But seriously folks !

[cryder]

O. K. , I purchased the optima v2 here's what I got to make it shoot stuff , I got power built pure lead .50 cal. Breach grease , white hots 50 grain , 209 shot shell primers , do I actually need this slug starter ? And all this is just for learning and practice so going cheap if possible , your advice is very appreciated , and I'll try to return the favor 😂😂😂

[tbotts]

you will have to change your ignition system from 209 primers to either percussion or musket cap ignition if you are planning to muzzleloader hunt.

[Mfowl]

If you plan to hunt our ML seasons you cannot use 209 primers. You must use either no 11 or musket cap primers and you will need the nipple that fits them on your breach plug. I'd also advise using 777 loose powder and some form of Hornady bullet in 250-300 grain size. 100-110grains of powder as well.

[cryder]

So the 150 grains of white hots is to much or for accuracy use less ? Nipples n caps ? Ooooh I was way off !!!  And this loose powder ? Do I need a new tool also ? And thanx soooooo much !

[Dan-o]

So the 150 grains of white hots is to much or for accuracy use less ? Nipples n caps ? Ooooh I was way off !!!  And this loose powder ? Do I need a new tool also ? And thanx soooooo much !

I find that I get acceptable hunting accuracy using powder pellets.   You might go ahead and try them first.   It's a little like reloading vs factory ammo.    Some factory ammo shoots really good out of my hunting rifle.

[JDHasty]

You might get by w/o ball starter, but it will be a PITA that is over saving a a couple Bushs on a cheap tool

[Rainpaddle]

O. K. , I purchased the optima v2 here's what I got to make it shoot stuff , I got power built pure lead .50 cal. Breach grease , white hots 50 grain , 209 shot shell primers , do I actually need this slug starter ? And all this is just for learning and practice so going cheap if possible , your advice is very appreciated , and I'll try to return the favor 😂😂😂

Cryder, check with who you bought the gun from that the breech plug is good for caps and pellets. Better yet, call CVA. Add a cleaning jag and nipple pick to your kit. I use TC speed loaders for my belt bag. They have powder level indicators on the side and a separate chamber for the bullet. Get the bullet starter, too.

I went away from pellets because I didn't like the lag between the cap popping and the boom. Loose powder goes off way quicker. My accura likes bloodline 300 grains and 120 grains Hogden T7 3F. My shoulder doesn't. In my gun the powerbelt platinum 300 grain shoots close to the bloodline bullet, so I use those for followup shots in the speedloaders.

[Mallardmasher]

My Accura goes bang with no delay, with two 60gr T7 magnum pellets, but after much research, I opened my hole up to .32. And it has no blo back

[Badhabit]

When I was shooting my ML it was stainless Black Diamond. I had good results with 3 50grn pyrodrex pellets pushing a 300grn lead sabotted lead hollow point. It would kill.

[Labs07]

You need to switch ignition system to be legal.  I hunt with 130 grains pellets and Barnes bullets.  My gun loves this combo and everything I shoot at doesn't ever run, including Elk.  I use #11 caps.

[biggfish]

Which version did you purchase? The NW legal version is the only one that comes with the musket cap breech plug. Most of the v2 series is set for scopes, did you get one with sights? You can buy a new breech plug if so.

Sent from my LG-K425 using Tapatalk

[cryder]

I got sights , don't want to go to a scope , want to hunt next year , using 209's two white hots and hollow points 250g. , Very new to this , I guess I need to clean the barrel every shot ? For sighting learning ? Staying in a 4 inch ring at 35   yards but that's terrible I'm thinking ? Hollow points not that accurate ? HELP !!

[Timberstalker]

I got sights , don't want to go to a scope , want to hunt next year , using 209's two white hots and hollow points 250g. , Very new to this , I guess I need to clean the barrel every shot ? For sighting learning ? Staying in a 4 inch ring at 35   yards but that's terrible I'm thinking ? Hollow points not that accurate ? HELP !!

Cryder,

You can't use 209s in a muzzy.  Musket caps or No. 11's only.

[bobcat]

As everyone has said, the 209 primers are not legal for hunting muzzleloader seasons in Washington. You could hunt with it during modern firearm season.

However, there's talk about changing the rules next year, and making 209 primers legal, so I wouldn't buy the new breech plug quite yet.

[cryder]

I'm very aware of this primer thang , I'm just trying to learn how to hit the broad side of the barn before it moves

[slowhand]

T/C Black Diamond XR 110gr of 777 45cal hollow point in a sabot and I can hit a pop can at 100+ yards all day long. Keep trying your mix. You need to find out what your gun likes and then you will be good to go. I am amazed at how accurate My Black Diamond is. Crazy accurate right out of the box. I also LOVE the fiberoptic sights it came with. So nice.

[JimmyHoffa]

I got sights , don't want to go to a scope , want to hunt next year , using 209's two white hots and hollow points 250g. , Very new to this , I guess I need to clean the barrel every shot ? For sighting learning ? Staying in a 4 inch ring at 35   yards but that's terrible I'm thinking ? Hollow points not that accurate ? HELP !!

shouldn't need to clean the barrel after each shot.  after maybe 7 or 8 shots it should start getting tight and need a cleaning.

[scottcrb]

I run a wet patch after each shot and take the breech plug out after 5-10 shots and fully clean. I had good luck with Hornady sst bullets and knight bloodlines. I shoot 110gr of fffp hodgman powder.

[Sabotloader]

I use a slightly damp patch between shots at the range and I use the same patch over and over until it looses all of its moisture... the term 'wet' worries me a bit...

[MountainDevil54]

[/quote]
shouldn't need to clean the barrel after each shot.  after maybe 7 or 8 shots it should start getting tight and need a cleaning.
[/quote]

not true at all. With a sidelock yes, inlines are a nastier beast and bake that fouling into the bore. Crud ring is a major issue. With some of the black powder subs in the traditional sidelocks, I've experienced a reverse crud ring, where it was super tight the first 4" of the muzzle VS the last 2-3 inches at the breech plug.

[Sabotloader]

I would like to add - the statement about inlines that MD54 has presented is not very accurate when shooting an inline using caps and T7.  Many of us shoot Western style inlines with cap and do not have that problem at all.

A couple of things I would suggest that will reduce the effects of fouling or the 'crud ring' is not to use any type of products that contain petroleum or Teflon in the bore.   If you have been using a either of these two products in the bore it will take awhile clear them form the bore.

It would be my suggestion to only use synthetic bore oils in a ML that you might shoot real BP or BP subs from, this does not include BH-209 powder which most of us Western people can not use anyway.

 

[MountainDevil54]

with #11 & percussion caps you get a reverse crud ring at the muzzle where it gets tight, just as i stated above.

Ever shoot a black powder revolver? The cylinders get extremely tight at the end after a couple reloads.

Not to hard really, keep them clean and they will load easier and generally be more accurate.

My old 58cal at 100 yards, swabbing between shots,

Now a 50cal at 100, first time with the new rifle.

I didnt do any swabbing on those shots at all, but if the bore is in good shape without any pitting or nasty scratches, using a good patch lube ( in your case sabots/conicals may need swabbing for best accuracy ) you won't have an issue. The rifle in the second picture, I must have fired well over 26-28 shots at Rendezvous this year and never once had an issue. I also use a super tight patch with a tight weave, yet a coarse weave that allows the fouling to embed into the patch and clean as I load.

But as for the crud ring with t7 and a #11, yes, its an issue.

[Sabotloader]

with #11 & percussion caps you get a reverse crud ring at the muzzle where it gets tight, just as i stated above.

Never have had that happen. sorry that you are experiencing those problems.  I have shot as many as 15 shots dinging around with T7 at the rock pit.  110 grain loads - #11 mag caps.  Done this several times with different Knight rifles - not that - that has anything to do with it.  And as you mentioned at Rondy shoots, using any of my Renegades, all I use is T7 and never run a patch. Using the Rene's I am shooting T7-3f which does burn cleaner.

Ever shoot a black powder revolver? The cylinders get extremely tight at the end after a couple reloads.

Nope never have...

Not to hard really, keep them clean and they will load easier and generally be more accurate.

My old 58cal at 100 yards, swabbing between shots,

Now a 50cal at 100, first time with the new rifle.

I didnt do any swabbing on those shots at all, but if the bore is in good shape without any pitting or nasty scratches, using a good patch lube ( in your case sabots/conicals may need swabbing for best accuracy ) you won't have an issue. The rifle in the second picture, I must have fired well over 26-28 shots at Rendezvous this year and never once had an issue. I also use a super tight patch with a tight weave, yet a coarse weave that allows the fouling to embed into the patch and clean as I load.

But as for the crud ring with t7 and a #11, yes, its an issue.

I and a whole lot of other people around here would disagree if you know what you are doing with your bore!

[Squidward]

you can get away with a lot of cheap / home made stuff for the smoke pole. make a ball starter with a small block of wood, drill a hole and put a small piece of dowel in it, done. I have made them out of old golf balls and a dowel they don't fit in the pocket as easy as a flat one tho.

you can put pre-measured (loose) powder charges in old shell cases, tape the top, rip the tape off poor it out and load up.

I use a greased lead bullet (maxi ball), when i 1st started i took a small piece of board about 3/8" thick-ish. I drilled a few holes in the board one to tie a lanyard too and the rest snug fit a bullet in. the end stuck out of the board and would line up with the barrel when loading, shove it through with the ball starter.
just keep in mind you don't have to buy everything for it. Good Luck!

[cryder]

BRILLIANT ! I definitely need to get to the range with folks that no what there doing before next season , are these white hots pretty messy stuff compare to others ?