Hi all, quick question. Having just switched to 209 primer ignition on my rem 700 mls and trying 777 for the first time, I would like to hear what your range habits are between shots. I had heard spit patching is reccomended with 777 after each shot(followed up with a few dry patches). Well trying this I notice a poor accuracy between clean and second shot...so I went to 2 dry patches which greatly improved the accuracy. Then I tried just firing shots with ample cooling time with no patches and my accuracy improved for the first 3 shots, then dropped off on 4 and 5. So what do you all do or suggest?

When I used pyrodex I used to swab with a dry patch between shoots and had good accuracy. So a little confused on what I should be doing with 777!

Also anyone else notice with 777 and 209 the breech, nipple & bolt assembly are fairly coated(almost incrusted) with residue? I know water is supposedly all you need to clean, but I had quite the time cleaning these. So what do you do to clean up your breech, nipple and bolt assembly(if applicable)? Any products or just water and a toothbrush(with lots of elbow grease)? I actually find for these parts pyrodex easier to clean, the barrel is a snap though.

Thanks

Are you using granular or pellets?

Reuben I am using pellets in 777.

Remington Conversion or Cabelas?

Cabela' s I assume is similar my gunsmith did for me, as I had a problem with my spring in the original. He suggested the one I installed over the rem. kit.

My own update to my post. Tonight after work I stopped at the range again using 777 pellets, this time I dry swabed the barrel after each shot(2 clean patch passed down and up). My accuracy greatly improved and the after clean up was a snap. My groups stayed tight until the last few shots, I noticed a fair bit of plastic fouling from the sabots. I tried the 260 gr dead centres and wasn' t impressed they opened my group up considerably!!! So it looks like I will be sticking with old faithful in the bullet dept. 240 xtps. Only changes are 777 and 209' s, which I am really starting to like. I noticed the thread on crud rings and I have yet to experience this with 777 and pellets. Having thrown through over a box (50+) shots no sign of this ugly monster reeling its head in my setup...x my fingers. I think the cleaning issues with the breech, nipple & bolt assem. problem was due to spit patching, cuz it was a snap to clean tonight.

Still would be interested in hearing your routines, so fie away. I am starting to feel like nobody likes me on this forum

Have a great season.

skeeter, maybe not completely relevant to your question but I got terrific results in my 700ML (with the Cabela' s conversion) shooting 100 grains of Pyrodex P behind a 400 grain PR Bullet Ultimate 1 conical. Great accuracy and devastating on deer.

Just add Crisco.

Underclock, I appreciate that and thanks for the tip. I am going to stick with these for this year, as ML season opened this past monday. My experience previously with the 240 XTP' s has been very positive on game and the accuracy I was pleased with until switching to 209 and 777. But after tonight my groups were actually better than before this change and I am very pleased now.

Thanks again.

Hey Skeeter,

I just started using my in-line so I' m probably not going to be much help. I didn' t consider running a dry patch but will do so going forward. I also am using 777 with 150 grain and powerbelts 295 grain. Last time I went to the range, I shot 11 powerbelts and all hit the target. I hope to go tonight after work and shoot a few more, I' ll let you know if anything happens.

When using Pyrodex, I follow the manufacturer' s recommendation, and don' t clean at all between shots. With 777, it is MANDATORY to clean between shots for me, but some people have been able to shoot as many as three or more shots with this stuff before cleaning. Looks like you can get away with swabbing after three shots, which is good because it means you can use 777 for hunting. I can' t, due to difficulty reloading after each shot unless swabbed out first. So for me, I might as well be using regular B.P. as 777. Plus, regular black powder is a lot cheaper than ANY of the substitutes!

I have gone back to Pyrodex, as it seems to be the most satisactory of the substitutes for my uses.