SABOTLOADER HELP PLEASE OR ANY MUZZLE HUNTER!!!!

[Bowtech7]

I put a thread on here last December about good muzzloader bullets for .50 cal traditions muzzleloader and you recommended the .300gr Lehigh bloodline bullet I went and bought some and went out to shoot them and had a hard time getting the bullet down the barrel finally got one down and shot fine. Went to shoot again had a hard time getting the second bullet down the barrel got it part way down and didn't seem seated all the way so I took the gun apart and the bullet was partially seated now the bullets stuck in the barrel what to do??? Also my bigger question can I make them bullets easier to load by lubing them or do you have another recommendation. I was shooting the 348gr lead powerbelt before and they went down the barrel smooth as butter but didn't like the way they performed on my cow a couple years ago and this year I drew a big bull tag so??? Please help as soon as possible my tag starts in two weeks. Thanks

[Damnimissed]

Did you try to push it back out through the muzzle?

[JJB11B]

Brass cleaning, the solid one thats like 3/8" and a mallet

[Bowtech7]

Yes a tried pushing back threw the barrel and didn't work. So tomorrow was going to be the mallet trick

[Sabotloader]

I put a thread on here last December about good muzzloader bullets for .50 cal traditions muzzleloader and you recommended the .300gr Lehigh bloodline bullet I went and bought some and went out to shoot them and had a hard time getting the bullet down the barrel finally got one down and shot fine. Went to shoot again had a hard time getting the second bullet down the barrel got it part way down and didn't seem seated all the way so I took the gun apart and the bullet was partially seated now the bullets stuck in the barrel what to do???

And that is one of the big problems with ML bores... not all bores a created equal!  So apparently your Traditions a very tight 50 call bore.  To me that means you will probably need to go to a 45 cal bullet in one of the thinner sabots.  There is a wider variety of 50 cal sabots in the world.

Stuck bullet... what I would do is to remove the breech plug and with a good brass loading jag and a stout range rod tap the bullet out the breech.  You might even have to use a plastic mallet to tap it out.
As tight as it sounds - I do not think you could pull it out of the sabot with a ball puller plus that solid brass bullet would be hard to drill.

I also doubt that you could push the bullet back up the bore - the sabot would just expand and get tighter.

Shoot I hope this is an inline!!!

Also my bigger question can I make them bullets easier to load by lubing them or do you have another recommendation. I was shooting the 348gr lead powerbelt before and they went down the barrel smooth as butter but didn't like the way they performed on my cow a couple years ago and this year I drew a big bull tag so??? Please help as soon as possible my tag starts in two weeks. Thanks

Number one is getting the bullet out... finding a bullet/sabot combination should not be a problem.

Let me know if you are able to tap the bullet out...

[washelkhunter]

Try pushing it back down again by leaning your wt on the rifle as you push.

[Bowtech7]

Yes sabotloader it is an inline traditions trakker but in Washington cant use 209 ignition so shoot #11 nipple. I removed the breech and knocked the powder out and can see the bullet. But it wont move forward so I will try pushing out the breech. I will attempt to get the bullet out tomorrow after I get off work. As far as the 45 cal bullet goes are you saying I should shoot a 45 cal Lehigh bullet out of my .50 cal gun??? I am kinda illiterate when it comes to good muzzleloading equipment and bullets and lingo.

[steeleywhopper]

I have used a wooden dowel to push bullets out that I did not want to shoot out after getting home from hunting. works very well.

[Griiz]

When you wash your muzzleloader with hot soapy water, use bore butter to lube the barrel while barrel is still hot and you will get more shots before having to clean barrel. Maybe you need a thinner sabot on the bullet.

[MountainDevil54]

stay away from that bore butter crap, its total junk. There are better lubes for rust protection. It does nothing to aid in easier loading unless you're using it as a patch lube when shooting round balls. But even then, there are better lubes for patches 

[usmc74]

I bought a piece of 7/16 aluminum rod to keep in the garage after I lodged a bullet in the barrel.

I got the bullet out before I had to use it (lowes or home depot or mclendons), but its still avail for the next time.

[Sabotloader]

Yes sabotloader it is an inline traditions trakker but in Washington cant use 209 ignition so shoot #11 nipple. I removed the breech and knocked the powder out and can see the bullet. But it wont move forward so I will try pushing out the breech.

The likely hood of pushing it up the bore is slim - not saying it can not be done, but it should be much easier pushing it down and out the breech.  If you do not have a range rod or a solid rod you could try your gun rod. Once it moves a little bit it will continue to move a bit easier.  If you use your gun with a loading jag just tap the top of the rod with the mallet.  If you feel that it is to much for your gun rod then you may have to invest in some sort of solid rod.

I will attempt to get the bullet out tomorrow after I get off work. As far as the 45 cal bullet goes are you saying I should shoot a 45 cal Lehigh bullet out of my .50 cal gun??? I am kinda illiterate when it comes to good muzzleloading equipment and bullets and lingo.

The 300 grain Lehigh/Bloodline is a .458 bullet and there is only one sabot made for that size.  So if you switched to a .452 bullet then you would have an option in sabots that you can use.

This picture shows some of the options...




Using a .452 (45 cal) bullet you could then use one of three different thinner sabots to get down your tight bore.

I did send you a PM also - take a look when you can

[James E]

I have always shot T/C shock waves, with good accuracy. Traditions recommends using Hornady Smack Downs. My son has a Vortek and we tried the smack downs the other day. I was impressed with them. I don't know how they do on game yet. I guess we will find out.

[Bowtech7]

Sabotloader sent you a PM. Thanks guys for all the advise so far

[TC_outdoorsman]

You might try heating up the barrel with a torch, assuming all of the powder is out of course. I have a friend that had a stuck breach plug and this worked for him.

[Bowtech7]

Success!!! Got bullet out of gun no problems now onto what bullet to use. Thanks guys