Trouble Loading Second Shot

[Crane Senior]

I have a 50 cal Hawken type I’ve put together with the barrel being the Green Mountain drop in TC replacement. It’s a 1/66 twist and is dead on accurate at 100 yds with a .495 ball, .015 patch (1:6 Ballistol mix dry patch) and 80 gr 2F Goex and or 80gr Swiss 1.5. I want to use this load next week to hunt pigs. The problem is that I can use the wooden ram rod for the first load, but cannot get the second load down without using my range rod. I can get about 3/4 of the way down the barrel with the wooden rod and that’s it. The barrel probably has 150 rounds through it and looks clean as can be to me, no pits and no rings.

I have a feeling I know what next steps might be, but would appreciate hearing from the more seasoned folk on this forum.

 

[tenngun]

Run a damp swab between shots. Try a .490 on your reloads,
Try something real slick as patch lube such as olive oil.

 

[Grenadier1758]

When you use the dry patch, you need to wipe the bore between shots or there will be enough fouling to prevent you from seating the ball. You can tak a small bottle of your Ballistol mix to dampen your patch before loading. Or you could spit on your dry patch. The dampness will pick up the fouling and be slick enough to load the second patched ball.

 

[Crane Senior]

Thanks. I typically swab between shots and then it’s fine. However, in the field I doubt I’d be able to swab and have a chance at a second shot.

I have never used olive oil but have used mink oil but only with a range rod. I may try. .490 ball, not sure what that would do to accuracy, that’s why I went to a .495 ball, but worth a try.

 

[TNGhost]

Sounds like you have a real tight fitting target load you have worked up that is shooting well for you but a little fouling makes it a hard reload.

Now you need to work up a practical hunting load that may sacrifice a little in the way of accuracy, but can easily be reloaded in the field.

Tenngun mentioned a lot of good places to start and options

 

[Crane Senior]

I have some patch material that I’ve wet with Hoppes Black Powder lube and cleaner and I’ll lube another patch strip with mink oil and then try both a .490 and a .495 ball. That should give me a good idea. I may even try a spit patch!

 

[Tom A Hawk]

A grease soaked felt over powder wad does the trick for me. It keeps the fowling soft, enabling multiple reloads without the need to wipe. I make my loading blocks thick enough such that I can place a wad under the ball and ram both down together. Lately I've been using .54 felt wads in my .50 rifles.

 

[mooman76]

Try the 490 ball for second shot. If it's that tight you should have little to no lose of accuracy.

 

[Flintandsteel]

Different lube, or at least spritz them when loading.
it takes moisture to keep fouling soft to remove it.

 

[Crane Senior]

Try the 490 ball for second shot. If it's that tight you should have little to no lose of accuracy.

Good idea

 

[Carbon 6]

Thanks. I typically swab between shots and then it’s fine. However, in the field I doubt I’d be able to swab and have a chance at a second shot.

Give up on the notion of a second shot, focus on the first shot.

 

[SDSmlf]

For hunting, I find that I can typically get at least a second shot loaded using Dutch’s dry patch method, but I also use a synthetic rod while hunting. I have found that for hunting (or shooting all day without swabbing) that if I place a slightly oversized hard felt wad on the powder followed by a very wet patched roundball, I get nearly the same accuracy as with just a dry patch. Critter may be down and out, but hate to be in the woods with a gun that isn’t ready to go.

 

[Crane Senior]

Give up on the notion of a second shot, focus on the first shot.

I like the idea I’m just not 100% a 100% of the time.

 

[SDSmlf]

Give up on the notion of a second shot, focus on the first shot.

Guessing you hunt without a ramrod, powder or extra roundball, so as to assist in helping your pinpoint focus. No need for extra flint or if going percussion, weighing yourself down with a second percussion cap. Must lighten the load.

 

[Crane Senior]

Nope, I’ll carry several backup loads and have a ramrod. I’m just not that good.

 

[TNGhost]

Too, you never know when there might be a chance at a second critter, as with pigs there is generally no reason to limit yourself to one.

 

[Crane Senior]

Too, you never know when there might be a chance at a second critter, as with pigs there is generally no reason to limit yourself to one.

I actually have two tags, here’s hoping.

 

[Eterry]

Give up on the notion of a second shot, focus on the first shot.

If that were the case we'd all load our rifle in camp and leave our horn, bag, balls, patching, ramrod in our tent. No need for a second shot. But thanks for the encouraging words.

Personally, I've always used a saliva soaked patch for hunting. I still think many hunters load a much tighter prb than did those whose life depended on them.

I use my ramrod for loading all my black powder guns in the field. I use my range rod at... well, at the range.

 

[user 34300]

Tiny groups are great at a target shoot. They are not needed for hunting big game.

If you need a second shot, like approaching a hog that may not be dead, skip the patch. Be sure to seat the ball hard to make sure is stays on the powder.

As has others have said use a looser combo. 100 yards is a long shot in the real world of open sights and round balls. You do not need guilt edge target accuracy. Minuet of paper plate is sufficient at 100 yards. 4" at 50 yards is sufficient too. You can achieve that with a loose combination. Try 490 or even 485 balls. A 485 with a thicker patch will load easier and the patch will carry more lube for your second shot.

 

[Frontier's]

Dry patch method is pretty useless in the field for the exact problem you are having.