Knight .50 Wolverine hard to load

[Pickwick]

I have had this gun for a few years now,(actually more like 10) killed numerous deer with it and love to shoot it, all of a sudden it is hard to get the bullet and sabot started.  Up until this year it has been fairly easy to load.  I have always used Pyrodex (powder then pellets) and Knight sabots and bullets.  Could it be plastic build-up or something along those lines or more serious even.  I dont know what I'm lookin at but when I look down the barrel, the grooves dont seem as sharp or deep, maybe like they are filled in or somethin.  It isn't rusty or dirty.   I am hoping that there is a remedy for it since I really do like to hunt with it.  Thanks for lookin

[Wolfhound]

More likely it's that knight changed sabots. Did you first notice it with a new package of bullets? If that's all it is then you either need different sabots for the bullets you currently shoot or just use a different bullet/sabot combo.

That would be my first thought. I had something similar happen a few years ago. Company changed sabots and my accuracy went away. That gun's never shot the same since even with the same bullet. I wish I knew what those original sabots were, I'd get some if I could.

[doctordisaster]

I'll guess it's plastic fouling.That's a guess.In your post you state hard to start,once started how do they load.I always thought sabots were hard to start in my DISC.That is why I use Powerbelts.Contrary to popular opinion I found the Powerbelts shoot great in MY Knight.Like anything they are not automatic,you need to find the right powder charge.I found 85grT7FF is just right.When I was just following the crowd on the" 100 grs is the best" load,the long range groups weren't making it.
If I were you I'd contact Knight and ask them.They may have an easy solution,like scrubing the everlovin out of it.
Then get some Powerbelts and have fun.
http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.jsp?query=knight&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3Da6303aa2fd817c99%26clickedItemRank%3D3%26userQuery%3Dknight%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.knightrifles.com%252F%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DNSCPIndex%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.knightrifles.com%2F

[Biff Mayhem]

I have had this gun for a few years now,(actually more like 10) killed numerous deer with it and love to shoot it, all of a sudden it is hard to get the bullet and sabot started.  Up until this year it has been fairly easy to load.  I have always used Pyrodex (powder then pellets) and Knight sabots and bullets.  Could it be plastic build-up or something along those lines or more serious even.  I dont know what I'm lookin at but when I look down the barrel, the grooves dont seem as sharp or deep, maybe like they are filled in or somethin.  It isn't rusty or dirty.   I am hoping that there is a remedy for it since I really do like to hunt with it.  Thanks for lookin

Not enough info from you!

What liquid do you swab with?
What solvent do you clean with?
Do you use a jag or bore brush with these liquids?
How many grains of powder do you generally use?

[Wolfhound]

Not enough info from you!

What liquid do you swab with?
What solvent do you clean with?
Do you use a jag or bore brush with these liquids?
How many grains of powder do you generally use?

He said it happened suddenly. That's generally an indication of a sabot switch. I suppose it could also be a bullet switch to one of slightly more diameter.

killed numerous deer with it and love to shoot it, all of a sudden it is hard to get the bullet and sabot started.

Plastic fouling would happen slowly. And you'd probably lose your accuracy before you noticed tight loading.

[Pickwick]

Thanks for the replies.  First of all, I guess I should have tried to explain a little better.  It progressively got hard to load only after I started using Iosso bore cleaner last year (since stopped) when I noticed it was getting a little snug. I dont know if it was coincidental or if it actually did something to the barrel (doubtful).   My purpose was to try and remove the plastic fouling that I didnt think the soap and water was getting.  I always used T/C 13 to swab with and shot 90 grains of Pyrodex powder until the pellets came out, then switched to 100 grns.  I cleaned with soap and water for a long time then switched to the Barnes copper solvent, Hoppe's and the Iosso using a brush with patches.  My cleaning patches came out clean which is something I couldnt do with the soap and water so I thought everything was fine.  I also use Bore Butter and after browsing heard that it could be building up.

I think Wolfhound may be somewhat correct, I had a couple of old sabots that actually came with the gun from the factory and tried to load one with the solid lead bullet.  It was definately snug but did load  easier so I think it could be a combination of things.  I hope I didnt ruin it with my cleaning methods and maybe I have given enough info  for you guys to help me out.  Again thanks for the responses. 

[Wolfhound]

Try some Rusty Duck if you can find it. Most Walmart's carry it if they carry ML stuff. That and a bore brush should get any buildup out. Run a solvent patch through then follow with the bore brush for several strokes then go back to the solvent patches. A few of those and the patches should be reddish with no black or gray. Then dry patch and oil with Breakfree CLP. I like breakfree because it protects very well although it's a little harder to find.

If there's any buildup what I just outlined will get rid of it although it could take more solvent patches and more brushing. Definitely dump the bore butter. I tried it once and it was just awful.

[Pickwick]

Thanks Wolfhound, I just thought that I had it clean!!  I did what you recommended and it was alot dirtier than I had thought.  I actually had some Rusty Duck patches that I bought from WM on clearance a year ago and never used them, I think I will from now on..  I tried pushing a bullet and sabot down the barrel and it is still a bear to do but I think you were right, I had started out with the Barnes bullets that Knight packaged and then switched to just the Barnes bullets in the circle blister pak that WM carries, the sabots are different, the old sabots go down a whole lot easier!!!!!!  I may try some Power Belts, I hear they are the easiest to load.. Again thanks for the help. 

I didnt have any of the Breakfree, will Rem Oil work while storing it in the safe. 

[Wolfhound]

 
I didnt have any of the Breakfree, will Rem Oil work while storing it in the safe. 

Rem Oil's fine but it's not as good. I've gotten some rust during storage with it before. Never with CLP. It'll do till you can find some.


Edit: Almost forgot to add that you shouldn't mix Powerbelts and Pellets in a Knight. My Knights have had problems during cold weather with the pellets not building pressure fast enough to expand the bullet into the rifling. They popped out of the muzzle with the pellets still smoking. It's not an issue with loose powder.

[Pickwick]

Thanks, I will use the loose powder and try them out this weekend..