With consistent loading pressure being one of the factors that contributes to good accuracy, what method do you use to get the same amount of force while loading your rifle?
Fairchase, I know you've already had a good "run" with this one, over on another board, and the KaDooty pressure regulator has already been mentioned:
"The KaDooty is a ramrod to increase accuracy when shooting black powder muzzleloading firearms. It can also be used to withdraw either a stuck projectile or pull a patched ball free that has been loaded without powder to test for patch cutting. When using the optional archery attachments, the KaDOOTYz will convert into a archery stabilizer and broadhead puller."If you care to, you can make your own "pressure regulator ramrod"-- I've never been compelled to.
Personally, I've not seen that loading pressure actually
is of great accuracy significance at all. Certainly, consistent compaction and moisture content is a good thing-- and is one of the touted benefits of using pellets. I do try to be consistent with 40 lbs. or so of seating pressure with T 7 or Pyrodex, something that can't happen with selecting a sabot combination you practically have to pound down.
PR Bullet's new rotating head swivel jag is a very good idea, as the part of the jag that contacts the bullet rotates with the bullet-- no way can the bullet be scuffed or scored on its way down the muzzle. When is comes to accuracy, it seems that just one component gets a lot of attention-- when it is a combinatorial issue, and nothing is going to help you with a gun that has a rough barrel-- or in the case where neither gun or shooter are capable of excellent groups. If you don't already have a steady rest, an accurate gun, a load your gun likes, etc., etc., already out of the way-- it isn't likely that seating pressure alone is going to change your world.
I've got consistent 3/4 MOA guns, and have had several consistent 3-4 MOA guns-- yet, the "nut behind the butt" has remained a constant for all of them. "Preacher's" shooting regiment, based heavily on weighing everything and cited elsewhere on this board, is as good as anything I'm aware of. See also:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=28394If hunting is the issue, then once you have a 1" MOA day in, day out gun, there really isn't more more to be sought. If this is strictly an accuracy issue, then looking at the non-hunting loads (60 gr. Swiss BP FFFg) that have been favored by the good folks winning the matches at Friendship seems a good path to consider.
T 7, Pyrodex, and other synthetic pyrotechnic compounds burn at very much the same rate when unconfined as when confined. They also are still so horrifically inefficient propellants, that still close to 50% of the powder charge remains a solid. I've yet to hear of anybody dramatically shrinking group size by pressure regulator use alone, or use of a "drop tube" when loading. I'm not suggesting it is
not a factor at all, just that I've not heard of it or experienced it. Also, I don't know of anyone
intentionally trying to seat their projectiles with uneven pressure from shot-to-shot.
