Author Topic: hard loading Barnes MZ (Read 1122 times)

bukfevr · « **on:** December 19, 2003, 04:04:34 PM »

Anybody else having any trouble loading the Barnes MZ in their Encore. Mine is something else. I get good groups with the 250 grain over 100 grains of Cleanshot, but they're a real problem to load. It's all you can do to push one down the barrel. This is clean or fouled. I've always shot these in a Knight Wolverine with no problems,(after they changed the sabots) but I'm gonna have to change bullets with this Encore. If I needed a follow-up shot, I might as well throw the gun at 'em.

RandyWakeman · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2003, 05:13:01 PM »

I became disgusted with Knight Red Hots a long while back because of that.

Bore diameters remain consistently inconsistent in many muzzleloaders. That's one of the benefits of Dead Center 40 / 50 and 44 / 50 sabots, they load like a dream in comparison.

jdman · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2003, 06:57:44 PM »

Tried to load one in my tradition Lightning, ended up removing breech plug, pellets and driving back out with a cleaning rod and hammer. I use Powerbelts and they are a dream. They may not be as accurate but they will shoot 2.5 inch group at 100 yd and that will kill anything I shoot at. Russ

bukfevr · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2003, 04:52:46 AM »

I agree on the loading of the powerbelts. Bought some 295gr. to try yesterday and boy do they load easy. Hope to shoot a few today to see how they group. I've never tried the Dead Center's but may have to give them a whirl also.

Wolfhound · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2003, 05:12:49 AM »

Feel free to send me all those "hard loading" Barnes MZ's you want!:grin:

RandyWakeman · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2003, 05:14:03 AM »

Didn't I? :wink:

Wolfhound · « **Reply #6 on:** December 20, 2003, 05:14:59 AM »

Indeed you did. :grin: I shot em all. :oops:

bukfevr · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2003, 08:10:07 AM »

I can load the Barnes MZ's in my Knight Wolverine as easily as any sabot I've shot. And it shoots cloverleaf groups at 50 yards with these. Disappoints me that they're that hard to load in my new Encore.

TCAS · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2003, 08:57:16 AM »

The Barnes bullets load very tight in my Austin Halleck (MO. built) gun but they were fairly accurate. I stopped using them when I darn near pushed the ramrod threw my glove on an exceptionally cold hunt.

Cold barrel+a little fouling = no fun with the Barnes bullets.

Powerbelts are easier and the little orange 195 grain Dead Centers go down like warm honey even on a cold barrel.

TCAS

444encore · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2003, 05:04:25 PM »

I allways smear a dab of T/C Bore butter on my sabots before loading. Slide down nice and easy.

woodseye · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2003, 04:46:21 AM »

Can barely get them down the barrel with bore butter and a lot of pushing. In the woods after shooting they were right at borderline impossible to load...pity as they shot very well in the gun and pleased me in all respects except loading and that huge hole in the front to slow them down downrange. Will try the 250gr Dead Centers and SST's next and pick the ones that are the best of all worlds for me. I'm afraid I'm done with the Barnes after this season.

woods

bukfevr · « **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2003, 08:05:43 AM »

Update on the Barnes. I bought some loose 777 yesterday to try in my Encore since Cleanshot went under and I'm almost out. The Barnes MZ's loaded about the same as in my Knight after shooting the 777. Must have had something to do with the Cleanshot in my particular gun. Who knows, but I'm shooting cloverleaf groups at 50 yards with 100gr. of loose 777 and 250gr. Barnes. Also, if you buy any Barnes MZ's look at the sabot base. The older ones were smooth, the new ones have a stepped base. According to Barnes by email, the new sabot came into play to ease the loading. By the way, I'm probably hooked on 777 now. It's alot more uniform in texture than the Cleanshot.

woodseye · « **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2003, 08:41:51 AM »

Yeah I see mine are the older style and that makes sense as I've had them a while. I'm still kinda itchin' to give them SST's and Dead Centers that Randy likes a try and benefit from the superior BC's at the same time.

cheers woods

Triple Se7en · « **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2003, 02:20:03 PM »

Barnes has close ties to Knight so it makes sense that plastic sabots fitted for Barnes bullets are better-suited for overbore Knight barrels.

My suggestion! Remove the sabots from the Barnes bullets and replace them with Harvester sabots. They load easier, petals spread less upon loading & you may even see tighter shot groupings.

444encore · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2003, 04:01:54 PM »

Amen to that Triple Se7en.
There's always a sollution.