Between-shot cleaning problem - New to ML

[bfpgw]

Went to the range yesterday for the first time with a muzzleloader, a Huntsman.  Used the Hodgdon pellets and sabot/245gr bullet the gun shop owner recommended to start with. (Simpler than learning everything and loose powder at the same time)

Prepped the barrel with bore butter after cleaning the new grease out of it.  Swabbed it with a dry patch just before loading it the first time.  After each shot I ran another lubed cleaning patch in and out and then loaded another.  After the fifth shot the jag/patch got caught in the chamber area that I had to remove the breech plug to get it out.  After the sixth shot I just didn't run it down the last 3/4" and reloaded.  After the seventh shot the jag got caught again.

Took it home and disassembled it.  There is a thick ring of powder residue plus I don't know what right about where the two powder pellets would meet.  

Is this normal or am I going about the between shot maintenance the wrong way?  If this is normal I think this ML stuff is more trouble than it is worth, but it's probably my methods that are the problem.

[savageT]

Congratulations....
Believe it or not, you are not alone!  The problem of late it seems, is that between using borebutter and pyrodex/triple-7 pellets with that particular combination with 209 primer yields a nasty, hard powder residue just in front of the breechplug.  I would ditch the pretreated cleaning patches and the borebutter.

Here's what I would try.  First off, clean the barrel with a cheap auto brake cleaner from Wal-Mart (be sure and remove the barrel from the gun if you can to protect the stock finish).  Then go to the laundry tub, using hot sudsy water....use a mop and pump the water throughout the barrel to remove any of the oil and grease and powder residue, and follow-up rinse with the hottest water you can stand to rinse and dry the bore.  Then spray the bore w/Ballistol (a good, water displacing lubricant that has no petroleum products in it) and run through a patch or two to finish.
At the range, I spit-patch between shots. Try it, if you still are having problems with the buildup of the infamous "Crud Ring" try the Triple-7 loose powder....it's allot cheaper.  Ultimately, the 209 primers are just too much fire for the combination.  Lastly, watch-out for the breech-plug seizing up on you as well!  Most don't even tighten the plug down, but leave them finger tight and use anti-seize grease on the threads. Remove the plug after a few shots to be certain it doesn't lock up.

Jim

[Primer]

Hang in there bfpgw. Once you get your methods smoothed out,it gets a whole lot better! :grin:

Do like savageT recommends, and get that bore cleaned out. Hot soapy water/rinse, solvents,... or whatever will get you to bare metal, with all that bees wax/olive oil ( bore butter )cleaned out. :roll:

Most between-shot patches should be moistened (not dripping wet) with a water type cleaner to help disolve the powder residue....even "spit" on the patch works real fine...as said above. :grin:

Also helps to push the ram rod down in short "pumping" strokes so that the patch doesn't weld/or stick in the barrel, as you experienced. Once down all the way and having broke up/disolved the residue,normal strokes can be taken when you flip the patch to run down again...and for the follow-up dry patch.

I have had OK luck with regular CCI primers ( not the CCI Mag) as they are the coolest burn temp readily available, at most stores.

Again, as savageT said, it helps to loosen and finger tighten your greased breech plug every 6-7 shots at the range to help insure against it welding up. ( For me it's a problem with around 80gr..and up using 777 and more than 8+ shots. Helps also when the plug/barrel is still warm).

Be sure and let us know how you make out. Good luck!

[jgalar]

As per above if you are going to swab between shoots use water/spit. If you want to eliminate the "crud ring" dump the 209 primer system. The first thing I did to my Rem700 before firing was to install a standard nipple. I don't have any problems with ignition or the crud ring. I don't swab between shoots with any of my muzzleloaders and don't use bore butter. Everyone has their own method of shooting their muzzleloaders it sounds like yours isn't working out for you. You may want to try using a spit patch to clean between shots first.

[bfpgw]

As usual, if you're having trouble you're not alone.  Thanks for the great information.  I've already purchased Pyrodex P loose powder and picked up a pack of Great Plains 410gr flat nose.  The brass powder measure is due in today.  Hodgdon recommends a fiber wad with the conicals so I picked up some Wonder Wads.  Hopefully this is going in the right direction.  I thought I'd try the 245gr SJHP sabots and the conicals over loose powder and see what turns up.  The sabots are pretty hard to make certain they are down on the powder all the way.  Either that or I need to eat a bigger bowl of wheaties.  I thought the wonder wad might make the bore a little slicker for the lubed lead bullet to seat easier than the sabot.

I'll go get the wash tub and hot water and get to it.  Muzzle loader season starts Friday so I guess I'll have to go to the rifle club after turkey dinner instead of taking a nap.