How do you seat your bullets?

KBacon · 10-06-2006, 08:25 PM

My dad always taught me to seat the bullet on the powder until the ramrod would bounce... instead of a thud. Is this common practice? We seem to get very good consistancy.. What do you guys do to get a consistant seat?

cayugad · 10-06-2006, 08:42 PM

Well I am learning a little on this topic as well. I seldom seat hard a bullet on triple Se7en. Firm mind you, but not hard. With Pyrodex and Goex I like to seat the projectile solid. The APP I was shooting the other day I was told that you need to seat the projectile very firmly. Which is not something I was doing. This is a very good question on your part. I will be interested in the answers.

lemoyne · 10-06-2006, 09:13 PM

Like cayuqad said,this depends on the powder brandand weather it is FFF or FF class also on the type of projectile and the tightness of fit between the projectile and the barrel. There are two many variables to give a generalized answer to. Lee

Triple Se7en · 10-06-2006, 09:21 PM

I don't know about common practice, but I use a very nice, rather large-gripping ramrod handle & apply moderate force. My powder is compacted down quite a bit - being 777 FFF grains are finer than any other powder I ever used in 3F.

I don't know what it all means -- but this is the only practice I've used since Day-1 of my muzzleloading life.

[size=2]
Thompson Center Arms -- Triple Se7en Powder -- Buffalo Bullet Co.

Sharp Shooter · 10-06-2006, 09:45 PM

I seat mine 1" from the powder charge. It works really well with large conicals.

Just Joking!!! DO NOT EVER EVER DO THAT!!! I seat my projectiles really good using Goex FFG. I do not pound on them I just use a lot of pressure. Did I get some of you going on that?

KBacon · 10-07-2006, 05:01 AM

Do any of you "bounce" the ramrod off the load.. by seating the bullet.. then throwing the ramrod down... if it goes thud... throw it again... till it actually bounces. Like I said before.. this is how we have always done it.. even when we used to use sidelocks w/ roundballs. My guess is that when the ramrod bounces.. everything is compacted about as well as it's going to get... and I assume that the bounce happens at a consistent pressure.

I have read all of the differing opinions on "this rifle/bullet/powder won't shoot consistantly"... and wonder if there are variations in how the bullet is loaded each time.. causing differences in pressure.. leading to inconsistency?

cayugad · 10-07-2006, 05:15 PM

Nope never bounced a ramrod. Wasn't that more common with the military rifles and the metal ramrods they used? I have heard of people doing it, just never did it myself. I guess if it works for you, then by all means keep it up.

dem4570 · 10-07-2006, 10:58 PM

Kbacon i do the same with my side lock, when shooting a patched round ball. and several i know do the same thing. i throw my ramrod down the bore till it bounces.

skeeter 7MM · 10-07-2006, 11:29 PM

I push the sabot to the charge in one even motion after starting it, I then apply a firm push to seat the bullet to the powder and compress the charge.

sproulman · 10-08-2006, 09:07 PM

no bouncing..i just push whatever down until i hit bottom then give it a little pressure on the ramrod..like anything else. do it same way everytime..