Load Testing

[High Desert Hunter]

I think I've settled on the load I'm going to stick with for a while. I started at 62 grains of FFg Old E and ended at 65 grains, tried 61, 62, 63, and 64 grains of 1.5 Swiss, but so far the 65 grain load of Old E is giving me the best results on paper. Today at the range I shot steel only, using the 65 grain load, and 5 leftover 64 gr loads of Swiss. Zero misses on the miniature buffalo or the 2x2 foot steel square at 412 laser ranged yards. I'm still getting a little flour leading just ahead of the chamber, and after borescoping the bore, I have some hard carbon deposits I need to do battle with, even as my patches are coming out white with 3 different bore solutions, I have to say the Shiloh mixture has so far been the best for getting the little bit of leading out. Wondering if my nylon brush is just not up to the carbon task? Still having fun, wish I could do this 5 days a week!

Blue Headed Buffalo 3_1_1.jpg

Blue Headed Buffalo 3_1_1.jpg

Dave

[High Desert Hunter]

What a difference the changing conditions made, the sun started shining, and the target became a little sharper, and I was able to lower the sight from 84 to 83 marks. In the next week or two, I am going to take my 3/8" 20"x30" piece of steel out into the desert and try to get some initial 500 yard sight settings. How much sighting difference should I expect shooting prone off sticks vs seated off sticks?

Dave

[High Desert Hunter]

Wanted to say just how grateful I am for this website. I have been searching the forum for info on getting rid of hard carbon deposits. I read pages and pages of techniques and solvents, and cleaned a great amount of information. Made me dig out an old bottle of Butch's Black Powder Bore Shine. I cleaned as normal today, using my Shiloh solvent which never fails to get the tiny amount of leading I get after 30 rounds or so. When I was finished and was getting white patches, I soaked a patch in Butch's, let it sit for 10 or so minutes, and then I was disgusted. Next patch came out brown, not brown streaks, it was all brown. Spent at least 2 hours doing this, hoping that I would get to white patches. Needless to say, I will be spending a lot more time cleaning this week. Discovered what I know about this whole BP business would likely fit in a thimble. Hot soapy water is how I've always cleaned my Hawken after shooting, may run a soaked patch of Butch's down it's barrel just to see.

Dave

[patchbox]

Dave,
What are you doing for fouling control in between shots? Wipe after every shot, blow tube?
Regards,
Eric

[High Desert Hunter]

I am wiping, I would say for the first 2.5 years I owned the rifle I used a blow tube. Much happier since I started wiping, I just need to get quicker and develop a quicker tempo. Currently 2 damp patches and one dry.

Dave

[beltfed]

I presume you are shooting greasers.
May I suggest you try wiping with the two wet patches only. WIpe the chamber only dry.
Residual dampness can be good.
beltfed/arnie

[High Desert Hunter]

I will try skipping the dry patch, I do have a chamber mop, and I will use it in lieu of the dry patch.

Dave

[Aviator]

I'd be reluctant to leave Butch's Black Powder Bore Shine wet in a bore, as it will rust bare steel readily.
It is a good solvent, but leaving it wet in a bore is not risk free.

[desert deuce]

Using the word reluctant in another illustrative sentence. I would be reluctant to pet a coiled, buzzing rattlesnake. Reluctant

[High Desert Hunter]

I'd be reluctant to leave Butch's Black Powder Bore Shine wet in a bore, as it will rust bare steel readily.
It is a good solvent, but leaving it wet in a bore is not risk free.

So I really don't like hearing that, since it specifically says it has a rust inhibitor and recommended running a patch with it through before storage.

Dave

[Aviator]

My experience is that once it dries, it is probably fine.
But if you keep something wet it will rust.

I used to use it. Once I ran a very wet patch thru, hoping to soak the bore a little, I found rust in the bore after coming back in 10 minutes or so.

After that, I placed a patch on a piece of clean bare steel, and saturated the patch with Butch's Black Powder Bore Shine. The next morning there was a lot of rust under the patch.

Your results may vary, but that is what I found. Or perhaps it only happens in Indiana.......

It is very good at removing black powder fouling, but in the rare circumstance that I use it I am very careful to not leave it in the bore.

[High Desert Hunter]

I do not leave it for more than 10-15 minutes, and it has been reducing the hard carbon in my barrel according to the borescope. I always run a lightly oiled patch through the bore before putting the rifle in the safe. Other than the few months of monsoon season, we typically have a relative humidity between 8% and 15%, so rust comes pretty slow, sun damage on the other hand we have in spades. I appreciate the reply, I am still looking for the magic solution to getting this hard carbon that I should have never let develop out of the bore.

Dave

[Lumpy Grits]

I will try skipping the dry patch, I do have a chamber mop, and I will use it in lieu of the dry patch.

Dave

You want the chamber good and dry!
What caliber are you shooting?

[High Desert Hunter]

It is a Shiloh Sporter #1, 45 2.1" chambering, 34" heavy barrel 1:18 twist. I purchased it new in 2018 when they still had the occasional rifle in the inventory room.

Dave

[art ruggiero]

try broil for heavy cleaning let soak an hour will not rust art