown, blown patches, out-of-round balls. . .
 
My TVM E. Virginia would give me grief.  Point of impact would change.  I was advised to elongate the holes for the barrel pins.  To elongate them parallel to the barrel that is so expansion and contraction differences of the barrel/stock would not put stress on the barrel.  Shoots pretty consistantly now. 
 
I had a Pedersoli .32 in which I eroded the muzzle from cleaning/loading with a 5/16" rod.  You would think it would be a gradual decay of accuracy but what I experienced was an overnight complete failure to hit anything.  I remember aiming at a squirrel that was 5 yards and missing whereas not long before that I was picking off eggs at 25 yards.  I filed the muzzle down until the muzzle intersected the lands and grooves again and accuracy returned. 
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Offline Snowshoe

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Re: Unbelieveable
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2011, 05:01:29 AM »
Are the patches pre lubed and old? I have seen old pre lubed patches that just fell apart when used. It seems that they rot over time.
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Snowshoe

Offline Silvertp

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Re: Unbelieveable
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2011, 08:27:39 AM »
I have to be honest with you guys...in my original report I said a 15" group.  Decided to actually put a tape on it and it is only a 13" group (50 yards), with the closest 2 shots within 6" of each other.

Tore the rifle down checking fitment, bore, etc.  Didn't find anything put out a red flag.  Following the advice you folks are providing I made another range session.  I also checked some of my loading records and saw where the #11 magnum caps grouped better and lower than #11, so switched to the magnum caps.

First shot out of a clean bbl at 50 yds was about 3" high and to the right (wind was blowing my box / target over...nasty conditions).  Next 3 shots in a 2 1/2 inch horizontal group at 3 oclock and about 1" high.  Held for center impact and shot two more...first in the bull and second about 2" right.  Im thinking the wind had some to do with impacts.

Certainly not exciting accuracy, but think its ok for hunting if I can close to 50 yards or less.  In the middle of an elk muzzle loader season out here.

At this point I think Im laying the blame on  the patches...Snowshoe, I recall that the patches were from a small tin I carried last season, pre-lubed, but now kinda dry and curled up.  I never found any of the original patches...maybe?

Silvertp
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Offline 222

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Re: Unbelieveable
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2011, 04:26:41 PM »
Are you using real blackpowder or synthetic type. I has same problem once using pyrodex that was old and shot all over trying to find a reason I ran out of powder so I bought new can and rifle settle down and shot normal. I haven't had that problem with real blackpowder only newer types. Ray
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Offline flintlock

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Re: Unbelieveable
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2011, 04:36:38 PM »
This is why I don't use prelubed patches nor use patching from one year to the next...I buy material by the yard, strip it into inch and a half inch wide strips and lube it just before the season...This way I know the patching will hold up...
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