Introduction to Muzzleloading

Looks good! But I gotta ask what do you mean by "5 whacks with the rod"? Where you referring to shooting 5 times or having to whack the bullet with the ramrod while loading? You shouldn't need to whack or hammer on the rod to seat your bullet just apply firm pressure till you feal it seat. Once you have a load chosen put the ramrod down the loaded barrel and mark the rod so that you have a reference to check that it's properly seated each time. Some guys just notch the rod with there knife but I use a thin strip of duct tape so if I change loads just peel it off and add a new one.
I bit of sarcasm. Sort of.
I'm a weakling, and I've read quite a bit that says, within reason, the denser you pack your power, the more consistent your shots are. So I do have a mark on my ram and I do tamp it down, not necessarily 5, but to the mark.
 
I bit of sarcasm. Sort of.
I'm a weakling, and I've read quite a bit that says, within reason, the denser you pack your power, the more consistent your shots are. So I do have a mark on my ram and I do tamp it down, not necessarily 5, but to the mark.
Got it that makes sense with loose powder. If for whatever reason you switch to pellets avoid crushing them it can affect accuracy.
 
Got it that makes sense with loose powder. If for whatever reason you switch to pellets avoid crushing them it can affect accuracy.
And there lies a problem. If you are using loose powder and no sabot, there is less chance for variables in the load density and performance differences by how compressed or not the load is. The Hornady bore driver is an accurate round but I have had a few that separated while compacting the load and just fell out of the barrel. Your experiences may differ.
 
And there lies a problem. If you are using loose powder and no sabot, there is less chance for variables in the load density and performance differences by how compressed or not the load is. The Hornady bore driver is an accurate round but I have had a few that separated while compacting the load and just fell out of the barrel. Your experiences may differ.
What were you compacting with?
 
And there lies a problem. If you are using loose powder and no sabot, there is less chance for variables in the load density and performance differences by how compressed or not the load is. The Hornady bore driver is an accurate round but I have had a few that separated while compacting the load and just fell out of the barrel. Your experiences may differ.
Fell out? It's a pretty darn tight seat just to get it down the barrel
 
I’ve read two pages and now I’m less confident than when I started. I don’t even know if the ML I have is legal for Montana now, and I definitely don’t know how to use it or clean it properly.

I need hands on training. I like to read.. I usually retain a lot of stuff I read but trying to learn this without actually doing it is very intimidating. Isn’t one or most of that stuff hard to come by? The 209 or the primer things or somethin? 🤣 man. Bout to post in the “looking for a hunting partner” for a muzzleloading buddy near Billings 🤪
 
I’ve read two pages and now I’m less confident than when I started. I don’t even know if the ML I have is legal for Montana now, and I definitely don’t know how to use it or clean it properly.

I need hands on training. I like to read.. I usually retain a lot of stuff I read but trying to learn this without actually doing it is very intimidating. Isn’t one or most of that stuff hard to come by? The 209 or the primer things or somethin? 🤣 man. Bout to post in the “looking for a hunting partner” for a muzzleloading buddy near Billings 🤪


Muzzleloading can be so simple anyone can do it. Even me. Wish you were closer.
 
My old man says the same thing. He’s showed me how to do it all on his own. But his is the side hammer thing and mine isn’t. I guess I heard “muzzleloader” and thought “I need one, I don’t have one”. I knew it has to be traditional but i also figured any muzzleloader without the aid of a scope is more traditional than a centerfire rifle!? 🤣 so now I got all this stuff and I’m not sure what to make of it all. I’ll post a pic tomorrow when I get a chance.
 
Fell out? It's a pretty darn tight seat just to get it down the barrel
Never used the hornady bore drivers but they appear to have a plastic base similar to power belt. To much hammering can crush the plastic base separating it from the bullet. Sense the plastic base is usually larger in diameter then the bullet this can lead to the problem @grizzly63 mentioned. Modern in-lines can vary in bore diameter a bit usually falling between .499-.504 so fit of round changes some from gun to gun. One more thing I'll add is make sure you have the proper tip for your ramrod when loading bullets with plastic tips to ensure you're not crushing them. Like so.20251014_091415.jpg
 
Good point on the ramrod tip. One of the common shortfalls on Muzzle loader is the ramrod is too short and if you install a short fat loading tip, it will no longer fit in the retaining thimbles. I use a large loading tip that actually protrudes beyond the muzzle. It gets dirty but does not seem to affect accuracy. I was loading my boredrivers with a conventional ramrod with the round headed bullet starter to drive the ramrod home. Hence my dislike of plastic in bullet construction or sabots which can do the same "crushing thing". I understand consistency is needed to achieve any accuracy and using measured loose powder and solid one piece bullets helps to that end. I do not know the regs in other states but i believe most allow loose powder and solid bullets with open sights. I'm likely to believe that unless your state requires a percussion or flintlock rifle. You cannot really call a modern muzzleloader with high powered optics and Precision bullets and in line ignition "traditional". Thats like calling a modern compound bow or crossbow "traditional". We keep this up and we will end up with the any weapon limited tags seasons. Ok, off my soapbox.
 
Good point on the ramrod tip. One of the common shortfalls on Muzzle loader is the ramrod is too short and if you install a short fat loading tip, it will no longer fit in the retaining thimbles. I use a large loading tip that actually protrudes beyond the muzzle. It gets dirty but does not seem to affect accuracy. I was loading my boredrivers with a conventional ramrod with the round headed bullet starter to drive the ramrod home. Hence my dislike of plastic in bullet construction or sabots which can do the same "crushing thing". I understand consistency is needed to achieve any accuracy and using measured loose powder and solid one piece bullets helps to that end. I do not know the regs in other states but i believe most allow loose powder and solid bullets with open sights. I'm likely to believe that unless your state requires a percussion or flintlock rifle. You cannot really call a modern muzzleloader with high powered optics and Precision bullets and in line ignition "traditional". Thats like calling a modern compound bow or crossbow "traditional". We keep this up and we will end up with the any weapon limited tags seasons. Ok, off my soapbox.
Here is traditional. Today, on the five hundred yard line. Shooters from Germany, Norway, Hungary, South Africa, among others.

No stinking scopes here, other than spotting scopes.

20251014_122820.jpg
20251014_122808.jpg
20251013_073207.jpg
 
I bit of sarcasm. Sort of.
I'm a weakling, and I've read quite a bit that says, within reason, the denser you pack your power, the more consistent your shots are. So I do have a mark on my ram and I do tamp it down, not necessarily 5, but to the mark.
I learned muzzy’s on a traditional TC I still have. I was taught to ram until I could bounce the rod on the packed load. Very scientific…
 
I learned muzzy’s on a traditional TC I still have. I was taught to ram until I could bounce the rod on the packed load. Very scientific…
That's an oldie but goody. It was an internet at myth before there was the internet. Have you ever heard of a Kadoodie loading rod? It has an adjustable spring mechanism that allows you to apply exactly the same pressure to every single load. It was quite the rage at one time but I don't know anyone who uses one anymore.
 
OK, let's cringe a bit. I have swirled plastic sabot bases in graphite which provides easy load and has not affected accuracy in my Encore whatsoever. I have used the yellow TC sabots forever. The graphite electrostatically adheres to the plastic base of the sabot. I run the Hornady .452 250gr FTX with the yellow TC sabots.

The graphite works great with plastic skirted bore riders too.

YMMV

I use the TC brown grease used for conicals for breech plug grease and it works great for me. It's a high temp grease so why not on breech plug. I have done this ever since Encores came out so long time. I ran out of breech plug grease and saw this tube of TC grease I added to Hornady Great Plains conicals and dang if it didn't work great.

WIH did Hornady stop making the .54 425gr Great Plains conical? 🤬😡

Thankfully bought 5 bottles of BH209 few years back before needing to take withdrawal from 401K to buy now.
 

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