Starting over with the Hawken

[S.Kenton]

Not sure about using PAM...but an olive oil spray may work fine. I already use olive oil in the liquid form for patch lube. Now I am gonna go and have to try the spray..... :hmm:

 

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

it's just going to be the same stuff with a different name on the jug.

Not entirely true. There's more out there but most commercial businesses use cheap bulk stuff.

 

[necchi]

Yeah, I get it, but it's all water and slippery stuff. There are dozens of surfactants.

 

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

most of the store bought stuff can contain water. Bore butter/wonder lube for example but most of us on here are smart enough to not use that.

Then we have the beeswax based stuff. Its funny though because the gent asking about waxing his bore was asked why in the world!

Yet, some use bees WAX in their bore every time they load up because their lube contained bees wax :slap:

Don't mean to get off topic but hey, it can help the original poster by learning about lubes in the end lol.

 

[coloradoclyde]

What's wrong with beeswax?

 

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

nasty gummy up your bore stuff. Stiff in cold weather, no reason to use it. I never understood why folks use beeswax. :idunno:

 

[coloradoclyde]

I guess it depends on how you use it, beeswax's ability to freeze at a specific temp is precisely why I sue it. If it's gummy it's probably not refined enough......it works great for me.....


What ingredients to you use, if you're not a fan of beeswax?

 

[CTShooter]

Well I started with bore butter because it came with the gun and I don't or didn't know any better.

I'm currently shooting a .490 ball, .015 patch with bore butter, ironed between paper towels so they feel dry but you can tell there is something there, 60 gr Goex FF.

Wiping between shots with a damp patch.

That is what gave me the best results so far.

All the screws are tight and the rifle is spotless clean.

Picked up some ballistoil today, soaked some patch at 7/1.

I would like to keep the load in the 60-70 gr range because the wood walk I want to do has a 70 gr max charge.

 

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

Did you pick up any of the shot patches to inspect for cuts/blown patches?

 

[CTShooter]

I couldn't find any easily and didn't want to hold up the other shooters.
Going to try again tomorrow.

What do the cut/blown or lack of patches tell me?

 

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

sharp rifling/excessive gas blow by ( loose fit) mostly.

 

[Dave Marsh]

Hello, here is my 2 cents worth. Up it to 80 grains of real BP. Put a dry patch in you're mouth and get it wet then shove the patch and ball down the barrel. Repeat multiple times without wiping between shots. Should work like a charm. :grin:

Dave

 

[coloradoclyde]

I'd say your 2 cents was worth a buck.... :thumbsup:

 

[coloradoclyde]

I would like to keep the load in the 60-70 gr range because the wood walk I want to do has a 70 gr max charge.

If you cant get it to shoot in the 70 grain range try the other direction....I shoot 35 for squirrels......It takes heads off..

After all your just shooting targets....

 

[CTShooter]

Up it to 80 grains of real BP.

Is Goex not "real" black powder?

And 80 gr is above the limit set by the wood walk as I stated earlier, so I need to look at other options.

Thanks

 

[necchi]

so I need to look at other options.

Thicker patch material and less lube.

 

[coloradoclyde]

so I need to look at other options.

Thicker patch material and less lube.

:thumbsup:

If you can easily tell it's lubed ......you probably used to much.

 

[CTShooter]

Productive day at the range.

.490 and .015, patches were getting blown out, lube didn't matter.
.495 and .010 patch cut at muzzle(Ballistoil 7/1)over 60 gr FF Goex .
I know what a patch is supposed to look like now, nice dark ring with a scorch mark in the center, and funny how the balls started landing pretty much in the same place on the target.

Collective thank you for all the help, I wish we had a group like this around here.

And a second plus, new club member and son showed up, both fired their first shots from a muzzleloader, when I explained how personal and much of "you" becomes a part of every shot, he took my card and wants to try again.

 

[MSW]

good on 'ya, CTShooter!

if you haven't already done so, check out Dutch Schoultz' method. here's a link:
http://www.blackpowderrifleaccuracy.com/

it's twenty or twenty five buck, if I remember correctly (I've had mine for years ... Dutch is a very nice fellow, and he guarantees that if you follow his method, your groups will shrink. If you've purchased one of his copies, you can contact him and tell him what's going on and he will offer advice.

(now, you say, you can contact me and i'll offer you advice, but here's the 'deal:' Dutch is a world class coach, has coached the Canadian National team, and has the 'creds' to back up what he says. I, on the other hand, can only offer you the knowledge of some cranky old New Englander)

bottom line: best accessory you can get! :grin:

 

[nkbj]

Just a suggestion...

Folks that shoot for a while often learn to read the patches, to examine them and recognize cutting, blow by, tearing and such.
If you were to recover a few and post up some pretty good quality photos then some diagnosis would follow.