Joe cocker Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 I am a rookie in using a ML. Today I took my son and grandson out to shot the gun to see if maybe spark some interest in one or both of them to go hunting with me. We probably took between 10 -15 shots and had lots of laughs. The last 2 or 3 shots sounded different than the rest. We heard a distinct primer BANG then a distinct pellet BANG. Can anyone explain what was happening with those last shots. Thanks for any help and advice you can give me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 make sure you get the load fully seated without crushing the pellets. it's best to swab the barrel in between each shot, making sure you break up any ring of build up that's at the bottom of the barrel close to the breech plug. also you're primer/powder combination could be causing hang fires or some of your primers encountered a little moisture. keep powder and primers in a dry place that's not humid. another thing that could be effecting ignition (and accuracy) is ensuring the pin hole on the breech plug for the primer flash is clear and without build up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 25, 2012 Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Welcome to the forums. Muzzleloading is a lot of fun. The last 2 or 3 shots sounded different than the rest. We heard a distinct primer BANG then a distinct pellet BANG. Can anyone explain what was happening with those last shots. Thanks for any help and advice you can give me. Gun needs cleaned or at least the breech plug needs cleaned. You are getting a delay in powder ignition due to build up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe cocker Posted September 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Not sure we got the load fully seated. Will start to swab out the barrel after each shot. Good idea. I had no idea it was something I should have been doing. The barrel and the area near the breech plug was very dirty and did not realize it until I got home and started to clean the gun. The breech plug was very dirty and could have been part of the problem. Thanks for your tips. All good things I can use going forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe cocker Posted September 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Yep. That's what I. Thought when I got home and started to clean the gun. Thanks will work on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 Don't swab the barrel! Instead, clean it. And yes this can be a pain. Muzzleloaders are dirty hogs compared to modern firearms but there isn't much you can do about it except live with it. When I take mine out to shoot it, I clean it between every shot like I was going to put it away for the year. This contributes to consistency between shots. Sure it takes time, but the time is well spent. You are going to hear some say to shoot the mz and leave the barrel dirty for the next shot. Especially going out hunting. I do not buy into this at all. When you have this residue in a barrel it is never the same amount. Even the slightest of powder charge variations or primer ignition will create a different crud ring and residue in the rifling. Cleaning the barrel will eliminate this variable entirely. Carrying around a fired mz can also attract more moisture within the barrel which could lead to misfire or incomplete ignition when you take that important shot. This is especially true on high humidity or rainy days. In my situation I seldom have to take a shot at a deer over 100 yds. Usually between 25 - 50 yds. However I practice out to 200 yds. so I have a high confidence in my ability as well as my equipment. We owe this to the game we are pursueing! BTW, did I mention CLEAN THAT BARREL. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted September 30, 2012 Report Share Posted September 30, 2012 Yeah sounds like your mz needs a good cleaning. I am new as well but asked questions on here and also read the instruction booklets. Bought mine used but it is almost like new, haven't shot it yet but what I've done is give it a good cleaning - hot soapy water scrubbed up and down in the barrel, some bore cleaner, then some bore lube so the barrel is seasoned and protected till I get a chance to shoot it. From what I've read and advice, you want to take meticulous care of your muzzeloader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted September 30, 2012 Report Share Posted September 30, 2012 Hello. After shooting that many shots in a row, you should have noticed it getting harder and harder to push the ramrod down. that could of been an issue with not seating your bullet correctly. Pellets are probably the cleanest powder form you can use, so thats good. Happy hunting this year, get a big one :gun1: too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Country Posted September 30, 2012 Report Share Posted September 30, 2012 "Witness" mark your ramrod...a ring of paint/permanent marker at the empty and with a fully loaded rifle with the bullet fully seated... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Don't swab the barrel!.... should've been more clear I guess. By swab I mean I use a wet patch or two with TC cleaner and then a dry patch. Do this as I said inbetween shots. Clean once back to camp or asap. I've gotten a ml to shoot subMOA this way. Lynn is right a clean ml is an accurate one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 "Witness" mark your ramrod...a ring of paint/permanent marker at the empty and with a fully loaded rifle with the bullet fully seated... A scratched ring around the rod is what we do. Got to have consistent loading. You get to a point where you are not getting the bullet seated to your ring or mark it is probably time to break the gun down and clean it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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