Consistent Seating Depth

[Sun City]

For those that are interested in getting the best accuracy possible from their traditional muzzle loading rifles, this grouping tells a story! This is ten shots fired from 70 yards with my .54 caliber Hawken. The first shots fired were the six as shown at an elevation centered with the middle of the bullseye. The other 4 shots fired are low...away from center. I was using pillow ticking patch material which was lubbed with saliva...commonly called a spit patch and was not wiping betwixt shots. The last 4 shots were when I could not get the patched round ball seated to the correct depth because of a 'powder ring' formed at the upper end of the chamber area! Thus the reason for running a slightly moist patch down the barrel after 4-5 shots being fired to wipe out the powder ring!!

 

[hanshi]

The only way I judge "seating depth/powder compression" is by feel when I get the slight "crunch" of prb on powder. Maybe I could mark the rod or something but I'm too lazy. Still might get around to it later on. I load tight combos so seldom get that fouling ring.

 

[Sun City]

I load 100 grains KIK 2F with a tight patch myself but I still get the fouling ring after so many shots! I mark the rod.

 

[Carbon 6]

Wiping after every shot has many advantages.

 

[Sun City]

Three shots 75 yards without wiping using a spit patch.

 

[TerryK]

I ran into issues with wet patches. I think the key was slightly damp patches. At least for me it was worse to get too wet than too dry. I do a damp patch every shot.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

The only way I judge "seating depth/powder compression" is by feel when I get the slight "crunch" of prb on powder. Maybe I could mark the rod or something but I'm too lazy. Still might get around to it later on. I load tight combos so seldom get that fouling ring.

I also feel for the "crunch". In .40 and .50 calibers I use a lubed felt OP wad and have no issues with crud ring. In .54, I ram down an over sized 12 ga. wad before the ball which wipes the bore clean and protects the patch from the 125 grain powder charge. I can shoot that all day without wiping.

 

[fillwa]

I use 20gr corn meal between 70gr powder and generously lubed patched ball in my 54, always get a consistent load, measured by where the end of the ramrod lines up on the lines in my hand.

 

[Hawk78]

I do not get a ring with my tight combo either.

 

[Newtire]

Used to use that method of corn meal over powder on cap & ball revolter so why not on rifle? Never tried it but just might now. Get some good ideas here!

 

[tenngun]

I feel for the slight crunch. Swabbing between shots insures my load goes down pretty easily.
I do pour to a measure but how sloppy is that. Overfill one time slight under full the next, spill a little, bit of a breeze. It might only be two or three grains but it makes a seating difference, ever so slight, so I depend on feel not on a ramrod mark.