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Black Powder 50 cal rifle accuracy issues corrected

Okie743Okie743 Member Posts: 2,698 ✭✭✭✭
edited November 5 in Black Powder and Cowboy Action Shooting

Guy recently complained to me his stainless 50 cal, 209 rifle had been very accurate over the years (2 inch and less) and started shooting 6 inch groups at 100 yards when he was recently testing for upcoming Deer season.

He was shooting 50 + 30g Pyrodex pellets. (80g total) He said he had tried two 50g and also 3 30g pellets and got same bad accuracy results.

When he brought the rifle to my bench rest he was severely depressed that his pretty stainless black powder rifle had GONE BAD. (adds new meaning to the term DEPRESSED DEER HUNTER)

When I seen he was severely depressed and at a loss (being the helpful consoling guy that I am) I told him that having a really pretty gun like that is in the category of being married to a really pretty woman that has a headache all time. IT'S ONLY GOOD FOR LOOKING AT.

I noticed that sometimes as he shot even though the sound blast seemed the same I would see some unburned flaming powder coming out of the gun barrel. (more than the usual amount every once in awhile)

I loaded him some Pyrodex triple 7 2F at 10% less volume (70G) than his 50+ 30 Pellet load as a test and his groups became 2 inches and less immediately. He was going to go buy a new BP rifle and retire his old one thinking the barrel was bad. He would have got the same accuracy results from his NEW RIFLE using his pellets.

I suspect he is now sleeping and cuddling with his BP rifle.

Long story short his Hodgdon's Pyrodex pellets were not burning consistently.

KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY

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Comments

  • jimdeerejimdeere Member, Moderator Posts: 26,101 ******

    I'm having the same problem with 777.in my CVA Optima. 130 gr. under 295 gr. POWERBELTS.

    Shots are allover the place. After two shots, the bore is so fouled, I can't ram another bullet home.

    Thinking of going back to real black powder and TC Maxi balls.

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  • hillbillehillbille Member Posts: 14,354 ✭✭✭✭
    https://forums.gunbroker.com/discussion/comment/11455241#Comment_11455241

    I only use real black powder, which is hard to find these days, and never did get any consistent accuracy from power belts. I found one that is close called scorpions, easier to load and will almost split holes at 50 yards. If you can find them give them a try Jim……

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  • Okie743Okie743 Member Posts: 2,698 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November 5
    https://forums.gunbroker.com/discussion/comment/11455262#Comment_11455262

    Hillbille said: and never did get any consistent accuracy from power belts.

    I never could get any consistent accuracy from the power belts either. (or any bullet that has the sabot made onto the bullet)

    couple hints about your CVA accuracy:

    Assuming that the scope, etc is ok, etc.

    Reduce your 2f, TRIPLE 7 powder load to 70g (you are using too much powder)

    Next try another bullet/sabot combo.

    Move your target to 50 yards when first testing on paper.

    Read this article about Black Powder rifle accuracy.

    on this site

    LOUSY ACCURACY IN A THOMPSON CENTER HAWKEN

    https://forums.gunbroker.com/discussion/1904224/lousy-accuracy-in-a-t-c-hawken#latest

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