Hi, new to this forum. My lovely wife recently gave me Christmas presents early, including an NEF Sidekick, a 25 acp breech plug, some Hornady XTP sabots, 100 pieces of Magtech brass, and various other goodies.
Never shot a muzzleloader in my life, and have a couple of basic green newbie questions if anyone is willing to help:
1. What kind of jag do you all use to run your cleaning patches through your barrels? Best I can tell, slotted tip jags don't seem to be available for muzzleloaders.
2. The 25 acp breech plug has instructions that say to force-fit the brass by closing the action on a new case, but it seems to me that is unnecessary wear and tear on the frame and pin. I've done a couple of cases that way, and I really have to smack the barrel closed to get the crush fit. Do you all trim your brass to fit your Sidekicks? I believe I will, just to save the frame some knocking around.
3. This Magtech brass is pretty rough in the flash hole and primer pocket, in addition to variations in case length. I'm deburring my flash holes and uniforming primer pockets, as if this were a smokeless rifle. I dunno if there is any point to these two steps with a muzzeloader or not, but old habits die hard. Has anyone noticed a difference in their groups if they work over their 25 acp brass?
4. I'm a certified Kroil junkie. Its the best stuff I've ever used for cleaning fouling in my smokeless barrels. I'll probably try it in my Sidekick, unless anyone knows a reason not to clean a muzzleloader with it. Anyone else out there tried cleaning with Kroil, or know of a reason not to use it?
Thanks!
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