Cold/Clean test
 

Well, Semisane gave me the idea to try a test. How well a decent Muzzle loader shoots/Groups on first clean cold bore without the use of a fouling shot. So, took the TC Pro Hunter .50cal barrel out for a little spin in the old wheelie chair today. Shots were fired at 150 yards with 120gr BH Win209 primers, 290gr Barnes T-EZ with MMP sabots. Same load I will be using to hunt with. Barrel and Breech plug was cleaned after EVERY shot the same as if I was at the house cleaning after a day at the range. Before each shot, I struck off 2 primers the same as I would before the hunt. Barrel was clean and given 15 minutes at least before each shot. All together I did 10 rounds this way. results on both targets were pretty much identical so I only fooled with scanning one in. Wife decided she was a Stunt woman today and jumping the truck so the camera decided it wasn't going to work. Thank Semi for changing the scan to JPEG since my technically retarded self had absolutely no clue how. Here is the one target



It may have been better but due to my ribs still being sore as hell I had to shoot left handed. Shooting cross body right handed full load wasn't EVEN going to happen. Sand bags both front and rear with steady rest shooting table that I use for P-Dog shoots.

HA! I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. (Well, I suspected it anyway.)

Now you can have that sucker sighted in using the clean barrel group, load on an unfouled bore, hunt with that load for days or weeks and never worry about dampness or humidity getting to fouling and causing trouble.

DANG SuperHunt!!! Five shots in to a bit less than an inch-and-a-half at 150 yards, and you say "it may have been better"? :s2: Are you pulling my leg buddy? That's a dream group for me. :s2:

lol yeah my ribs caught pretty hard on #5 right when I was squeezing off. Not a clue what happened to #4 being low. Could have been I didn't seat the bullet tight enough on the powder. 6-10 on the other target were a smidge more spread out but I was starting to ache quite a bit by then. That rifle will pretty much make a large ragged hole at 100 yards with my pet load. Problem is, I had to switch bullets because of poor terminal performance up close. These bullets and Scorpion golds are the next best performers with the Hornady SST coming in a close 3rd on MILD loads (75gr) but it opens up pretty bad on the hotter loads. It's a rare thing that I have a shot here in Illinois past 70 yards but it HAS happened a couple times so I always hunt with a load thats good to 150. Not a good thing if you end up with a 30 yard shot and your bullet blows up on the deer. I'm getting too damn old to chase these ornery deer around with a busted shoulder.

I don't get the point of doing this? Shooting two primers is not a clean bore. Clean the bore after shooting two primers to see how much fouling there is.

Even though the primers itself isn't corrosive. I've read the residue from it can attract moisture. Not sure if that's true, but if it is shooting primers isn't much different than taking a fouling shot.

I see your point Muley, and wonder how the same test would go without shooting the primers.

Regardless, there is a difference between shooting the primers and shooting a fouling shot. While the primers do put some residue in the bore that may attract moisture, that residue is a lot different than the residue from a fouling shot which is almost certain to grab on to moisture - even Blackhorn residue.

Yes, but what happens when you need a second shot while hunting? It won't be the same as the primer fouling shot.

I guess it depends on your situation. My thoughts are;

1. I prefer to load on a clean barrel because I leave the load in the gun until I shoot at game. That may not occur for many days, or weeks.

2. The first shot is the important shot. I want the gun sighted in for the clean barrel shot.

3. Anyway, a second or third shot on the fouled barrel isn't going to be that far off from a clean barrel sight in. And if you do your homework you're probably going to know where the second shot is going to hit in relation to a clean barrel sight in, and you can adjust your sight picture accordingly if necessary.

4. In almost 40 years of deer hunting with a muzzleloader I can count the number of times I've needed a second shot on one hand (with fingers left over).

The difference is the residue from a fouling shot when it attracts moisture becomes acidic--corrosive. This happens with all muzzle loading powders, including Blackhorn. Whereas the residue from firing a couple primers, doesn't become acidic--corrosive, when/if it attracts moisture.

The point was to replicate 1rst shot HUNTING conditions Pete. In other words, replicate exactly how I personally do things before going out in the woods with a muzzleloader. Short of an actual fouling shot. Primer residue doesn't really foul the barrel and I do it to make absolutely sure there is no cleaning fluid residue in the barrel/breech plug before I load. With a test such as this I feel that was probably one of the most important things to do. Air cans only go so far :biggrin: I think the next test will be on the old hawken but it will be at 75 yards not 150 and more than likely one of my boys will be doing the shooting being that it's an open sight. My daughters prefer archery over firearms so they aren't as "dedicated" to proper shooting form on a gun.

Very nice shooting.. I have some rifles that will not do that first shot in the group. Also I find Black Horn in not the best for first shot, second shot in the same group. I do find that the more I shoot Black Horn the better I get. It must be because I shoot BH out of an Optima and not a Knight or something.

Also that is amazing shooting for that distance. Again, nice shooting.