Question about bullets sliding off the charge

[johnny2]

The need to know---I am new to this in line thing as well as
bullets with sabots on them.I have heard rumors of bullets
moving down the barrel off the charge which creats a dang-
erous situation,correct?
One fellow told me that he had the bullets slide clear to the
end of the muzzle and didn't know it until his friend happend
to see it..
Of course this was with a regular cap lock I believe..Is this
likely to happen with an in line or is the rifleing cut different
so as not to have to worry about this...

Has it happened to any of you guys???

[sabotloader]

johnny2

It is possible with some bullets - especially Power Belts but not very likely.

You should choose a bullet that fits your bore snugly - except in the case of Power Belts they depend on the skirt holding them in place and most often they do not do this but it is possible.

If you use a sabot/bullet combination there are differenct sizes of sabots available to make sure that this does not happen.

Concials often hold to the bore very tightly.

I can not imagine a patched round ball that is put in correctly could come off the powder.

Hope this helps...

[oldrookie]

ORIGINAL: johnny2

The need to know---I am new to this in line thing as well as
bullets with sabots on them.I have heard rumors of bullets
moving down the barrel off the charge which creats a dang-
erous situation,correct?
One fellow told me that he had the bullets slide clear to the
end of the muzzle and didn't know it until his friend happend
to see it..
Of course this was with a regular cap lock I believe..Is this
likely to happen with an in line or is the rifleing cut different
so as not to have to worry about this...

Has it happened to any of you guys???

If I may ask, what kind of rifle? There are so many slug/sabot combinations can't imagine it being an issue. Most of the experiences I have read are when a given combination is too darn tight.

[nchawkeye]

I have heard it, never seen it...Usually with the heavy conicals (like a Buffalo Bullet) that was stored in a side lock and bounced around on a 4-wheeler or truck for a few days...I've never had a problem because I shoot patched balls in my flintlocks...And sabots and 250 SSTs in my Knight...

[Tahquamenon]

I have counseled folks on the fitment of their projectile to make sure that they sufficiently seat securelyin the bore. One guy I worked with was shooting a CVA 50cal sidelock and somehow he got alhold of .44 cal roundball. He shot about a pound of poweder and rarely hit the target.
Got ahold of me through a mutual friend and I was able to quickly deduce that this load was too loose in the bore.

Also a good safety rule of thumb is:
"Anytime your ML is jarred or dropped, re-verify that your projectile is properly seated in the bore on top of the powder". I have had them jar loose slightly after dropping my ML(PRB's and conical's).

If shooting a powerbelt for sure verify they are seated if you jar your ML as they are a "slip-fit" conical. I think the MFG recommends this.

Tahquamenon