I don't understand it

[PickettSFHunter]

As some of you may remember, over the past year, I've had a lot of trouble out of a new muzzleloader. A Traditions Vortek Strikerfire. Very erratic grouping with numerous bullets and numerous weights of BH209.

I got everything back out today. Took scope off, re-did all that. Instead of volume weighing, I weighed out each charge of BH209 according to the .7 information I could find. Volume x .7 for actual weight.

I tried 65, 70, and 75 grains by weight with Barnes TMZ's and tried Harvester Crush Rib sabots. Still very erratic grouping. But this I used a very hard sign instead of paper. You could literally see the sideways imprint of a bullet where the impacts were. The bullets are flying sideways? What the heck?

So, I loaded up some 777, 100 grains, shot with the Harvester sabots and the factory sabots, and got nice round holes like normal and acceptable groupings.


What in the world is up with this? I've fought with this gun forever trying to get it right and all it took was a powder switch?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wobblyshot1]

Just a thought, have you considered a different primer.

http://www.blackhorn209.com/2011/10/whi ... khorn-209/

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[Jcalder]

I wonder if your plug is an issue


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Just a thought, have you considered a different primer.

http://www.blackhorn209.com/2011/10/whi ... khorn-209/

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

I had seen the primer statement on the powder. I am using Winchester Primers that say for Shotshells on them (W209)and doesn't mention muzzleloaders so I thought I was good. I have not tried any other primers though. Maybe that's it, I don't know.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fairchaser]

You are getting blow by where the sabot is not fully engaging the rifling. This can be caused by several things including build up of plastic in the grooves, too strong a load, not an ideal powder charge, loose fitting sabots, etc. This is what makes it so much fun.

 

[muddyboots]

I have shot and helped buddies with countless muzzleloaders that weren't accurate. Never had one I couldn't get dialed in. 99 percent of the time it is one of 2 things. Either it's bad scope or too much powder. Bullets going sideways sounds like too much powder.

 

[knightrider]

sounds like blow by on the harvester sabots, they are not tight enough for the barrel sounds like?

 

[451LRML]

It might be caused by the counterbore in the muzzle, especially like some have indicated if the powder charge it too much.