T/C .50 cal sabot power glide

[jmv]

Had Huntmans .50 barrel fitted to receiver last fall on my .223.  For $85 who can complain for a new gun basically. Great way to get into blackpowder inexpensively.  Anyway T/C sabot were recommended. Tried the standard 4 petals and damn hard to load clean or not. Was told to try the the new 2 petal Sure Glide and no better. Why is this barrel so hard to load?  I swear I'm going break the ram rod. Isnt this barrel towards the loose specs? thanks,

[Oscar2287]

Just a recent discovery on my part...  I can't speak to your issue with the Huntsman barrel, but I shoot a T/C Renegade and have fought with it for two years because I could barely load the darn thing - actually used a small rubber mallet to seat a bullet the last 2" or so one time because I couldn't push it with my hand.  I was doing everything I could to clean the gun and tried every different kind of load (to include powerbelts - which are undersized and supposed to load easy) and even patched balls wouldn't load nice.  Someone finally suggested that I use T/C wet patches (#13) and a dry patch between each shot.

I spent one whole night running wet then dry patches through it and it seems I had layers of crap that had built up over time (I really didn't think I'd shot it that much or that it was that dirty) and then took it out and shot it.  One wet and then one dry IMMEDIATELY after each shot and the patches started out dirty and got cleaner and cleaner the longer I shot.

I shoots great now and is super easy to load and way more accurate than every before.


Just a thought - not sure that it's relevant but it might be worth a try if you haven't already.

[kitchawan kid]

I have the same problem with my Huntsman,at a match I have to run a patch through it every one or two shots.

[jmv]

Thanks for suggestions.
Observation and a couple questions.  Only put 25 shots through it since late Fall 2008 til last week.  I clean it carefully with an aggressive cleaner after each days use. 
1)  when you say you run a patch through it after each shot, what are you using on the patch?
2) the new plastics in the sabot are not supposed to leave any crap in the barrel to possibly leave any thin coating to narow the barrel.  Again with aggressive cleaner cant imagine anything left. It's squeaky clean.

I run a cleaner and dry patch after each shot to make sure giving me best odds for accurate sighting in. T/C sabots are tight all the time. 
Any suggestions for different sabot that may be a tad thinner?
Thanks.

[kitchawan kid]

I do run a patch with solvent and two or three dry ones,I do the same shooting patched round ball,if not after two shots it is very hard to load at all.After  shooting for the day it is taken apart and clean with very hot water dryed and lubed.

[Oscar2287]

I've used two different kinds of "presoaked" patches and they both seem to work the same.  They are the ones that come in the little round plastic can with a screw-off lid.

I say it can't hurt to try some powerbelts - they are undersized for tight fitting and a lot of guys say they don't shoot accurate (no problems here).  I say whatever loads easy makes shooting a whole lot more fun - I was ready to hang it up when it got to be that difficult to load.

[zr800o1le]

After or before Cleaning try these Sabots. Hornady XTP 240 Grain.
I shoot 90 Grains of loose Powder and Just started using Hornady XTP 240 Grain Sabots, Nice 5/8" Groups at 100yards.
Easy to load, 10 shots before cleaning and easy to clean. Use a Brush first, Then Jag wrapped with a couple patchs sprayed with Bore Solvent, 2-3 times with clean Patches, then 1 or 2 with butter and put it away.
Good Luck.  

[Kernbigo]

I sent jmv a email because I also had the same problem, a tight barrel could not get a harden steal dowel pin more than a 1/2 down the barrel to chech the dia. The problem solver was using the tc bullets which mike out .451 with a mmp sabot in a 3 petal (black hph 3 petal-ez for a .451-.452 bullet). They work great use blackhorn 209, shot 20 rounds never cleaned the barrel once, shot a .750 group. This is there address etc. Kernbigo 518 Buck Hollow Lane
Harrison, AR, 72601
Phone: (870) 741-5019
Fax: (870) 741-3104

[eye shot]

If you use the Harvester Crush Rib High Pressure Sabots with just about any .45 cal. bullet it should load very easy. I don't even use a bullet starter. If using 777 swab between shots with a mix of rubbing alcohol & Windex.

[jmv]

Thanks all. I will give the the MMP sabots a whirl and Hornady XTP's idea too if it ever gets warm again aorund here.......... April.