How To Clean My Thompson Center Bone Collectotor Mzzle Loader

When I first bought my modern inline muzzleloader, I relied on the advice of too many people that didn't know what they were talking about. I recognize all the B.S. now, only dorsum then I was glad for any communication I could get. That bad communication ready me back many months before I learned how to make clean, load and shoot accurately.

I was non the only beginning muzzleloader to be given bad communication. This calendar week, I watched 2 young men trying to shoot their new muzzleloaders.

I say trying, because I no longer consider half-dozen inch groups at 50 yards to be getting the job done.

Most mod muzzleloaders should exist capable of shooting one inch groups at 100 yards even if every shooter is not. They were having problems because they had been given some of the aforementioned bad advice I was given.

What kind of bad advice was I given? Here are a few examples:

Free Bad Advice Given while Learning to Shoot My Muzzleloader

• Always use magnum loads (150 grains) in magnum gun
• Apply Power Belt bullets because they load easy
• Don't need to clean barrel after each shot

If yous're not laughing at me past now, then you lot are the person I wrote this post for and I tin can assist you lot shoot more accurately.

Desire another laugh at my expense?

I also wasted several weeks trying to acquire how to "season" my barrel similar a cast iron frying pan. Pure non-sense, but dorsum to the trouble at hand – achieving 1 inch accuracy with your muzzleloader.

Why Not Use Magnum Loads?

So, why shouldn't nosotros utilise the maximum 150 grain loads if our guns tin handle the stress? Stands to reason that maximum load creates maximum velocity, which creates a flatter trajectory. Apartment trajectories and increased energy at the point of bear on are commonly adept characteristics for hunting.

For 1 reason, there are many muzzleloaders that are not capable of shooting anything shut to "magnum" loads. Do non examination any loads of mod powder in your muzzleloader unless you are certain information technology tin withstand the pressures.

For another reason, even mass produced modern guns can have their own peculiarities. Some guns shoot best with different bullets and different amounts of pulverization. Information technology's your job to discover that combination and it requires systematic testing to discover the best combination.

Differences in Muzzleloader Barrels and Bullets

For starters, dissimilar manufacturers of 50 cal barrels may have different sized barrels. Thompson Center (TC) barrels are produced very consistently at 0.500 inches. Roughshod barrels are consistently 0.501 and Knight rifles are consistently 0.502 inches. Other brands may non be consistent from ane gun to the next.

Likewise, the 45 quotient bullets we apply in our fifty cal muzzleloaders are not all exactly 0.45 inches. Hornady bullets actually measure 0.452 inches, Barnes bullets are 0.451 and Sierra bullets are 0.4515 inches. The sabots that go with these bullets also come in different thickness, then it should be obvious that different barrels will perform amend with different bullet and sabot combinations because they fit differently. I have learned that Barnes T-EZ muzzleloader bullets shoot best in my TC Pro Hunter.

Why Not Use PowerBelt Bullets?

What almost those Powerbelt bullets? There are so easy to load. Did the salesman at the sporting goods store lie to me? No, Powerbelt bullets probably worked well for him in his muzzleloader, simply they did not piece of work well in my TC encore. I could never shoot meliorate than 3 inch groups with Powerbelts (245 or 295 grain Aerotip) at 100 yards. Plus, after I learned that Powerbelts have poor ballistic coefficients and very poor weight retention when compared to other bullets. Look for a post in the future about making fishing sinkers out of Powerbelt bullets.

Practise You Actually Take to Clean the Barrel after Every Shot?

Non if y'all are just shooting for fun, but if you want to shoot for accurateness, like when sighting in your gun or working up a load, then Yes! Yous actually need to make clean the butt and breech plug after every shot (or every other shot).

NOTE: I actually shoot ii times earlier cleaning. Once with the clean butt at 1 target and once with the dirty barrel at a 2d target. I use powder for my kickoff clean barrel shot and reload with pellets for a quick second shot. Why not practise every bit if nosotros were hunting? If you missed while hunting, you would take to reload speedily and take a 2nd shot from a dingy butt.

Consistent shooting requires consistent loading and cleaning. How consequent tin can the load be if you button all that left over crud downwardly on top of the pulverization when you lot seat the bullet? Grime gets mixed with the pulverisation and crud increases the distance of the bullet from the spark. Too, how can the bullet exit the barrel consistently when sometimes it's make clean, sometimes its a little dirty and sometimes it's real dirty?

Also e'er considered the inconsistency of using pellets that have chips missing? And, does it make a difference if you sometimes crush the pellets when ramming them downwards the barrel?

I've read articles claiming the diameter will be more than consistent if you don't swab after each shot because swabbing causes inconsistencies. I agree that inconsistent swabbing can be a problem, simply consequent swabbing, lubing and drying has to create a more consistent barrel than not swabbing. Anyway, I know what has worked for me and that is to clean the butt and the breech plug after each shot.

I suggest that you endeavour information technology both means and come across what y'all retrieve. Which method gives you the smallest groups?

How To Shoot Muzzleloader Accurately

So, how did I escape from the dark side and get back on the right path? It is a very simple process, but requires steps.

1. Consistent Cleaning
2. Consistent Loading
3. Consistent Shooting
4. Systematic Testing of pulverization loads and bullets

Consistent cleaning and loading are simple tasks, simply require organization and subject area. Shooting is a perishable skill that we all take to practice constantly to stay proficient. I suggest that while sighting in your muzzleloader or while testing to find the best load for your gun, that you use a bipod, sand bags or a demote rest rests to remove every bit much of the shooter variation equally possible.

My Load for Thompson Center Encore

For mule deer, the about accurate load for my TC Encore is a 250 grain Barnes T-EZ sabot and bullet with 95 grains of Pyrodex Select Powder. I use Federal or Remington 209 primers. Goose egg fancy, but it works for me.

For elk, I use a 290 grain Barnes T-EZ sabot and bullet with 120 grains of Pyrodex Select Pulverisation .

For a second shots during practice and in hunting situations, I use 100 grains of Pyrodex Pellets with the 250 grain Barnes T-EZ bullet and 110 or 120 grains with the 290 grain Barnes T-EZ bullet. (110 grains = 50+30+thirty; 120 grains = iv X 30).

I have written several articles on muzzleloader accuracy, muzzleloader bullets and systematic load testing: (Find The Right Bullet for Your Rifle) and (Are vi inch Groups Good Plenty for You?).

Don't know why yous missed that deer or elk with your muzzleloader? It might have something to do with those 6 inch groups at the range that automatically turn into 12 inch groups (or worse) in the field.

I suppose I am similar a reformed smoker in a way… Now that I know modern inline rifles tin can shoot tight groups, information technology drives me crazy to run into people that are satisfied with less, particularly if they programme to wildly lob those bullets at deer and elk.

I've written a book about learning to shoot a muzzleloader accurately. Learn more about my book: Mod Inline Muzzleloader Guide to Loading, Shooting & Cleaning for Accuracy where I share the bad information I was given, the mistakes I made and the valuable tips I learned along the manner.

Source: https://www.backcountrychronicles.com/muzzleloader-accuracy/

Posted by: thomasgove1986.blogspot.com

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