Crud ring, please get me up to speed

[Keith Lewis]

In a related subject; Remington now has the 209-4 primer (or at least a similar one) out as the Kleenbore Muzzleloading Primer. I have some to evaluate but it is too hot in Arizona to do much shooting at this time. Walmart seems to be the first to carry them although I understand that Walmart spreads out the hazmat fee to the case of primers which makes them more expensive than if you can find them at your local sportinggoods store.

[xs pro-comp]

The heavy fouling (crud ring) forms just forward of the powder charge. There are several theories as to what specifically forms it. It is sensitive to the 209 primers and the hotter primers cause more problem. It used to be possible to get 410 primers from Remington but they don't make them anymore. Winchester makes a black powder primer but it is just the regular 209 primer repackaged (a marketing thing). There is a theory that the higher energy in the 209 primer moves the bullet and powder charge up the barrel before complete combustion takes place and the increased temperature causes the sugar based (777) propellant to crystalize and "crud ring" forms. There has been a thread that a guy claims you can use the base of a 209 primer and knock out the dead primer and reload a lower energy primer (rifle or pistol). Depending on the powder you would have to play with this (I have not tried to do this as I already have the .25ACP conversion). I have mentioned the source of the .25ACP in the sticky they ask me if they could post. Other breechplugs are available from T/C but you have to write them as they do not respond to emails. I understand that Black Mag'3 will ignite with any percussion system that is out there. The powder is very fine and I have been told that it will work in a flintlock (I have not tried it but as soon as I get one I will). Looking for a Lyman Great Plains rifle first. As far as the design of the triggerguard I can not answer for T/C but I'm sure they must have heard something about this by now. I expect they may be redesigning the drop block and if they make one with a larger guard they would probably exchange yours for no charge. T/C has been real good at that kind of thing. They sent me my first breechplug when they changed the design and did not charge me for it. I will keep buying T/C products as long as they fit my requirements. They do not make a rifle like the Great Plains as it has a one in sixty twist (not available from T/C). Not sure I answered all the questions; but I tried. I will keep answering as long as you like the answers.

Keith, if you can find the T/C Pennsylvania Hunter rifle it is made with a 1/66 twist barrel. I bought one as my first m/l maybe 10yrs. ago. It is a tack driver w/ a patched round ball. I also tried the then new poly patches and they worked well but I still prefer to use pillow ticking or old denim w/bore butter and a 177gr. Hornady round ball. Hope this helps you out in your search for a T/C rifle.

[slayer]

I have a few year old Hawken .50 Flintlock. The 1:48 twist barrel shot everything very well, but I didn`t care for the QLA barrel for PRB`s, so I order a 31 inch 1:66 barrel from T/C(Fox Ridge Outfitters) with the Non-QLA system and all I will shoot out of this barrel now is PRB. Jack.

[S.B.]

What's PRB's?

[Critter]

Patched Round Balls

[S.B.]

Thanks, somethimes the acronyms don't kick in, in my mind very well.

[poncaguy]

Shot my Omega Sunday, about 12 shots without any cleaning, using 2 & 3 777 pellets and 348 Powerbelts. 25 ACP primer conversion. was easy to load the whole time. Had a crud ring, but cleaned up okay. Next time , going to use the Remington ML 209 primers. Shot 1/2" group at 50 with 2 pellets. 1/1/2 at 100 with 3 pellets.