CO Muzzy Help
- Thread starter tdcour
- Start date
Well, think I got it figured out. I'm shooting 90 grains of blackhorn and stopped swabbing with a wet patch in between shots. I just used a dry patch doubled up and forced it through there. I also cleaned out the breach plug really good with a drill bit by hand which seems to have helped as well. Finally shot about 10-12 rounds today and got it dialed in. I'm dead on at 150 with about a 2.5" group of three shots. Most of that is human error I'm guessing. At 100 I'm just an inch or two high and had about the same or slightly smaller group. It has been a pain, but now that I have it figured out I just need to keep shooting to start gaining confidence!
CoHiCntry
Veteran member
What were you using to swab the barrel between shots? You don’t need to swab at all between shots using BH209. Just clean when you get home like your centerfire guns. Cleaning your BP with a drill bit is definitely needed though. I clean with a drill bit after every 3 shots or so. Your groups sound pretty good to me!
I was using the blackhorn cleaner every third or fourth shot or so. I was having difficulties loading my round if I didn't clean it. The dry patch seems to be working much better now. I'm definitely going to have the bit handy now when I go shoot! It was amazing how much crud I was able to get out of that thing. I don't think the guy I borrowed it from had every cleaned it
CoHiCntry
Veteran member
Gotcha. I never clean or swab between shots with BH209. Running a dry patch sounds like it’s working for you though. The drill bit in the flash channel can really help improve accuracy. I think a lot of guys don’t do that. Like I said before, your groups are really good for open sights. A little practice & you should be good to go!
JimP
Administrator
Slugz
Veteran member
It's amazing when we start talking the things I never heard before but hear.....here�� Thanks for the drill bit tip. Great idea. I was taught to use a paperclip to keep it clean, but a small bit makes way more sense. Thanks again.
JimP
Administrator
For the flash channel you can also use a proper fitting welding torch tip cleaner. If you have never seen one they are like a small round file and if you have a welding shop in your area you should be able to pick up a dozen or so of the proper size. Just take the breach plug out and take it with you to get the proper size for the flash channel.
CoHiCntry
Veteran member
I think we're starting to talk about two different things... a breech plug like what's in the OP's T/C has a flash "channel" and a flash "hole". The flash channel is what needs to be cleaned out with a drill bit. The flash "hole" can be cleaned with a torch tip or your standard nipple pick.
Each manf. breech plug requires a different size drill bit size that fits just right into the flash "channel" Pretty sure a T/C breech plug needs an 1/8" bit. You can buy a Pin vise/ hand drill to put your drill bit into that makes cleaning really easy. Gives you a handle to hold onto and spin your drill bit. It has to be spun to dig in and cut through the fouling. The flash channel will get really cruded up after shooting BH209. You will be surprised how much caked on junk comes out of it if you've never cleaned it at the range before. This fouling WILL affect accuracy! I don't worry about the flash "hole" to much. This is kinda different from what I do with my percussion guns (#11 cap) where all I use is a nipple pick to make sure the nipple (breech plug) is clear.
There's really no reason to swab between shots using BH209. BH209 tends to like a little fouling in the barrel to shoot at it's best. Of course all guns are a little different and running a dry patch down it after a dozen shots or so might not be detrimental. Although I don't think it's really needed. BH209 is a totally different beast than Pyrodex, Triple7 and others...
Each manf. breech plug requires a different size drill bit size that fits just right into the flash "channel" Pretty sure a T/C breech plug needs an 1/8" bit. You can buy a Pin vise/ hand drill to put your drill bit into that makes cleaning really easy. Gives you a handle to hold onto and spin your drill bit. It has to be spun to dig in and cut through the fouling. The flash channel will get really cruded up after shooting BH209. You will be surprised how much caked on junk comes out of it if you've never cleaned it at the range before. This fouling WILL affect accuracy! I don't worry about the flash "hole" to much. This is kinda different from what I do with my percussion guns (#11 cap) where all I use is a nipple pick to make sure the nipple (breech plug) is clear.
There's really no reason to swab between shots using BH209. BH209 tends to like a little fouling in the barrel to shoot at it's best. Of course all guns are a little different and running a dry patch down it after a dozen shots or so might not be detrimental. Although I don't think it's really needed. BH209 is a totally different beast than Pyrodex, Triple7 and others...
Completley agree CoHi. That is what I have been seeing now that I've been shooting more. My flash channel was pretty nasty and had a bunch of caked on crap in it, but the flash hole was usually pretty clean.
I'll have to try to not clean between shots next time I go shoot. Waiting on more Thors to show up today or tomorrow and it to stop raining so I can go shoot more.
Speaking of rain, how does everyone keep their powder dry in their gun. I have tubes for extra shots, but just thinking once its loaded it is going to be hard to keep it dry. Tape or rubber over the barrel seems easy, but what about the breach? It seems like there could be an issue there with condensation or even just a quick storm catching a guy off guard. Anyone use some sort of grease or anything like that around the breach to keep water out?
I'll have to try to not clean between shots next time I go shoot. Waiting on more Thors to show up today or tomorrow and it to stop raining so I can go shoot more.
Speaking of rain, how does everyone keep their powder dry in their gun. I have tubes for extra shots, but just thinking once its loaded it is going to be hard to keep it dry. Tape or rubber over the barrel seems easy, but what about the breach? It seems like there could be an issue there with condensation or even just a quick storm catching a guy off guard. Anyone use some sort of grease or anything like that around the breach to keep water out?
Well, we didn't come home with any meat from Colorado. We had a blast, but it was pretty tough hunting. I was actually the only one to get a shot and I screwed it up. Long story short, I ended up gut shooting a deer before dark, we let him lay overnight, only to have him disappear in the night. We had some coyotes running around the evening I shot him, so guessing they bumped and ran him. All three of us looked for 8 hours solid, found one bed 100 yards from where I shot him with tons of blood, but it ran out really quickly. Pretty bummed about the whole deal, but it was still a really fun trip. I definitely think updating the sight might be needed on my end, but I know I did rush the shot a little too, so its mostly my fault. Thanks for the help on getting me squared away prior to season.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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Just stock fiber optics. Was pretty good at the range, but when it came to shooting actual animals in low light conditions I definitely would prefer a better sight. Maybe I just needed more practice with it.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
mallardsx2
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- Jul 8, 2015
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