Muzzle Loader Help

Good guess Steve!! I will shoot it this week a few times, unit I have it sighted in at 75 yards. I don’t shoot farther than that on most of my stands. Hopefully it is close out of the box.

For breaking it in he sold me a 100 count box of Hornady Lead Round Balls. In the reloader pic you posted it looks like they use 3 of the pellets in each load, if I remember right the guy at Cabela’s told me I could get by with one pellet for breaking it in. Does that sound right to you? I have not chosen my ammo for hunting yet.

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The guy at Cabela’s told me you need to shoot about 100 rounds through it to break it in.

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I don’t buy that for a second. I’ve shot mine no where near 100 times. Sounds like he was trying to sell you some extra unneeded ammo.

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For breaking it in he sold me a 100 count box of Hornady Lead Round Balls. In the reloader pic you posted it looks like they use 3 of the pellets in each load, if I remember right the guy at Cabela’s told me I could get by with one pellet for breaking it in. Does that sound right to you? I have not chosen my ammo for hunting yet.

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The guy at Cabela’s told me you need to shoot about 100 rounds through it to break it in.

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I don’t buy that for a second. I’ve shot mine no where near 100 times. Sounds like he was trying to sell you some extra unneeded ammo.

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Steve, I just spoke with a guy and he’s in the same boat as I am. “Break in” the gun with the ammo you choose to shoot Deer with. You might never shoot 100 rounds through it in the gun’s life. Sighting it in with a deer load and shooting it a dozen times should be all you need. I didn’t break my gun in. Neither did my Dad or anyone else in our hunting group. Non of us were instructed to do so either.

It’s your gun, treat it as you would any other, but I believe the guy that sold you the 100 count box of catfish sinkers took your $$$.

Lastly, you can shoot 3 pellets, but my experience is it reduces accuracy and increases the recoil. I choose 2 pellets and it works great for me.

Steve, I just spoke with a guy and he’s in the same boat as I am. “Break in” the gun with the ammo you choose to shoot Deer with. You might never shoot 100 rounds through it in the gun’s life. Sighting it in with a deer load and shooting it a dozen times should be all you need. I didn’t break my gun in. Neither did my Dad or anyone else in our hunting group. Non of us were instructed to do so either.

It’s your gun, treat it as you would any other, but I believe the guy that sold you the 100 count box of catfish sinkers took your $$$.

Lastly, you can shoot 3 pellets, but my experience is it reduces accuracy and increases the recoil. I choose 2 pellets and it works great for me.

That sounds good to me thanks for all the info Tom, I probably would not have had a shoulder left after shooting 100 rounds.

That sounds good to me thanks for all the info Tom, I probably would not have had a shoulder left after shooting 100 rounds.

I’d have to agree on the “break-in” deal… I don’t see how rollin’ a bunch of lead balls down the bore is going to do that?

As for hunting ammo… I’ve had great luck w/ the T/C Shockwaves (250 gr.), by far the most accurate that I’ve tried.

I’d have to agree on the “break-in” deal… I don’t see how rollin’ a bunch of lead balls down the bore is going to do that?

As for hunting ammo… I’ve had great luck w/ the T/C Shockwaves (250 gr.), by far the most accurate that I’ve tried.

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As for hunting ammo… I’ve had great luck w/ the T/C Shockwaves (250 gr.), by far the most accurate that I’ve tried.

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YEP, YEP, YEP!!!!

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As for hunting ammo… I’ve had great luck w/ the T/C Shockwaves (250 gr.), by far the most accurate that I’ve tried.

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YEP, YEP, YEP!!!!

I happen to shoot a Knight rifle, but do use Triple 7 pellets.Very clean clean shooting, much easier to clean than I experienced with Pyrodex. I shoot a 130gr. load behind a Powerbelt 245 gr. bullet. I made a 125 yd off hand shot yesterday that dropped a doe where she stood. Some claim that you get more oomph out of Pyrodex though. I am not changing a thing with my set up. I have the trajectory of my weapon with the above load out to 200 yards and shoot good groups at that range. Just remember that every gun is different.

I happen to shoot a Knight rifle, but do use Triple 7 pellets.Very clean clean shooting, much easier to clean than I experienced with Pyrodex. I shoot a 130gr. load behind a Powerbelt 245 gr. bullet. I made a 125 yd off hand shot yesterday that dropped a doe where she stood. Some claim that you get more oomph out of Pyrodex though. I am not changing a thing with my set up. I have the trajectory of my weapon with the above load out to 200 yards and shoot good groups at that range. Just remember that every gun is different.

Forgot to add something. They have found that some 209 primers have so much power behind them that upon firing the primer charge actually pushes the projectile and charge forward in the barrel before the charge ignites. Some guys have started using .410 primers I am told. Remington now has a line of 209 style primers that rectify this problem and are also much cleaner that conventional primers. Ever notice how dirty the breach gets after shooting several problems? This is why is gets more difficult to seat that bullets. Anyways, I have switched to them and have found Remington’s claims to be true. Might be worth a look.

Forgot to add something. They have found that some 209 primers have so much power behind them that upon firing the primer charge actually pushes the projectile and charge forward in the barrel before the charge ignites. Some guys have started using .410 primers I am told. Remington now has a line of 209 style primers that rectify this problem and are also much cleaner that conventional primers. Ever notice how dirty the breach gets after shooting several problems? This is why is gets more difficult to seat that bullets. Anyways, I have switched to them and have found Remington’s claims to be true. Might be worth a look.

yeah, the Remington muzzleloading primers are slick, I used to get a “crud ring” down by the breech but after switching to the Rems it has disappeared.

yeah, the Remington muzzleloading primers are slick, I used to get a “crud ring” down by the breech but after switching to the Rems it has disappeared.

I own both,the encore is superior in my opinion,but he omega is nothing that you wont be satisfied with mechanically speaking.The encore just has a better feel and less felt recoil in my opinion.It is also nice to have the flexability to add different barrels down the road.Regardless,of which you will be hooked on blackpowder huntinting and very impressed with the accuracy that both of these guns offer.Good luck and enjoy!

I own both,the encore is superior in my opinion,but he omega is nothing that you wont be satisfied with mechanically speaking.The encore just has a better feel and less felt recoil in my opinion.It is also nice to have the flexability to add different barrels down the road.Regardless,of which you will be hooked on blackpowder huntinting and very impressed with the accuracy that both of these guns offer.Good luck and enjoy!

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For breaking it in he sold me a 100 count box of Hornady Lead Round Balls. In the reloader pic you posted it looks like they use 3 of the pellets in each load, if I remember right the guy at Cabela’s told me I could get by with one pellet for breaking it in. Does that sound right to you? I have not chosen my ammo for hunting yet.

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The guy at Cabela’s told me you need to shoot about 100 rounds through it to break it in.

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I don’t buy that for a second. I’ve shot mine no where near 100 times. Sounds like he was trying to sell you some extra unneeded ammo.

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I have a Traditions lightning .50 cal about 7 years old I have shot well over 200 rounds through it and only what I hunt with many different bullets over the years I like powerbelts now but to answer “breakin” period mine shoot the same now as the first shot I wouldn’t shoot round balls in it though way to fast of a rifle twist in an inline I think. round balls are for a 1:66 twist or slower yours is most likley a 1:28 twist

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For breaking it in he sold me a 100 count box of Hornady Lead Round Balls. In the reloader pic you posted it looks like they use 3 of the pellets in each load, if I remember right the guy at Cabela’s told me I could get by with one pellet for breaking it in. Does that sound right to you? I have not chosen my ammo for hunting yet.

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The guy at Cabela’s told me you need to shoot about 100 rounds through it to break it in.

---

I don’t buy that for a second. I’ve shot mine no where near 100 times. Sounds like he was trying to sell you some extra unneeded ammo.

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I have a Traditions lightning .50 cal about 7 years old I have shot well over 200 rounds through it and only what I hunt with many different bullets over the years I like powerbelts now but to answer “breakin” period mine shoot the same now as the first shot I wouldn’t shoot round balls in it though way to fast of a rifle twist in an inline I think. round balls are for a 1:66 twist or slower yours is most likley a 1:28 twist

Hey Steve,
I can help you out on your muzzle loader tuesday if you still need help.
The reason they tell you to shoot rounds through the gun is to season the barrel,this is important for accuracy.
You do not have to shoot 100 rounds though.
I have a lot of years shooting the smoke blaster and would be more than happy to help you out. I do not need to sight mine in as i did this before gun season and use it for the rifle and shotgun seasons as well.
Hope this helps.

Hey Steve,
I can help you out on your muzzle loader tuesday if you still need help.
The reason they tell you to shoot rounds through the gun is to season the barrel,this is important for accuracy.
You do not have to shoot 100 rounds though.
I have a lot of years shooting the smoke blaster and would be more than happy to help you out. I do not need to sight mine in as i did this before gun season and use it for the rifle and shotgun seasons as well.
Hope this helps.

I would add that using bore butter inside the barrel between seasons is a good idea and that using no petroleum products is also helpful in reducing the mess that clean up can be. I am old school with a side lock White Mt. hunter TC – great company either way… I use a musket cap and have the same reliable ignition as most of you will with your in-lines – however I like the challenge of open sights and enjoy the traditional version of things. I also use powdered pryodex – my friend couldn’t get his Knight to shoot pellets well and shifted back to 777 powder and has great results again. I like the barnes bullets with sabots – but there are so many good systems out there – shoot it enough to get it dialed in this year and spend some serious time next year experimenting with different combos of bullet, powder and ignition sources.

Last word of advise – clean the bore between every shot and change powder out at least every other day while hunting to reduce any chance of moisture accumulating in the powder.

Good luck and let us know how it goes for you,
Chuckles

I would add that using bore butter inside the barrel between seasons is a good idea and that using no petroleum products is also helpful in reducing the mess that clean up can be. I am old school with a side lock White Mt. hunter TC – great company either way… I use a musket cap and have the same reliable ignition as most of you will with your in-lines – however I like the challenge of open sights and enjoy the traditional version of things. I also use powdered pryodex – my friend couldn’t get his Knight to shoot pellets well and shifted back to 777 powder and has great results again. I like the barnes bullets with sabots – but there are so many good systems out there – shoot it enough to get it dialed in this year and spend some serious time next year experimenting with different combos of bullet, powder and ignition sources.

Last word of advise – clean the bore between every shot and change powder out at least every other day while hunting to reduce any chance of moisture accumulating in the powder.

Good luck and let us know how it goes for you,
Chuckles

I just bought a cheaper black powder rifle and its the first one i’ve ever owned. It came with the triple 7 pre formed charges and 500 grain 50 caliber copper plated hollow points all in this case. In the instructions it says never shoot more than 80 grains of triple seven, is this in this gun only or all 50 calibers? This is all new too me too so im looking for advice too. In the instructions it says take the gun apart and wash with dishsoap so i took the whole gun apart to do this and to learn how it works and how to repair it and do maintence too. It says too make very sure that the powder is bottomed out in the bottom of the barrel and then the lead bottomed out on top of the powder so theres no excessive gas buildup burning between the powder and the lead, this makes sense. Any suggestions would be appreciated befor i try this shoulder rocker out!

I just bought a cheaper black powder rifle and its the first one i’ve ever owned. It came with the triple 7 pre formed charges and 500 grain 50 caliber copper plated hollow points all in this case. In the instructions it says never shoot more than 80 grains of triple seven, is this in this gun only or all 50 calibers? This is all new too me too so im looking for advice too. In the instructions it says take the gun apart and wash with dishsoap so i took the whole gun apart to do this and to learn how it works and how to repair it and do maintence too. It says too make very sure that the powder is bottomed out in the bottom of the barrel and then the lead bottomed out on top of the powder so theres no excessive gas buildup burning between the powder and the lead, this makes sense. Any suggestions would be appreciated befor i try this shoulder rocker out!

Thanks for all the advice and offers to help me out I really appreciate it! My neighbor goosekiller is going to meet up with me Tuesday afternoon as he needs to sight in his encore as well. If any of you other guys that offered to help need to sight in your guns yet I would still be willing to meet you at the range as well as I only live about a mile from the range.

Thanks for all the advice and offers to help me out I really appreciate it! My neighbor goosekiller is going to meet up with me Tuesday afternoon as he needs to sight in his encore as well. If any of you other guys that offered to help need to sight in your guns yet I would still be willing to meet you at the range as well as I only live about a mile from the range.

I reread Robs post from above and this must be why the triple seven pre formed charges that i got have a hole that runs through the middle of it to keep it from holding any compression behind the powder charge. Another question on the weight of my bullets, i thought the box said they were 500 grains but everyone else above say thiers are 250 grains, ya i threw the box away that had this little piece of paper that told thier weight. They must be 250 grains. Any help? Is 500 grains too much for a 50 caliber hollow point?