Hello gang,
I just purchased the .50 cal Blcakpowder conversion barrel for my mossberg 500. I am new to black powder shooting, so am looking for advise.
I have been around a friend who shoots his blackpowder rifle oftern so I understand the basics, how it works, how to load the gun, etc.
what I need is info on breaking in the barrel, and developing my hunting load. I have the owners manual which tells me what the manufacture thinks the optimum load should be and what load not to exceed.
And finally what you all recommend for cleaning the barrel. I have the patch puller, bullet puller, and cleaning jag for the gun, and some HOPS #9, and gun oil, and a pack of cleaning patches. Do you recommend one solvent over another?
Thanks
g
BP guns are very sensitive as far as what rounds they like and don't like. Powder pellets (such as 777 or Pyrodex) are the easiest to use. However you only get a choice of using 100 0r 150 grains. Loose powder will allow you to tweak your loads as you are measuring the powder. I find (personally) that 150 grains is useless and quite unnecessary
I was fortunate to find (2) Triple-7 pellets and a 250 grain T/C Shockwave groups perfect in my 2 guns and is a good lethal load. Stay away from Powerbelt bullets. You will get some guys chime in saying they never had a problem with them. They are junk and I have watched them fail on game
As far as cleaning. I pull breach plug and fire gun-scrubber down the barrel, muzzle pointing down). You can go to the auto parts section in Wal Mart and get non-chlorinated brake cleaner and it is the same exact thing at 1/3 the price. Then I use the pre-moistened cleaning patches(they come in a little tub of about 200). When you get the bulk of the crap out, follow up with brass brush and repeat with patches. When you get it clean, follow up with a series of dry patches. When hunting, I run a patch with a squirt of windex on it, followed up by a dry one. When storing the gun in between seasons, I soak a patch in gun oil and coat the barrel really heavy(just remember to clean gun b4 next season)
Some guys foul the barrel before hunting with it. I do not. I zero mine in on a spotless clean barrel, and hunt with it the same way. A clean barrel and a fouled barrel will shoot a lot different
I am REALLY interested in how this barrel performs. I have wondered if I should do the same thing for my Mossberg. Let us know how it fires / performs. I am interested. I have seen mixed reviews.
I think we did a thread on this topic in 2010 or 2011 can't remember.... A buddy of mine has one he puts on a Mossberg 500 and he swears by it. It's the only muzzleloader he owns now, this is a guy that has a couple hundred firearms. Both of us had 4-5 Muzzleloaders combined and that's the only only that remains. Just not into the smoke pole thing anymore...
As far as cleaning. I pull breach plug and fire gun-scrubber down the barrel, muzzle pointing down). You can go to the auto parts section in Wal Mart and get non-chlorinated brake cleaner and it is the same exact thing at 1/3 the price. Then I use the pre-moistened cleaning patches(they come in a little tub of about 200). When you get the bulk of the crap out, follow up with brass brush and repeat with patches. When you get it clean, follow up with a series of dry patches. When hunting, I run a patch with a squirt of windex on it, followed up by a dry one. When storing the gun in between seasons, I soak a patch in gun oil and coat the barrel really heavy(just remember to clean gun b4 next season)
Some guys foul the barrel before hunting with it. I do not. I zero mine in on a spotless clean barrel, and hunt with it the same way. A clean barrel and a fouled barrel will shoot a lot different
This barrel does not have a removable breach plug, so I have to clean it like a flintlock barrel. Can I still use the stuff you suggest?
