Muzzleloader HELP!!!

[fwagner]

My set up:
CVA Optima 50. Cal
80 grains BH 209
CCI Magnum Shotshell Primers
460 Grain No Excuses Bullet

So I have owned this gun for 5 years and this will be the fourth year I've used it while elk hunting in colorado. I've used the exact set up with good results up to 100 yards. I've ALWAYS shot a clean bore with good accuracy. The last time, before this past week I shot it was 2 years ago. It was fired once killed a bull cleaned and stored in my house. It was stored in my closet with a rubber cap on the end of the barrel. It WILL NOT shot with any accuracy with a clean bore now! I've repeated this process with the same results: 1st shot (clean) way off the paper. Shots 2, 3, 4, are within inches of each other. It's never done this before.... why now after 5 years using the same set up!? Thanks guys in advance!

 

[Bberg]

I have the exact same muzzleloader, but shoot with 100 gr Triple 7 powder. Mine shoots differently depending on the amount of oil used when cleaning. Maybe try running a dry patch or two through the barrel before firing next time, reducing the amount of lubricant and increasing friction slightly (producing similar bore conditions to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th shots). I'm nowhere near being a 'gun expert', and my response is only based on anecdotal evidence. I hope it starts shooting better and best of luck during elk season.

 

[p_ham]

Try federal magnum 209s. The cci have a harder cup and are not as consistent.also if you are shooting old powder, that is most likely your issue. Get a new can and try again.

 

[MThuntr]

So I've been told that Blackhorn 209 is non-corrosive. What about shooting with a dirty barrel if it shoots well? What about snapping like 3-4 caps then trying to simulate a bit of fouling?

 

[Hobbs]

I've never shot a muzzle loader before, but one of my centerfire rifles will do something similar off a clean bore. Clean bore shot is way off from where the remaining shots go, I talked to a friend who shoots long range and he claimed that most guns need a fouling shot to cover the tiny discontinuities in the bore left over from the machining process. Now I always take the gun out and fire a fouling shot after cleaning and haven't had a problem since. Hope this information helps.

 

[Bigjay73]

Sights loose or barrel is shot. Don't think I've ever seen a bad barrel on a ML that was maintained though. Maybe throw a scope on it and check it

 

[fwagner]

It shoots amazing after the first shot now but it has never done that before until now, it's weird! The powder is a fresh canister too. For now im going to get to the trail head and fire a round and hunt with a dirty barrel. It's just weird that for 4 years it hasn't done this. I've always cleaned it at every session in the past. Thanks!

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

Did you change what you are cleaning it with? While at the range I only use a brush and dry patches, as I am mostly concerned about a consistent flash hole and seating depth.

 

[fwagner]

Did you change what you are cleaning it with? While at the range I only use a brush and dry patches, as I am mostly concerned about a consistent flash hole and seating depth.

Nope.... everything is the same. It's a head scratcher

 

[PrairieHunter]

First question is are you using a factory breech plug?
If yes that that could be part of your problem as far is igniting the powder. BH209 will not ignite reliably with a standard breech plug.

I have never hunted with a clean barrel in any gun and would not recommend it. I just went out and shot my muzzleloader this morning and its' now had 10 shots since cleaning, I will be hunting this weekend for antelope without cleaning.

As mentioned even a few primers could help foul things up a bit after a cleaning but I would still recommend taking a shot before using it for any target shooting or hunting.

Are you visually inspecting the barrel after cleaning? I know mine is hard to get really clean towards the end of the barrel so I usually have to let it soak a few times with the foam.

You are smart shooting 80 grains. Mine likes 90, but also like 120. 120 always leaves my shoulder sore, LOL.

 

[elkantlers]

Whats the big deal? shoot it dirty. My Muzzleloader does the same thing. I always verify its sighted. Then I clean the barrel and then fire a shot before I take it hunting. I prefer this because if I have fired a shot I know the muzzy doesn't have cleaning solution or oil or whatever in the barrel from cleaning that is going to make the powder useless when it soaked it up.

 

[fwagner]

Whats the big deal? shoot it dirty. My Muzzleloader does the same thing. I always verify its sighted. Then I clean the barrel and then fire a shot before I take it hunting. I prefer this because if I have fired a shot I know the muzzy doesn't have cleaning solution or oil or whatever in the barrel from cleaning that is going to make the powder useless when it soaked it up.

I agree that shooting dirty is no big deal but it's weird that it never used to do this. And I dont use the standard breech. I got the proper breech in place and always inspect the barrel after cleaning.

 

[Curvebow]

Like others, I don't hunt with a clean gun barrel!

I had issues with BH209 after using cleaning stuff intended for 777 & other powders. It cost me a good buck last year. About 3 hours after loading it, it hang fired. A month later, back hone, I loaded it in the evening and the following afternoon the powder was dead. Several primers fired but the powder was ker-put. I know now that the issue was the cleaners I was using (only use oil based with BH209). But I think I'm done with the 209 and am going back to 777 pellets. In 30+ years of muzz gun hunting, I've never had so many issues as I've had with 209.

 

[PeteTheBeat]

I've been having to shoot mine with a dirty barrel as well. If I haven't put 3 or 4 shots through it after cleaning I don't get much consistency but after I'm shooting straight out to 200. Very odd for me as well and it took around 50 shots for me to put this together but sometimes the gun does what it wants not what we think it should want. Good luck! Only one week left for us

 

[schmalts]

So I've been told that Blackhorn 209 is non-corrosive. What about shooting with a dirty barrel if it shoots well? What about snapping like 3-4 caps then trying to simulate a bit of fouling?

I thought that too, but had to re-barrel a stainless TC Omega because I left it fired for a few weeks. Destroyed the barrel. It is less corrosive that black powder but still trashed my barrel

 

[PrairieHunter]

Like others, I don't hunt with a clean gun barrel!

I had issues with BH209 after using cleaning stuff intended for 777 & other powders. It cost me a good buck last year. About 3 hours after loading it, it hang fired. A month later, back hone, I loaded it in the evening and the following afternoon the powder was dead. Several primers fired but the powder was ker-put. I know now that the issue was the cleaners I was using (only use oil based with BH209). But I think I'm done with the 209 and am going back to 777 pellets. In 30+ years of muzz gun hunting, I've never had so many issues as I've had with 209.

What breech plug are you using?

 

[Thomas11]

I agree that shooting dirty is no big deal but it's weird that it never used to do this. And I dont use the standard breech. I got the proper breech in place and always inspect the barrel after cleaning.

I think it’s just a coincidence that it had shot the same in previous attempts? How many times did u get those results? Also I do think it’s widely accepted that a clean barrel will shoot diff but not off the paper? I always just fire a primer and mine shoots basically same

 

[PrairieHunter]

I thought that too, but had to re-barrel a stainless TC Omega because I left it fired for a few weeks. Destroyed the barrel. It is less corrosive that black powder but still trashed my barrel

Yikes, that sounds frustrating.

 

[waygoner]

I had a CVA Optima that I could not get a decent group out of, shooting similar loads to what you're using. I sold it and bought a Traditions Vortek.