Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: Angus on February 11, 2012, 02:57:44 PM

Title: 1st day at the range
Post by: Angus on February 11, 2012, 02:57:44 PM: Finally got a chance to take my new Bighorn out and do some shooting, was really amazed how fun and easy it was. I have to admit it seemed a little intimidating having never done it and seeing what all was needed after the initial purchase of the gun itself but after doing alot of reading here and watching some videos on Youtube, I finally just said the hell with it, I'm done reading, time to shoot.
I kept it simple, only shot at 50 yards using 100 grains of loose T7 with 300 gr Hornady bullets with musket caps. My 1st shot hit 5" below the bullseye, dead center, after a couple adjustments on the Williams peep and a couple more shots I had it hitting consistantly 3" high at 50 and left it there. I fired 10 shots before calling it a day, next time out I'm going to see how she does @ 100 yards.
I did have a couple minor issues that I thought I would run by you guys,
1) the ramrod was always sticking out a couple inches after each shot, is this typical? anything I can do to keep it in place?
2) I was running a patch down the barrel between each shot, a couple times the patch/ramrod got stuck, it was so tight I had to take the breech plug out and push the patch through, it wasn't coming out the way it went in. The first time it happened I thought I may have doubled up on patches but that wasn't the case either time. This only happened 2 out of the 10 shots I took but was a little frustrating. I bought 1 of Knights ultimate range rods but forget it at home :bash:, so I just used the ramrod thats on the gun, I'm hoping the URR makes it a little easier.
Title: Re: 1st day at the range
Post by: Wacenturion on February 11, 2012, 03:16:58 PM: Hard to say. Maybe the patches are just a little to thick , or with time it will improve. I assume you are wetting the patch with a liquid cleaning agent? If not that definitely helps. Pretty typical though if I remember, as occasionally a patch can be tight. May have more to do with the travel of the patch.

Been awhile since I had my guns out, but I recall I purchased a rod tip that followed the twist....made it pretty easy, with no patch binding up at the end of the initial run to the breech area. But don't recall for sure. I'll look at my stuff maybe tomorrow and see for sure.
Title: Re: 1st day at the range
Post by: lokidog on February 11, 2012, 03:37:32 PM: 1. The ramrod sticks out because of the recoil of the shot. Some guns have a little piece of spring steel that sticks up to put pressure on the rod. If yours has this, you can simply bend it up a little so it has more pressure on it. Otherwise you will have to figure out some other way to make it tighter, maybe some tape around it so it fits more snugly.

2. It seems that some shots fowl a little more than others, or like mentioned the wad binds a bit. If you don't want to do a whole wet swab routine, you can get a brush to use between shots. This will knock loose the crud without binding and taking a bunch of time between shots. You can also look for wad material that is thinner.

Sounds like you had some good shooting. Have fun.
Title: Re: 1st day at the range
Post by: Angus on February 11, 2012, 03:59:32 PM: When I bought these patches I did notice another brand that was a thinner material, might have to give them a try if the problem persists, thanks guys!
Title: Re: 1st day at the range
Post by: flinter on February 11, 2012, 04:10:26 PM: Use a good range rod for cleaning and when u swab between each shot just give each patch a spit lube, That will take care of sticky patches. Only use your gun rod for loading in the field, they are way to short and light to clean and practice with.
Title: Re: 1st day at the range
Post by: Kowsrule30 on February 11, 2012, 06:57:11 PM: Yep the recoil knocks the rod out.... No big deal.... 3" high @ 50 yards will set you up perfect for out to 125-175 yards depending on game you're shooting with that setup.... And if you can shoot that far with a peep.... As said above only use your range/cleaning rod for loading and cleaning..... Your rod in rifle only needs to be used when in the field reloading.... And the patches could have gotten stuck because they will follow the twist and wrap themselfs around the jag.... As you push down slowly you can actually feel it.....
Title: Re: 1st day at the range
Post by: Jeeper on February 14, 2012, 07:58:21 AM: Are you running a dry patch? I use Trip 7 also and have gotton my patch stuck when dry. I shoot a side lock, so had to tug that baby hard to get back out!.. I usually shoot three to 5 shots before a good wet patch cleaning then a dry patch. I have heard Trip seven residue described as a 'crunch'. Kinda like sugar crystals forming??