Reliability Issues

topp18 · 12-21-2010, 08:53 PM

Does anyone shoot a Winchester X-150 or have ACTUAL experience with them? I recently bought one from a gun dealer buddy who'd shot it 5 times in 3 years so it was basically new. I love the rifle, I really do. It looks great, and it shoots great.... IF and WHEN it shoots. I'm shooting Honady SST's over a pair of 777 pellets and Winchester primers, but I've had so many pop no kicks with this thing that it drives me crazy. I'm a firm believer that if you're not confident in your equipment that you won't enjoy much success and that's the reason I made the jump from shotgun to black powder. I'm meticulous with cleaning and maintaining all of my firearms, drilled into me from day one of basic training. So I know that my reliability issues aren't from the breech plug being dirty or plugged. Is there such a thing as TOO CLEAN with muzzle loaders? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Semisane · 12-21-2010, 09:24 PM

I have no experience with the Winchester, so can't help much.

But I can answer one question. No, there's no such thing as too clean with a muzzle loader. However, there is such a thing as too oily. But even with an over oiled gun any firing problems should only occur with the first shot. The first boom should burn up any residual oil and following shots should be OK.

Are you swabbing between shots? If so, describe your procedure. We may spot something that's causing your problem. Have you noticed any pattern to the problem. For example, does it usually go bang with the first shot and fail on the second or third? Are you using bore butter by any chance? Have you taken a close look at the flash channel and flash hole to see if there's carbon build up reducing their diameter?

builder459 · 12-21-2010, 09:25 PM

I don't have one,but have read a lot about them.you have the 209 plug in now? they came with the capability to use a #11 cap also if i am not mistaken.i would switch to loose 777 and a hot primer such as a CCI and i am willing to bet it will go bang every time.loose powder is the only way to go IMHO and many others.cheaper,lights off much easier and you can fine tune loads.

MountainDevil54 · 12-21-2010, 10:09 PM

use a #32 or 3mm drill bit and clean the flash channel " primer end"

I had an x150 and never any any trouble with it. Could be that the pellets just arent worth a hoot.

Try loose powder.

falcon · 12-22-2010, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Try loose powder.

+1
Ditch the 777 pellets and go to Pyrodex pellets or granular powder. 777 pellets are much harder to ignite than Pyrodex pellets. Pyrodex pellets have a blackpowder igniter on one end and they light easily.

Chasam60 · 12-22-2010, 06:19 AM

+2 Clean your breech plug.

Charlie

lemoyne · 12-22-2010, 06:25 AM

while I have not owned one I have worked on several.
They normally do not present this problem. Look at your breach plug if it is full of carbon or rust or has a hole that is smaller than 3 mm it needs cleaned out this is a common problem and not to hard to fix. The pellets have been a problem because the boxes do not seal if they have been setting around very long they may have gathered moisture [ they are hygroscopic].
The first thing is the breach plug between the restriction on the end and the primer pocket it should have a 3mm bore and it must be kept clear in the restriction on the powder end it should have a 32 thousands hole this also must be clear.
If the breach plug is clear then buy a can of pyrodex and try it if you have to buy a powder measure I suggest a TC U-view. If this clears up the problem the I would suggest throwing out the pellets.
Pellets are a problem sometimes because the don't seal, and in my experience they are not as accurate anyway as the weight varies more than measure thrown loads and you can not adjust the load to what the gun likes.

cayugad · 12-22-2010, 06:44 AM

I suspect your powder. I bought some 777 pellets that did the same thing. Needless to say, I do not buy them anymore. You'd pull the trigger and hear a Poof and might see a fire ball show. But you're right.

Make sure that rifle is clean and that you blow the breech plug out with a couple primers before loading the first time. And when you swab, watch how wet them patches are. Some of them you purchase in a store are way too damp. I mist mine with alcohol or Windex and that's all they get. You can tell when you swab if the patch is too dry. If it is, give it a very little more, and try again.