Polymer bullet Jag-leave or remove?

[K.K]

I like to shoot the polymer tipped saboted bullets out of my Encore muzzleloader.  I use a the special jag for these bullets, but it protrudes in front of the muzzle when installed on the ramrod.  It does sit lower that the muzzle.  It would be nice to have it handy for a possible follow-up shot.  DO you guys that use them leve 'em on, or is this dangerous or will it adversely effect accuracy?  Thanks!  K.K

[quickdtoo]

My experience with the jag past the muzzle is it doesn't hurt a thing, but I've never done a sxs comparison to know if it really does make a difference with or without, just use it the same way each time I shoot, whether at the range or hunting.

Tim

[K.K]

Thanks! I'll try it at the range. I guess I was more concerned with safety.  Thanks again for the reply

[Redhawk1]

It will not hurt to have it on while shooting, I just don't like the way it looks. I have a spin jag that I use on my range rod, I load my muzzleloader with it when I am hunting also. If I need a follow up shot in the field, I use the rod supplied with the gun and carried a spin jag with me, if I have time I will use the spin jag, it not I just load the M/L for a quick follow up shot if needed.

Like think that spin jag makes the difference in consistency of loading, at least for me it does.

[Busta]

I like to shoot the polymer tipped saboted bullets out of my Encore muzzleloader.  I use a the special jag for these bullets, but it protrudes in front of the muzzle when installed on the ramrod.  It does sit lower that the muzzle.  It would be nice to have it handy for a possible follow-up shot.  DO you guys that use them leve 'em on, or is this dangerous or will it adversely effect accuracy?  Thanks!  K.K

K.K,

Have you shot your Encore with it yet? If this is a brass jag, it probably won't matter much. If it is a plastic/polymer jag, such as those supplied by PR Bullets or Lightfield, it might not fare well. I know a guy that shot his muzzleloader with the plastic/polymer jag sticking past the muzzle, one shot and it was gone. There must be a little bit of muzzle blast up there. Most ramrods slide out an inch or so from the recoil of the rifle, don't know if it is before or after the bullet leaves the muzzle though.

[Redhawk1]

Busta, I have one of them plastic/polymer jag, that was supplied by PR Bullets . It has been on the ramrod for 3 years now and fired I don't know how many times and it has not been effected at all.

My spin jag I got from PR rifles works great also. I use it while shooting from the bench with my T/C range rod and I keep one in my bag for field use, but if I need a quick load the  plastic/polymer jag, that was supplied by PR Bullets works well also.

[Critter]

I tried leaving the one on from PR bullets and it was gone with the second shot.  Luckily I had more than one package of PR bullets so I had another one.  I modified my stock ramrod on the lathe so I could load polymer bullets in the field without worries.

[Double 30]

One rarely mentioned advantage in leaving the jag on the rammer , OR, having a longer than necessary rammer is saftey.By this I mean that extra inch or so extending past the muzzle will protect the muzzle if you stumble and it hits the ground.On soft ground the rammer will sink in. But on rock or frozen ground it will keep the muzzle from striking the ground.Just a thought...

[toytruck]

During the 2005 deer season I used a System 1 plastic ramrod in the Encore. The ramrod stuck out two inches from the muzzle which I preferred for a second shot if needed.  I never tried it at the range just went hunting that way and shot a buck the first morning.  When I looked at the gun the metal end of the ramrod was gone, broke off at the end.  I sent it back to TC and they replaced it with the newer aluminum ramrod.

Now I just attach the hollow loading jag which only sticks out about 1/2 inch from the muzzle.  I have shot the Encore with it this way with no problems, but the jag does get some powder burn on it from the shot.