Muzzleloader Load

[JamieB]

Been shooting Blackhorn 209 for years. Keep in mind these 2 important facts...
1 - use only CCI209M or Federal 209A primers (don't use 209 muzzleloading primers
2 - When cleaning your barrel ONLY use oil based solvents. DO NOT use water based solvents.
Many good facts are on their website and are worth reviewing @ www.blackhorn209.com

 

[eastchannel]

What, if anything, do u guys do for waterproofing? It rains a bunch in the sunshine state. Balloon on the end of the barrel but how about the breech/bolt/action...whatever u call it? Is there anything I can do to help keep moisture out?

If you shoot a scoped muzzle loader, cut a finger off a nitrile glove and attach with a rubber band. Keeps the moisture out & blows off with the shot. I've shot 209 since it came out, will never go back to black powder or pyrodex.

 

[RamBam]

Been shooting Blackhorn 209 for years. Keep in mind these 2 important facts...
1 - use only CCI209M or Federal 209A primers (don't use 209 muzzleloading primers
2 - When cleaning your barrel ONLY use oil based solvents. DO NOT use water based solvents.
Many good facts are on their website and are worth reviewing @ www.blackhorn209.com

Wonder if this was my burn issues. Sighted in the rifle in the summer and no issue. Come hunting season I had a delayed burn twice. I had 209 muzzleloader primers.

 

[JamieB]

That’s very possible. The blackhorn 209 needs a hot primer. I also clean my breech plug regularly by using a drill bit with the same
Diameter.

 

[RamBam]

That’s very possible. The blackhorn 209 needs a hot primer. I also clean my breech plug regularly by using a drill bit with the same
Diameter.

Maybe I’ll give it a go. I wondered if my powder went bad. But it had never been outside. It was kept in a good climate and poured loads in doors then took them out side to fire. I shot well over 50 rounds and never had a issue and it was super consistent. I worked up a few loads in the 80s and ran up to 110 with barnes 290 grain. It shot it all well and clean. It of course left me stranded in season and a lucky miss.

 

[CZMark]

I'm a traditional guy. In my .54's, anything between 90 and 110 grains of 2f or 3f behind a .535 patched round ball works well out to about 110 yards.

 

[rutjr]

I've been using Blackhorn powder with magnum 209 primers works awesome! Just as an experiment I tried shooting Blackhorn without cleaning and shot 18 times with no problems and still shooting accurately. I shoot an old Encore with the original plug and have never had a delay or misfir

I use 90 grains of blackhorn and 250 grain slug.

 

[krub6b]

Just wanted to throw this out there for anybody looking for load info in the future.

60 grains of fffg triple 7 pushing a 240 grain Cheap Shot (saboted .45 cal all-lead slug) can group about 1.5-2" at 100 yards, moves at about 1550fps, is 3" high at 50 yards, and recoils like a .308. Out of a 1:28 twist Optima, anyways.

Seriously, much better performance and experience than shooting a bigger, .50 cal slug and 100 grains of powder last year out of the gun I borrowed from my uncle. Basically a hot .44 magnum load. I shot 2, 4 shot groups and disregarded the flyer from each to get a 2 and a 1.5 inch group. For me, that's a tolerable group with a centerline rifle.

Tried the combination on the advice of a friend who has muzzleloaded a long time and who likes things easy. Easy it was. Easy on the shoulder and the wallet.

I use these cheap shots to sight in with 80 grains of pyrodex and then switch over to the 240 grain xtp pistol bullets that Thompson Center markets. They have always shot dang near identical for me.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[krub6b]

How old is your Optima and were you able to find a replacement plug for it? I have found them for Optima's made after 2010 (I think) but not for the older Optima's. I would love to use it, my dad uses it and it's amazing stuff but I can't find a breech plug for my 2006 Optima.

There's a company called Metrics Unlimited who used to make replacement breech plugs for H&R muzzleloaders. I ordered one from them quite a while back, they never listed them on their website but knew exactly what I what I was asking for when I called, not sure if they ever made anything for other makes/models or not but it might be worth a phone call to ask.

Metrics Unlimited
(800) 638-7986

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[Jtaylor]

H&R muzzleloaders

Are they still around? Our local Scheels used to have good deals on those H and Rs, we bought 2 for $120 each a few years back and sent them in for shotgun barrels too. They're a pretty cool little rifle.

 

[krub6b]

Are they still around? Our local Scheels used to have good deals on those H and Rs, we bought 2 for $120 each a few years back and sent them in for shotgun barrels too. They're a pretty cool little rifle.

You can still buy the rifles but they stopped making muzzleloaders and doing the barrel fitting program. But you can pick up used barrels and still fit them yourself. I've got a .243 and .50 cal that are factory fitted and a .410 barrel I need to fit to that frame at some point.

Greybeard outdoors has a pretty big H&R community on it with a lot of information on the fitting process.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[Jtaylor]

You can still buy the rifles but they stopped making muzzleloaders and doing the barrel fitting program. But you can pick up used barrels and still fit them yourself. I've got a .243 and .50 cal that are factory fitted and a .410 barrel I need to fit to that frame at some point.

Greybeard outdoors has a pretty big H&R community on it with a lot of information on the fitting process.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

When we were using them as muzzleloaders, we noticed the 777 was kind of taking its toll on the reciever so I can see where the Blackhorn would be a better choice. I have one in .223 and it's one of the most accurate little guns I've shot and can't beat the price. Thanks for the info!

 

[thedutchtouch]

Does anyone have experience with a Traditions NitroFire muzzleloader? I am planning on buying my first muzzleloader this year and this looked like a great choice for someone without experience using them. I love that you can get 8 or shots without cleaning and there is no way the powder can get wet.

i was interested in those a few months ago but afte talking with my uncle who hunts and knows guns much more than i do, i'm a bit wary of something proprietary like this. you're severely limited to where you can get powder and if they go away from this concept you've got a worthless gun. that and the experimentation people have been talking about in this thread goes away. i decided to hold off on my muzzleloader purchase for another year or so and learn about them and purchase a more standard/regular gun instead of trying to jump in with a gun that seemed easier upfront but may be trouble in the long term.

 

[Hall17]

Finally got to the range yesterday with the CVA Wolf. I put a new Vortex Diamondback on it and needed to get it signed in for our October season here in Pennsylvania. Got it dialed in with 6 shots. Was shooting at 100 yards. I was using the 245gr. Powerbelts with Triple 7 pellets (100 grain total/2 pellets) with Winchester Triple 7 primers. Ended up with a three shot 2" group. Was very pleased. I did run a brush through on each shot.