first shot low velocity, one misfire

[JPhunt]

Ok, I'll start with I am a total rookie. I have shot 4 clean bore strings using a Garmin chrono. Every first shot after cleaning is 50-75 fps slower than the average & had one first shot that was basically a dud I don't think the bullet went 50 yds.
5 shot string is 1830, 1900, 1950, 1980, 1950,
I have not been running a dry patch through before starting, or fouling with primer only before starting. Would this help?

Using 110 volume of Blackhorn 209, Federal 209A primer, Hornady 340 bore driver.

 

[realunlucky]

How are you measuring the volume?

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[ElDiablito]

Interesting. Fouling increases resistance/pressure = higher velocity.

The “dud” would worry me. Try a dry oversized wool wad or MMP sub base under your bullet. This may solve that issue.

 

[ENCORE]

First, are you using the proper breech plug designed to shoot BH209?

Second....... Have you chipped any carbon out of the flash channel? It's done BY HAND with a 1/8" drill bit.

 

[JPhunt]

Last time shooting was done with powder measured by weight. (85.3 by weight)
Using the 209 breach plug.
I have not cleaned with a drill bit. Just used the pick and pipe cleaner with foaming bore cleaner.
Muzzleloadrer has maybe 30 rounds total.

 

[ENCORE]

Last time shooting was done with powder measured by weight. (85.3 by weight)
Using the 209 breach plug.
I have not cleaned with a drill bit. Just used the pick and pipe cleaner with foaming bore cleaner.
Muzzleloadrer has maybe 30 rounds total.

You can not clean the carbon from the flash channel with cleaners of any kind. It requires chipping it out, thus the drill bit turned by hand.

 

[JPhunt]

You can not clean the carbon from the flash channel with cleaners of any kind. It requires chipping it out, thus the drill bit turned by hand.

Thank you
I'll try a drill bit

 

[WCB]

how "wet" is the gun after cleaning? There could be a chance you are contaminating the powder or primer with cleaning "solvent".

Why not just run a dry patch and foul it with a primer to check if that is the issue? I don't think it is the due to carbon in the flash channel if it is consistently the first shot of the string.

 

[tracker12]

I had misfires several times with the 340 Bore Driver out of my Knight Ultralight. I started using a wool wad between the powder and bullet. Fixed the problem. Loose bullet fit will result in misfires with BH 209

 

[ENCORE]

I had misfires several times with the 340 Bore Driver out of my Knight Ultralight. I started using a wool wad between the powder and bullet. Fixed the problem. Loose bullet fit will result in misfires with BH 209

Depending on the ignition source. With 209 primers it can be a problem.
With modular ignition systems, BH will ignite with just a wad and in most cases, nothing on top. Ron L. has proved it time and time again.

 

[KDAhtr]

JP Hunt wrote:
Every first shot after cleaning is 50-75 fps slower than the average & had one first shot that was basically a dud I don't think the bullet went 50 yds.
5 shot string is 1830, 1900, 1950, 1980, 1950,
I have not been running a dry patch through before starting, or fouling with primer only before starting. Would this help?

I think you have already identified a possible reason for your bad first shots. If this is occuring after cleaning then you should be looking at your method. I always run dry patches thru the bore between cleanings and then shot a couple of primers to make sure everythings dry. Process is very important when shooting muzzleloaders.
Good luck and welcome to muzzleloading, theres a lot more to it than buying a box of shells from the local store.

 

[Weldor]

I never used solvents, just boiling hot soapy water then dry patch. super light coat of T/C bore butter. Then a few primers before loading. Once I started doing that no more misfires and very consistent loads.