I'm not noticing or feeling any deposits in the barrel at this point. I did no swabbing during today's session - wanted the powder residue to add a little bullet tension, which it did. Also used no wad. I wanted to get the maximum obturation and, based on the 2F Jim Shockey Gold load, it would appear that it takes a fair amount of heat and pressure to get this bullet to slug up to the bore. Wondering if Pyrodex has enough . . .

Going to clean the rifle here in about an hour - will let you know what is in there.

TxFireman: thanks again for the original idea. When you posted this back a few weeks ago, I started thinking about what I know (or think I know) about the Powerbelt bullets. They are a little smaller than theGold Dot/Ranier bullets and will literally drop down the barrel of most guns. The skirt, as I understand it, is only on there to prevent thePowerbelt bullet from falling back out the barrel.

These .500 S&W bullets won't drop down even a clean bore and appear to need, at least in my T/C rifles, a fouled bore to stay put against the powder charge.

These sure are fast to load