FIRST ML/GOING TO THE RANGE

[AllThingsNV]

I just purchased a new Wolf and am really excited to get to the range this weekend. I've got 295g powerbelts and will purchase powder tomorrow. I have researched loading and cleaning quite a bit, but was wondering what the crud ring is that you refer to? Opinions on what powder to buy and what powder volume to start with would be helpful. Should I clean between every shot? I'll be going to the range by myself and there probably won't be other ML's out there, so any advce would be great. I'm so excited to get started with this new venture I get goose bumps thinking about it! Thanks everybody

 

[frontier gander]

Oh man is it the NEW wolf with the QRBP? or just a new wolf in general?

I would start looking at Pyrodex RS Or American Pioneer and if its available, Blackhorn209 without a doubt is the best powder for a muzzleloader.

Pyrodex RS / American Pioneer/ Bh209 - Start out at around 70gr and work your way up.

With the RS you most likely will have to swab. American Pioneer is clean but you can feel a little resistance down towards the Breech plug, especially if you use a full strength primer, but its easy to push the bullet through. BH209 needs no swabbing at all, even after 30+ shots, its super clean.

Make sure you get a range rod. You can get by with a simple $14 cva universal ramrod thats extra long. The wolf's ramrod from what i read isnt the best to use, especially for range shooting, but its good enough for hunting use.

Seeing how you are new, these videos will help you out a great deal. I'd suggest watching all of them and they will go through everything.
http://www.cva.com/videos.php

 

[GM54-120]

The 2 most useful items i got were the Cabelas swivel handle solid aluminum range rod for $19.99 (comes with to patch/ball tips) and the CVA PB bullet starter kit. It has 3 bits for several style bullets and the starter. One of each bit for the rod and 2 for the starter. About another $19

Mark your rod with a Sharpie unloaded and with a load you like.

You can get a fancier rod and Spinjag later. Most rods that come with a gun are nearly useless.

Clean your bore very well before you even shoot it. Even a good session with some JB bore shine might be a good idea. Using the bore conditioners seems to be helping the crud ring/cleaning but mainly make sure the bore has no oil in it before firing.

I use BH209 so as FG said you can shoot most of the day and you wont have to clean. In mine the sabots start getting tight at about 20-30 shots and i just dry swab it.

Using T7 pellets in the past i had to spit patch almost every shot even with ML primers. BH209 works fine with many normal primers. Im going to try some T7 loose and see how it goes after using the Montana Extreme products on the bore.

I usually dont start out with over 90grs and with a Powerbelt i would probably start at 80gr. They seem to work fine with milder-average charges. Your shoulder will probably thank you too shooting that little carbine

 

[ShawnT]

The Crud ring, is a ring of carbon/powder fouling that forms down near the breech plug. You will mostly notice it when using powered subs like Pyrodex or 777. To get the best accuracy you should swab between shots to remove fouling, use short up and down strokes as you go down the barrel. You will feel the ring once you get close to the breech plug. If you try to ram the rod all the way down in one stroke you may get it stuck on or past the ring, so just use short strokes with a wet patch till you get it removed followed by a dry patch. You can swab with just about anything such as Windex, winshield wash, Spit (refered to as Spitpatching), water, etc. I found out about the windex trick from the guys here and it does work great as a cleaner.

Have fun!

ShawnT

 

[BuckDoeHunter]

Congrats on your first muzzleloader and welcome! There are several good powders to choose from depending on how much you want to spend and how much you want to shoot.
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Pyrodex is one of the least expensive. It is usually easy to find, shoots well, and comes in loose powder or pellets. On the down side, it smells like rotten eggs after shooting it and also when cleaning it up. It's very corrosive to metal but its recommended to clean your gun right after shooting with any powder. If you plan on shooting a lot at the range and don't mind the smell, I would use this powder in its loose form. Pellets are ok but cost more and you will probably get better accuracy with loose powder.

Triple 7 costs more than Pyrodex but produces higher velocities using the same volume of powder and there is no rotten egg smell. Like Pyrodex, it's recommended to swab after every shot to make loading easier and to improve accuracy. If you want to shoot a lot but can't take the smell of Pyrodex, I would use this powder.

BlackHorn 209 is the one of the more expensive powders and may be harder to find. It gives velocities similiar to T7 if not a little more, you don't have to swab between shots, and it doesn't absorb moisture like some of the other powders. If cost isn't a factor, I would try this one to see if you like it, most do, some don't.

 

[cayuga]

Welcome to the forum. You have a good rifle. Read the manual and understand it. Your rifle will shoot a lot of projectiles very well. From all the posts I have read about the Wolf, they just flat out shoot. So I will be looking forward to your range report.

 

[GM54-120]

Welcome to the forum. You have a good rifle. Read the manual and understand it. Your rifle will shoot a lot of projectiles very well. From all the posts I have read about the Wolf, they just flat out shoot. So I will be looking forward to your range report.

Agreed.

They sure do seem like a shooter and a great value too. VERY nice carry/stalking gun. I came close to getting one after selling my other carbine.

I wish CVA would add a short Bergara barreled gun to their line up.

I would start with some 250gr bullets in sabots and a few PowerBelts if you like them. I dont care for them for the price but they do load easy in a fouled bore and still shoot fairly well.

My favorite carbine loads for a 50 are roughly 80-100gr of BH209 and a 300gr Jacketed HP or Soft point bullet like a XTP. I have some 250gr GoldDot Defense bullets made for 45 Long Colt that should make a nice comfortable carbine load too....and they are cheap.

Im trying these loaded light this weekend in media but they sure look mean with the deep hollow point. Im going to be loading them on the mild side using 90gr or less.

 

[AllThingsNV]

Thanks for all of the advice and suggestions so far everyone! I havn't made it to the range yet, but I'm learning already. Today I went and picked up a jug of Pyrodex RS, a powder measure, Winchester 209 primers and tomorrow I'll look for a range rod. For the sake of having a few options at the range for the first time out with the gun, what other projectile options might you guys have aside from the 295 Powerbelts? I'm not even sure where to start with sabots and bullets.
In regards to the Wolf; she's not equipped with the QRBP, though I really wanted that model, I couldn't wait to get into my first ML. Should I get a breech plug pick? Is clogging the bp hole a big concern?

 

[quigley]

Thanks for all of the advice and suggestions so far everyone! I havn't made it to the range yet, but I'm learning already. Today I went and picked up a jug of Pyrodex RS, a powder measure, Winchester 209 primers and tomorrow I'll look for a range rod. For the sake of having a few options at the range for the first time out with the gun, what other projectile options might you guys have aside from the 295 Powerbelts? I'm not even sure where to start with sabots and bullets.
In regards to the Wolf; she's not equipped with the QRBP, though I really wanted that model, I couldn't wait to get into my first ML. Should I get a breech plug pick? Is clogging the bp hole a big concern?

I would start with some Hornady XTP pistol bullets .452 diameter and check out MMP sabots website. The MMP blacks work great in my Accura. You can buy the XTP bullets in bulk fairly cheap. When you start looking for a hunting load check out the Barnes bullets and sabots. I have never had any problem clogging my breechplug with Pyrodex. I usually pull my plug after a dozen shots or so and check it out. After your range session I have found TC Breech plug cleaner to be great. Simply drop the plug in the container and shake. The TC bore foam works great also with Pyrodex.

 

[AllThingsNV]

Just 2 more days till the range! I cleaned the barrel for the first time last night and boy was it filthy. Right out of the box, too. I mounted and bore sighted the scope this morning. Tonight I will pick up a range rod, some tips and hopefully some Hornady XTP's and sabbots. I hope to find the .452 in 250gr. Are those usually available at the sporting goos stores, or will I have to buy them bulk online/elsewhere? Thanks again. I will be putting into practice all the numerous cleaning, loading and supply suggestions from these posts and will post a range report Sat night.