Yes, it is possible - likely, even!!Accuracy with a muzzleloader is dependent on doing everything the same each time you load it. If you can't get the bullet seated on the powder to exactly the same depth in the barrel, (you should have a mark on your ramrod showing this depth), and seated on the powder with the same amount of pressure, the gun is going to shoot someplace different!


What you've described is called "burn-on at the breech". It happens to all ML, and gets worse as the powder charge increases. Some guns are worse than others in this respect. It has to be dealth with to permit proper loading.

I suggest you use a ramrod withyour rifle that has a tip that you can screw a jag into, and carry a cleaning jag and several clean patches with you while hunting. After you fire your first shot, chew on one of the patches and get it wet with saliva. Swab the bore with this damp patch a couple of times, Then dry your bore with a dry patch and reload. This is not really cleaning the bore, but it will remove enough of the fouling that you can reload correctly each shot. Juyst make sure you get all the dampness out before pouring in the powder.

IF you want to try something that MIGHT prevent this problem, switch from Pyrodex to American Pioneer Powder or to Black Mag 3. Both are somewhat cleaner than Pyrodex, and may not leave that crud ring-or at least leave less of it!

I can shoot my guns all afternoon with loose Pyrodex without having to clean them, BUT I don't use pellets-the pellets have a black powder igniter pad glued onto their bases, which may make them dirtier than plain loose Pyrodex.

Go to the range, and test these ideas. Let us know how it works out for you. Good luck!