Misfire?

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Atchman2

Atchman2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2011
Messages
1,796
City & State/Province
Knoxville, TN
I had a very nice buck lined up on Saturday. I pulled the hammer back on my Traditions ML, took careful aim and.....OMG!

First the primer kinda sounded funny, then it looked like the first pellet went off. The second one looked like a bottle rocket or tracer round as it left the barrel. The buck just stood and looked at me.

So was it a fouled primer hole? Bad powder (I've had it since last year)? Something else?

I've never had a misfire before. On the other hand I didn't shoot it this year before taking it hunting either. :(
 
I loaded my inline Thunderhawk Saturday morning with Pyrodex BP substitute and #11 CCI cap. When I went to unload it today when I left the woods the primer went bang and powder did not ignite. I am guessing powder was either oil or moisture fouled. First time I ever hunted with this type of setup. My buddy told me to always snap a few caps off before loading just to dry out the chamber. I will always do that from now on. I sure would have been upset had it happened if I was shooting at a deer.
 
As your friend mentioned always fire a couple primers to remove any oil.

I like to swab the bore with a couple dry patches before I snap a couple primers.

I oil my bore thoroughly to prevent corrosion so I make sure to remove it.
 
UTGrad said:
As your friend mentioned always fire a couple primers to remove any oil.

I like to swab the bore with a couple dry patches before I snap a couple primers.

I oil my bore thoroughly to prevent corrosion so I make sure to remove it.
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X2
 
FrontierGander said:
bad pellet. What brand did you use?
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Pyrodex 7 I think. Should I just go buy more and toss these? I was using the Hornady Sabot Slugs. Never had a problem with them except sometimes they are so tight going into the barrel I have to use a bullet starter. I'm also using regular shotgun primers.

Man I wanted that buck! It was the biggest one I've ever had a chance to shoot. Maybe I'll see it again. Where I hunt you can't see hardly 50 yards so all I really need is for the RIFLE TO FIRE! :)

Last year I killed two does and a 6 point buck on that property. The thing is it is only about 3 miles from downtown Knoxville. :D
 
I have used pyrodex pellets and #10 or #11 caps for the past 15 years, and have NEVER had a misfire. I also have never fired off a cap before loading. I dont understand how anyone can have that much oil in the barrel to clog up their breech plug or nipple.
I have hunted in the rain and snow- no misfires. But then again...I own a Knight, lol.
 
BigD_625 said:
Atchman2 said:
I've never had a misfire before. On the other hand I didn't shoot it this year before taking it hunting either. :(
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It wasn't still loaded from last year, was it???
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If it was, that is the problem. Pellets or powder sitting in there soaking up moisture from the air for a year will break your heart.
 
Atchman2 said:
FrontierGander said:
bad pellet. What brand did you use?
Click to expand...

Pyrodex 7 I think. Should I just go buy more and toss these? I was using the Hornady Sabot Slugs. Never had a problem with them except sometimes they are so tight going into the barrel I have to use a bullet starter. I'm also using regular shotgun primers.

Man I wanted that buck! It was the biggest one I've ever had a chance to shoot. Maybe I'll see it again. Where I hunt you can't see hardly 50 yards so all I really need is for the RIFLE TO FIRE! :)

Last year I killed two does and a 6 point buck on that property. The thing is it is only about 3 miles from downtown Knoxville. :D
Click to expand...
 
After I run an oily patch down my rifles, I store them muzzle down for a couple of days so the oil doesn't remain in the nipple/patent breech area of the breech.

As far as whether or not to keep or throw away the pellets, I use them for target practice.
 
I don't think you need new bullets or pellets right now.
Go clean your gun really well, do not use any oil, get it nice and dry, reload it and test it a few times.

If you still have problems, then go buy some more powder.

You don't need new bullets either, i think a tight fit is a good thing for accuracy.
 
I've always heard you could launch pyrodex pellet like a bottle rocket(without a bullet) by simply dropping one down the barrel and igniting it by popping a cap. From what I understand pyrodex pellets are very similar in nature to those little solid propellant rocket engines that carry those hobby rockets into the air. It seems pyrodex needs to have the bullet seated on it to provide resistance for a proper burn. What I was thinking, that just maybe, you forgot to seat the bullet after starting it.....Just a thought.
 

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