new to muzzle loaders

[overtheir]

as suggested how many times can u fire your firearm before u have to clean it at the range . I found after my 3rd shot the 4th u need a hammer to get in .using a omega 50 cal. I have jackets projectiles and pure lead ones both using the plastic skirt also using pellets. do u scrub with a brush and cleaner or just a brush then patch. do u rebutter the barrel and start fresh or just keep jugging lead thanks

[JUDGE]

It all depends on what powder you are using , When I started with 777 pellets about 3 shots before swabbing.
Now with Black Horn 10 shots and I could probably still shoot some more .
Never shot more than 10 at one sitting with the muzzleloader.

[MikePal]

easiest just to get in the habit of running a patch (swab) thru it after each shot...keeps everything consistent all afternoon on the range...no crud ring.

[jim]

I found out that if the humidity is a little high, your barrel cruds up VERY QUICKLY!

[sharps4570]

Last year, I assisted a friend to dial in a new CVA Optima. He preferred the convenience of 777 pellets - we used 250gr Hornady SST High Speed Low Drag sabots.

We deliberetely refrained from swabbing between shots and allowed the barrel/breech plug to remain fouled. In that manner, I was able to load with easy effort and put six consecutive shots downrange whithout impacting accuracy at 50 yards (yet to test at 100). I was also able to easily load the 7th round, however, in that case, the primer fired but failed to ignite the charge. The breech plug was completely clogged. Primer used was Rem Kleanbore.

Obviously, that isn't the norm due to so many variables involved i.e. powder/primer/bullet/bore etc. Example, the TC's bore is little tighter in comparison to the CVA. At least that's what I found between the Optima and my Bone Collector - as such, seating the same bullet down the later's bore meets with far more resistance.

Another example, in the case of my ML, I used BH209 behind Hornady SST as well as TC shockwaves, both 250gr - with the Hornady, I was able to load/shoot 13 consecutive rounds without swabbing. On the other hand, the TC Shockwaves were extremely tight to load after only five rounds.

All that to say, experimenting with a variety of combo will be the only method in order to determine what may perform best in an individual rifle.

[sharps4570]

easiest just to get in the habit of running a patch (swab) thru it after each shot...keeps everything consistent all afternoon on the range...no crud ring.

Absolutely!

[bcxextreme]

I have seen where using sabots and the second one was very hard to load and the third nearly impossible. The bores can vary in size as well as the dia of different sabots.Some combinations are less forgiving than others.as mentioned best to just develop a good routine right away.I personally dont shoot just for fun.I,m shooting to hunt. So when I am at the range sighting it in or just confirming its good to go for the hunt, i am really only interested in replicating hunting shots.By that I mean i am hunting with a clean bore or 1 primer fired. So when at the range I am really only concerned with the accuracy of shots fired from a clean bore (one primer fired) and a follow up shot. If those two shots are on the money I could care less about a 5th and 6th shot etc.

[fratri]

I own a CVA Wolf and use 777 pellets... I can shoot 3 maybe 4 before it becomes really hard to push the sabot down the barrel. So I have learned to have fun (take my time) and clean after every shot, just a real quick swab (wet/spit patch ). It is so much nicer to shoot and really enjoy the process. Do yourself a favour and get into the habit of cleaning after every shot, you will enjoy it much more too. Shooting a ML gives me a small taste of what it was like to hunt/shoot hundreds of years ago, its actually a pretty cool feeling.

[bcxextreme]

Yup ML's def add another element of fun.

[overtheir]

Thanks for the advice know do u guys use a portable fan to c after the shot.��