Blackhorn 209 issues.

[45cal]

I have some earlier BH-209 produced in 2019 by Western Powder Co. I first used it with their BH-209 breech plug and 209 primers in my CVA Optima V2. I would run a clean patch from breech to muzzle after every shot. I did this because every time I shot it, there would be a black tar like residue left in the barrel. I thought it might be an ignition issue so I switched to using the reworked BH-209 breech plug with Vari-Flame modules and Federal Large Rifle Magnum Match primers. That didn't make any difference at all.
Has anyone here seen or heard of anyone else having this issue while shooting BH-209 powder?

 

[F250]

What rifle and how old is the powder ?

 

[Matthew57]

Also what 209 primers were you using? There are certain kinds that aren’t hot enough.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

Idont think you dont need to swab it. Mine gets the same stuff and I let it ride no problem

 

[Addicting]

BH-209 breech plug and 209 primers in my CVA Optima V2

My set up and I’ve probably ran 300+ rounds out of it without issue. Hot shotgun 209 primers are the key.

 

[winmag]

You don't need to swab with BH209. Blackhorn still fouls; even smokeless powder fouls a barrel.

 

[grizzly63]

What are you swabbing it with?

 

[Diablo]

Black “tar?”

No, never heard of such a thing with B$209.

 

[MThuntr]

Is it plastic from the sabot? Also you don't need to swab after every shot. I have shot a rifle with it like 20 times in a single session without cleaning and didn't have any issue

 

[Sheltowee]

Any chance you have extra oil in the barrel?

 

[45cal]

Any chance you have extra oil in the barrel?

I thoroughly cleaned the barrel, breech threads and the breech plug. I put thread tape on the breech plug to replace the anti seize to see if that makes any difference. Just waiting for a nice day to shoot and chronograph some loads.

 

[45cal]

After going to the range today with my fully cleaned ML. I figured out that even with a small amount of anti seize on the breech plug it was contaminating the BH-209 powder. Thankfully I found it was the anti seize making the tar like substance in my bore. After shooting without the anti seize the barrel seems dirtier than I thought it should be, but I can live with that.

 

[Matthew57]

After going to the range today, I found out that even with a small amount of anti seize on the breech plug previously, it was contaminating the BH-209 powder. I thankfully found what was making the tar like substance in my bore. Even without the anti seize the barrel was dirtier than I thought it should be, but I can live with that.

Hm, that’s weird

 

[grizzly63]

I did put a variflame adapter breech plug in and use LR primers. They do burn cleaner. I do not use BH209, had at one time, but too expensive for my cheap butt. I'd rather shoot a lot of rounds trying to figure it out and maybe burn two pounds of 777. Maybe I just like trigger time, but I do enjoy shooting. I have gone to sabot less bullets for hunting. I feel like I get a better tamp every time. When using bore drivers, I had a couple separate from the skirt and just fall out of the barrel. Sabots seem to have different levels of crush. Not really measurable.

 

[Matthew57]

I did put a variflame adapter breech plug in and use LR primers. They do burn cleaner. I do not use BH209, had at one time, but too expensive for my cheap butt. I'd rather shoot a lot of rounds trying to figure it out and maybe burn two pounds of 777. Maybe I just like trigger time, but I do enjoy shooting. I have gone to sabot less bullets for hunting. I feel like I get a better tamp every time. When using bore drivers, I had a couple separate from the skirt and just fall out of the barrel. Sabots seem to have different levels of crush. Not really measurable.

I don’t trust those bore drivers for that reason. Had it happen last season

 

[45cal]

The name of anti-seize is The Stik nickel anti-seize with a temperature range of 10deg.-2600deg. I decided to see how quickly it did or did not melt or burn. I used a lighter on the bare anti-seize and it melted immediately and started running off in droplets. Seeing that, I've concluded that the anti-seize melted under the high temp of the ignition and flowed out of the threads of the breech and contaminated the BH-209 powder as it was burning. I took my ML to the range thoroughly cleaned again yesterday and shot it with a higher powder charge (77 grains weighed). Every bit of powder was burned and no tar like substance in my barrel. Mystery solved!

 

[Addicting]

anti-seize is The Stik nickel anti-seize

This never belongs in a firearm. There is specific breach grease for a reason.

 

[Dave N]

If you have any grease or whatever that is in front of the plug you are using too much. I used it fairly liberally, but threading in the plug spread it around and the plug moved ahead without pushing any ahead of it.