Fundamental SML Powder Burn.

First off you need to understand that smokeless powder does not detonate but deflagrates (controlled burn).
Smokeless powder’s burn is accelerated by pressure. In other words, the more pressure the faster the burn.
The hotter the ignition the stronger the burn.
The more pressure built before the bullet/sabot moves the more the burn is accelerated.


Right now, I’m not going to get into a lot of details but one mention, load resistance (Bore fit) I’m going to touch on. I’ve found a certain level of say 20-22lbs is a good load resistance. This is best described as one hand just doable but easier with two hands. In my case for research purposes, I built a small tool to give me a more precise indication of load resistance. By pushing it as slow as I can I can get a good indication of load resistance.


https://i.postimg.cc/zf5RKnSQ/LR-Tool.jpg

Nice job,while i am not much in muzzleloader tinkering, You do a good educational posts.Thanx

Load resistance is IMHO proportional to how many shots have gone down the barrel prior to cleaning and starting over again.
This is confirmed by the increased difficulty in seating the sabot shot after shot.
Clean the barrel and the first load goes down smooth as silk again hence a light load resistance.

Does it affect accuracy? Probably, but in my use of an ML for hunting purposes I don't take enough follow up shots on game to warrant a concern.

Interesting thread though.

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Originally Posted by gbk

Nice job,while i am not much in muzzleloader tinkering, You do a good educational posts.Thanx

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Gbk

Thank you for the kind words. The educational part for me is knowing and understanding certain principles associated with SML. Once you understand them it’s a new ball game using a SML. I gladly share what I have learned so others don’t have go through a long learning curve as I did and get the best from their SML.

while it is true the first bullet down a clean bore goes down the easiest with the least resistance it's not as much of an issue when shooting smokeless. I usually clean my rifle after the hunting season and many shots fired at the range

Impact

I agree with what you said if you are referring to using a dirty burning powder. I have left over 4759 and dry swab my bore after every shot at the range. You be surprised how dirty those swabs came out. Now I also had a chance for one range session with REL-7 and was amazed how clean that powder burned. After a few shots I gave up swabbing to keep the bore clean. Rel-7 is definitely on my list for powder to use.

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Originally Posted by smokeeter

while it is true the first bullet down a clean bore goes down the easiest with the least resistance it's not as much of an issue when shooting smokeless. I usually clean my rifle after the hunting season and many shots fired at the range

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Same here but I am really much worse!
I don’t think I cleaned Thor’s Hammer for the past 3 years. Heck I replaced the BP and I still didn’t clean it this fall.

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Originally Posted by ET1

Impact

I agree with what you said if you are referring to using a dirty burning powder. I have left over 4759 and dry swab my bore after every shot at the range. You be surprised how dirty those swabs came out. Now I also had a chance for one range session with REL-7 and was amazed how clean that powder burned. After a few shots I gave up swabbing to keep the bore clean. Rel-7 is definitely on my list for powder to use.

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I’ve got several pounds of that in the cabinet……. I think I used it a couple times but can’t remember how it worked accuracy wise.

Big Jack
Not sure which powder you are referring too? I was away from SML shooting for a few years and when I started back into it, I did some sample loads of different powders to see how they would perform in my modified/improved 10ML-II. My results are below. As one of my goals is getting a 250 mono bullet safely up to 2500FPS Rel-7 is my first choice. I will revisit Rel-7 and 4198 when I complete my current testing.

https://i.postimg.cc/XJhGrMXn/REL7-4198-Target.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/QMJRb5Tz/Target...-4227-4759.jpg

I consider myself a 200yd shooter and for me accuracy starts at 100yds.

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Originally Posted by smokeeter

while it is true the first bullet down a clean bore goes down the easiest with the least resistance it's not as much of an issue when shooting smokeless. I usually clean my rifle after the hunting season and many shots fired at the range

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In BP/ML terms it's known as a 'fouling shot'...almost all shooters know the first shot of the day down a clean barrel will not count, so to speak..it's usually off target.

It makes hunting a bit of a conundrum, as no one likes to leave the gun dirty...but in striving to make your shot as accurate as possible on game, a lot of guys will take their fouling shot the day before. Then load a 'dirty' barrel for the hunt the next day.

Thanks for the thread ET...