break down of my day at the range
 

got to the range at 11am, set up. started to get buzy there. start with patched ball, tried 2 patches, one ended up being a bore butter (not the 50/50, grabbed the wrong ones), 80gr pyrodex rs, 5 inch high of center 2 right above each other, last one completely missed I beleave high, shot them with corn meal buffer, 5in high all over the target. pillow tickering aimed about 5in low also 80grs pyrodex rs, complete miss all 3 shoots.

3 hangfires

now to the load I was working up.

havester sabertooths
long story shoot, same deal at the PRB, but did 5-3 shot loads. found there skirt at the back stop did not like that one bit. 75gr to 90grs of pyrodex rs

6 hangfires

all lead conical shooting shot 3 385gr great plains, 3 320 lee reals, 3 250 lee reals. the great plains (all most need a hammer to get them started) hit the center of the paper and walk to the left, 1 hangfire, ended up 2 320 lee reals, dumped on charge on the ground. both hang fire hit the top right of my target about inch apart. 3 250 lee reals (kicked the worst on me then anything else) 2 out of 3 hangfires, 5 inchs above 2 out 3 on paper inch apart,

all with 80grs of pyrodex rs

started cleaning up and noticed that my rear site was loose. here we go again. lol

total of 13 hangfires,

I am going to pick up some goexnot this week but next. next week it is time for my knight to shot 100yrds with my best loads for it, and play with 457 405grainners.

anything else I could do to get this thing to shoot better.

RE: break down of my day at the range
 

Well, for one thing, a tight sight might make a difference. :D

This was with the New Englander, right? Are you on a bench, or using shooting sticks? If you're not using a solid bench and sandbags, you need to start there for the best chance of eliminating movement and flinch.

I'm surprised the Great Plains were hard loading. They load comfortably in my New Englander - push them in with my thumb to the top band, then lay the ball of my short starter on the nose of the bullet and give it a bump, then push them down with one long easy stroke of the rod.

Also, I rarely have any delay/hangfire with Pyrodex in the NE.I'm beginning to wonder if you have some real hard crud right around the face of your breech plug that may have been there for years and needs breaking up. If you puta 1/8" X 36" wooden dowel down your barrel so that it slides along the bottom side of the barrel, you will feel when you hit the breech plug. Then, if you keep a little pressure against the plug and twirl the dowel around it will probably drop down just another little bit. This is where the flash channel comes in. If that section has any scale on it, it could be your problem. If you have a breech plug scraper make sure the face of the plug is as clean as you can get it.

RE: break down of my day at the range
 

new englander, good stable bench. in fact the same one I shot off of last week. when I shot very well with my knight.

I got some threadlock when I went to walmart and tighted them down with that stuff, also did all my scope bases but my knight. don't fix what is not broken.

darn you semi now I gotta get a dowel, all I got is a 5/16" that I used when I did the stock. ;)

I have to get a breech plug scraper the next time I see the good ol'boys at the gun shop.

RE: break down of my day at the range
 

A few questions.. how old is the nipple on that rifle? When you get ready to shoot do you swab the oil and stuff out of the barrel before shooting? What do you use to swab the bore of the rifle with.. I find I have better luck with pure alcohol when I swab, and then make sure that you run at least two dry patches down the bore to make sure that barrel is dry.

Last question.. what caps are you shooting? Next time out, start with 70 grains of powder and work from there. Also keep the sights tight...use some lock tight in the threads if you have to.

RE: break down of my day at the range
 

how old the nipple: I put it on there when I bought it. it is an hot shots. I am going to order some others here in a few weeks.

yes I did swab the oil out

I swab the with alcohol or 50/50 windshield washer fluid/ alcohol.

remington's but I was using cci muskets and having the same problem

already done that just because I was doing it with a couple of other scope bases.

RE: break down of my day at the range
 

With all the hangfires your experiencing with the NE you might want to try one of these:

http://www.warrencustomoutdoor.com/mag-spark.html

Chap

RE: break down of my day at the range
 

before I go to an 209 system on it, I am going to try a few other #11 and musket nipples.
I think I am going to get the knight red hot. I did not have as many with the musket red hot on it. and do a little looking. Then when cabela's gets them back in stock I am going to order some spit fires. would not hurt anything. I can alway use them on my knight.

RE: break down of my day at the range
 

Next time you go out take some pipe cleaners to clean you nipple.
Also, before you shoot, push a patch down your bore on your jag and snap off a couple of caps pull out the patch and to be sure your getting flash in the hole (your patch should be blackened/burned.)
If your caps are going off you shouldn't have that many hang fires.

RE: break down of my day at the range
 

I also had a couple of misfires too, two back to back.

I have them every time I take it out. I tap the stock, and still have them not as offen.

I got moving a little late to hit any gunshops. the one I did hit, was the one I rarely buy from. I know why too. pricey. pyrodex rs and p, both where $20 per lb, I can get both for $17 and if I can get pyrodex p at one place (when they have it in stock) for $15. anyway

they did not have a breech plug scraper. non-ml related, did you know if you shot all lead rounds out of semi auto pistol, it will couse the gun to fall apart after time. another reason I don't buy there.

I'll it 2 gunshots monday that I get stuff from all the time, and get a few def. nipples and and an breech plug scraper.

one other thing. does it matter where the wedge pin goes. I was putting in the lock side and it was really loose and fell out during the range session. just switch it over a few minutes ago and it was tight as hell.