so I spent the day on the range, and let me tell you, blackpowder is a lot of work. I think betweeen all the times the range went cold to swap out targets and the time it takes to reload, and all, I think I got 15 rounds down range in 2 hours.
I was happy to get all the rounds hitting in basically the same spot on the 25yd target, but I was there to break in the barrel and learn for the most part. I had the ball seating tool break on me, and I need a better ram-rod, the flexable fiberglass one that came with the barrel is barely good enough to clean the barrel. PLus the stupid cleaning rods I have dont have 10x32 threads, SO, it was an interesting day, playing with the black powder.
welcome to the world of muzzle loading. it is not for everyone. not like you're gonna run to the range and put 60-100 rounds down range. 2 good quality ramrods is the way to go at the range 1 for cleaning and 1 for loading. I had a cheap wood ramrod break and go into my hand and bent an aluminum one. you have yet to experience the joys of a bullet stuck in a bbl or a stuck breech plug. my biggest disapointment with them down here is if you don't have a quota for mzl then the open to public mzl season on a wma may only be like 2 days if at all (on the 4 wma's near me). in other places/states it could add a few extra weeks to your season. don't give up on it just yet you may change your mind.
You can make you a good solid ball starter very easily and it will last you for years.
Go to your Home Improvement store of choice and get you a couple pieces of rod dowels of the diameter you need. One large one for the top and a smaller diameter one for the bottom of the "T"
Cut to the length you want, drill a slightly undersized hole in the thick one, insert the smaller one, and you're set. It should make a "T"
I don't use them any more but I have some lying around that I've had for 15 years or more.
Honestly though, if you are breaking ramrods in a fairly clean barrel you might want to change your load. You don't need THAT tight of a fit for good accuracy. If it's a fouled barrel, swab more often to keep them going down easily. I like swabbing every couple shots at the range while using GOEX.
i clean my cva as thoroughly as possible while shooting at the range between shots to give me as close to a clean barrel as possible. i shoot 2 pelllets of 777 and i usually get about 30 shots in at the range with the ml. i bought a couple accessories at dicks that make loading/cleaning easier.
I think the reason I broke my ramrod is two reasons.
one its made of cheap plastic, and I was talking to someone.
and second reason is I was using .015 thick lubed patches and the mfg, suggested I use .010 thick lubed patches???
perhaps the thicker patch was seating the ball too tightly.
I swabbed after every shot, and after every 4 or 5 I would run the bore brush in, break up the stuff, and swab after.
