Barrel Inletting and Point if Impact

Just wondering if there is a relationship between how the muzzleloader barrel is fitted into the barrel channel and point of impact the barrel?

 

[ss1]

If sights on barrel, no. Unless it is pressing on side of barrel and wood is bending barrel, [ not likely ]. If rear sight is on tang and on hooked breechplug, yes. This is what i THINK.

 

[paulvallandigham]

SDionce all barrel vibrate on firing ( harmonics) the bedding on a stock can adversely affect accuracy of a particular gun. this is more prevalent in round barrels than with octagon barrels, but it still exists. Normally you are not going to see the difference unless something is very far out of spec, and you are shooting at long distances, where everything is important for small groups.

 

[sparsons]

to follow up what Paul said, I had the harmonic problem with my new Thompson Hawken last year. Sent it back to them. They took the barrel out to test it and of course the barrel was fine. They shipped it back with the same problem--shots were all over the map. My uncle clued me in on what he called "floating the barrel". He saw how the barrel set in the stock and explained that the natural vibration of the barrel was being altered. The path of ball was being changed much like a pitched baseball when the pitcher does not follow through or trys to stop his delivery. Some may question the method of "floating the barrel" to allow proper harmonics, my results made me a beleiver.