Hope accuracy is good enough for hunting deer

[New bp shooter]

Muzzleloader season opens here in Tennessee on November 5...took my traditions deer Hunter...out to sighted in ... I had so many hang fires it was unreal... Did some work to the musket nipple and got to go an awful lot better I hope this works ... First Target was at 25 yards the one I pulled to the right to the hang fire 4 shot group.... The second target was at 50 yards and it really started to open up five shot group... One thing I did notice is the barrel fouled out I did open up more....

 

[Stykbow]

You killed a buck with this rifle last year, correct? Are the target’s above similar to the accuracy you had last year or worse? I’m no help with the hang fires. Not a problem I’ve had in many years.

 

[New bp shooter]

You killed a buck with this rifle last year, correct? Are the target’s above similar to the accuracy you had last year or worse? I’m no help with the hang fires. Not a problem I’ve had in many years.

Yes I did kill a deer with it last year....it looks like it opened up more out to 50...but the 1st couple of shots were right at the bullseye...but when I would swab barrel with alcohol after 2 shots it would tighten back up some... I did not have to swab the barrel last year and it held a lot tighter group

 

[deermanok]

What are you using for powder?
Maybe your pushing crud down into the flash channel when you swab the barrel.
When you clean up your gun, remove the nipple and push a pipe cleaner down through the flash channel to clear it.

 

[user 53891]

That 1st shot is the one that counts. You'll be just fine.

 

[Stykbow]

I’m with @Mustang65 on this one, but I’d be trying to figure out a load that didn’t open up like that.

 

[ord sgt]

Base your finding on the first shot from a cold barrel. That will simulate your hunt. Try several cold bore shots.

 

[dave951]

To help diagnose what's going on, we need your load data- powder, cap, rifle, etc.

 

[user 53891]

Happy hunting Amigo....we'll want a picture of that deer you are going to get.

 

[earlwb]

Looks good to me. You only need thst first shot anyway. I agree in that the flash channel is getting obscured somehow. Pay attention to thst nipple and flash channel.

 

[tenngun]

How’s it shoot cold and clean?
That’s how you take your gun out

 

[Bushfire]

If you don't clean your breach area well over time you'll get build up that will lead to hang fires. Not that I shoot percussion much anymore but I was always thorough to the point of obsessive about cleaning the breach.

 

[New bp shooter]

How’s it shoot cold and clean?
That’s how you take your gun out

On both 1st 2 shots are on the bullseye...just don't like it opening up like that ... And it wasn't last year

 

[New bp shooter]

To help diagnose what's going on, we need your load data- powder, cap, rifle, etc.

90 grains...of T7 ...2f....495 Hornady round ball .10 patch... Same as last year

 

[New bp shooter]

I was pulling the nipple and pulling the drum screw and cleaning all that out with alcohol as well with the pipe cleaner... Oh I was using a musket nipple by the way too and I drilled the bottom of that out which helped with the hang fires quite a bit

 

[New bp shooter]

If you don't clean your breach area well over time you'll get build up that will lead to hang fires. Not that I shoot percussion much anymore but I was always thorough to the point of obsessive about cleaning the breach.

Yeah... The way I was pulling to the right on the hang fires .... I don't think I could use a flintlock...I was really thinking about it up till then

 

[morehops52]

Just from what you've said and what others have added, consider your first shot the all important one. When you load for hunting, clean out the flash channel and add and few grains of 4f from a flint pan primer before screwing in the nipple. That should help with any hang fires.

 

[Bushfire]

Yeah... The way I was pulling to the right on the hang fires .... I don't think I could use a flintlock...I was really thinking about it up till then

I honestly thought the exact same, once you get a well tuned flinter you won't have the time to flinch.

 

[Patocazador]

90 grains...of T7 ...2f....495 Hornady round ball .10 patch... Same as last year

Try 3F instead of 2F and your hangfires may cease. 777 is harder to ignite than real black powder.

 

[th1840]

I know you're looking for tighter groups but you're first shot from a clean barrel is the one that puts it down. Check your bore and see if anything is amiss but if I don't clean in between shots with either Getz's, Rice, Large they start to spread also--- first one counts