Barns Spit-Fire TMZ

[ML_Hunter]

Well, I just got my new sabots today and got a new package of TMZ's.  Looks like we'll have good weather this week meaning i'll be...doing yard work .  I'll have to make some time to head out to the range and see what happens.

[BillyG]

I have all the same issues as you. I picked up a small tee handle that attaches to the ramrod to help my grip and also ware a glove. Having good luck with T7 mag pellets 50gr each and musket caps, 100gr charge. Very happy at 100, 200, and just for fun 300yards! Over the crony, around 2000 fps. I do find that they load easier after the first shot. I'll take the accuracy and not worry about the rest. After all a little adrenalin goes a long ways!

[ML_Hunter]

I purchased 3 of those little t-handles and all three have broke...so I'm not a fan.  TC now makes ramrods with a medal t-handle so i may try that.  there just a bit $$$

[dawhunt]

I have all the same issues as you. I picked up a small tee handle that attaches to the ramrod to help my grip and also ware a glove. Having good luck with T7 mag pellets 50gr each and musket caps, 100gr charge. Very happy at 100, 200, and just for fun 300yards! Over the crony, around 2000 fps. I do find that they load easier after the first shot. I'll take the accuracy and not worry about the rest. After all a little adrenalin goes a long ways!

Let us know how the sabots work for ya.
Bob

[carpsniperg2]

yeah will good to hear how they work out for ya

[wapiti hunter2]

Here is an interesting article about why the Barnes bullets may be tight in your gun and be hard to load.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/barnes_bullet_for_muzzleloader.htm

I haven't tried them yet but I am going to get some today and try them in my Bighorn.

[Machias]

Great article, thanks for posting.

[Lowedog]

Thanks for the link!

[ML_Hunter]

Good articl...maybe these TC sabots will then do the trick with the TMZ bullet.  If it works well i'll post all the info.  Thanks guys!!

[Dan-o]

I ran into a guy at the range who gave me a few and they shot real well out of my Black Diamond.    Shot about a 3" group at 100 yards, which for me is great (better than anything else I've tried).

So I bought more and they are accurate out of my rifle.

They don't load real easy, but not all that difficult.

[ML_Hunter]

LOL, Dan-o I'm glad they worked out of your black diamond.  I do really like the bullet and like you my grouping size was about 3" when I shot my first batch.  But I also broke a ram rod trying to load the bullet .  Totally my fault, but got me into looking to see if i can get the same performance and yet making the bullet just a tad easier to load.  I'll let you know how these new sabots work, still sticking the with the TMZ, just a new plastic sleeve.

[Dan-o]

Sounds good ML Hunter.

I'll look forward to hearing if a different sabot works better.

P.S.   I don't break ram rods reloading at the bench.......   Only when an elk is staring at me wondering what that really load noise was.     

[carpsniperg2]

  that would suck bad!

[Dan-o]

Yes, it would and yes it did.

I still remember that spike staring at me while i tried to load with my ramrod in 3 pieces....

I can still see him tilt his head while looking at me from 40 yards and wondering what I was trying to do so frantically.

Funny, but those first couple muzzy years I had so many incredible opportunities, I got to learn what not to do in a hurry.   Elk seem harder to come by now that I'm not totally incompetent. 

[ML_Hunter]

I got the new sabots in the mail last week along with another batch of TMZ bullets, they were cheaper online so I figured why not!  Well I've been waiting all week to get an opportunity to try them and finally on Thursday I had the chance.  I headed out to Evergreen Sportsman Club and got there just after 12 noon where I found they were hosting a huge shotgun shooting event and there rifle range was being used as a campground.  It would have been nice if they kept there web page up to date so I could have known this in advance .  So, up the logging roads of Capital Forest I went attempting to find a suitable and safe area to shoot.  Well finally I came across a landing with a nice dirt backstop.  I rolled a log against the dirt backing and placed a "Shootn'C" Target on the end of the stump and back up 45 yards which was as far away from it as I could.  I also had a new bi-pod on my rifle so I flipped down and extend the legs and took aim, first the the bullet with the factory sabot.  BANG, dead center

I then poured another 115 grains of 777 down the bore of my Black Diamond XR, grabbed another TMZ bullet and placed the new TC sabot on it replacing the factory sabot.  When I went to place this bullet down the bore I was just amazed!!  The same bullet with the new TC sabot was significantly easier to push down the bore!! But this test is not over yet.  I seated the bullet without even using the starter, just pushed it down with my ramrod.  I was worried that with the new sabot being so easy to load, that I was going to lose velocity.  Well, I sat down and took aim.  BANG  I looked at the target and was very disappointed, I did not see a second hole in the my target.  As I walked up to the stump to see where the bullet hit, I noticed that the first hole was oblong, I shot the same hole! 

I'll have to do some shooting at 100 yards and shoot more than two bullet but at the moment I'm happy with the new sabots.  I'll have to get a hold of one of my friends who have a cyrno to see how much velocity I'm losing, but if my grouping is still good at 100 yards, I'll order up another hundred of these new sabots. 

I'll do some more testing prior to recommending this to anyone, but if your looking at the same sorts of issues, it may be worth a try!

Happy Hunting all!  Bear season opens in just one week