Making of a Smokeless Muzzle Loader

S

Shooter1971

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This is a project done on the cheap but performance should still be outstanding. The barrel started out as a 458 rem 700 winmag. Looks like rechambered to an improved at some point. I bought it on the ee a couple years ago with this project in mind.
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I went with the arrowhead sporting goods LRMP system since I already have primer modules and it is a top notch plug that uses a standard 700 bolt with no mods.

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Machining for the plug was the only real work, the old chamber will act as a bit of a powder chamber to shorten the powder column up. Was close but I have enough powder volume in my loads that I didn't need to worry about setting the shoulder back to remove any of the .458 improved chamber.

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She got a brand new 700 action and ptg bolt just because I had it on hand with no future long action projects in mind.

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Tupperware stock I had in my parts bin...probably pull the guts from mag and store extra rounds in it.

Only paint left.

I have about 800-900 $ in it and 3-4 hours of work. If it shoots well I'll spring for a Boyd's stock, if not she will be a 75 yard gun for one weekend a year when we have ml deer hunting and I am off work with a tag left over from rifle.

I will shoot naked .452 tmz bullets smooth formed over 4198

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That looks awesome. Can't wait for the follow up range report. That would make a great deer gun in the blackpowder WMUs.
 
Shooter1971 said:
Yep...close to performance of magnum centerfire. I have an adjustable sizing die to fine tune the fit of the bullet to bore
Click to expand...

Crazy weird, i dont really get it---- does the bolt stay closed alwys?
firing pin hits the cap at the end of bolt? cap fires powder?

:D
im from australia... haha. that might explain the WTF of my post Qs
 
The brass modules get primed with magnum primers. It is the shape of the base of a .308 cartridge. The tip of the module goes into the breech plug when the bolt is closed and then ignition is sealed by the brass module. Hope that makes sense?
You change modules when you reload.
WhelanLad said:
Crazy weird, i dont really get it---- does the bolt stay closed alwys?
firing pin hits the cap at the end of bolt? cap fires powder?

:D
im from australia... haha. that might explain the WTF of my post Qs
Click to expand...
 
Sabotless smokeless sure is a thing of beauty compared to black powder and sabots Isent it. Project rifle looks awesome, have you ever used the Barnes muzzle loader bullets on game? I have a couple box’s of the 195s for my new .40 I wanna try but I’ve been so happy with hornady xtp’s and ftx in accuracy and how they work on deer I don’t know if I wanna change.
 
Neato! I built a smokeless/sabotless .45 rig two years ago on a Savage action, but I'm currently gathering parts to build a heavy high-pressure rig off a 700 action next year as well.

I used and a Green Mountain blank with the Precision Rifle Vari-Flame system for mine, but it seals rather poorly at max loads. The darned thing shoots great though! I run a 310gr Dynamo SP at 2460 FPS over 60gr of H4198.

PM me if you're open to chatting build details- I may need brains to pick as I put together my gun for next year :)
 
speers said:
Sabotless smokeless sure is a thing of beauty compared to black powder and sabots Isent it. Project rifle looks awesome, have you ever used the Barnes muzzle loader bullets on game? I have a couple box’s of the 195s for my new .40 I wanna try but I’ve been so happy with hornady xtp’s and ftx in accuracy and how they work on deer I don’t know if I wanna change.
Click to expand...

I've not had a muzzle loader kill yet. Can't say on the barnes bullets. Work well in my center fire so figured I'd give em a go. Perfect fit no sizing needed on my other ml
 
SomebodyTookMyName said:
Neato! I built a smokeless/sabotless .45 rig two years ago on a Savage action, but I'm currently gathering parts to build a heavy high-pressure rig off a 700 action next year as well.

I used and a Green Mountain blank with the Precision Rifle Vari-Flame system for mine, but it seals rather poorly at max loads. The darned thing shoots great though! I run a 310gr Dynamo SP at 2460 FPS over 60gr of H4198.

PM me if you're open to chatting build details- I may need brains to pick as I put together my gun for next year :)
Click to expand...
Sure thing. I built 3 now. A .375 on a 700 sa with a barrel nut. A .45 on a savage and now this one. The 375 is my favorite.
 
IMO Vari-Flame is junk I’m not a fan and haven’t had one seal well at any pressure…… it’s a step above the 209 but not enough of a step up to loose the convenience of 209 over modules…….

Again IMO a high pressure smokeless is awesome but 5” of full shank in a barrel is just extra weight unless you are really committed to the high $$$ custom bullets from down south. Bullseye had I think arrowhead 300gr bullets last time I was in at 49.99 per 10.

BC is cool but not an end all be all, those fancy bullets from down south are sweet but there expensive and you really gotta drive them fast at the expense of gobs of powder and make sure your hat is on well and boots tied up tight for the recoil. Unneeded unless you want to go way past 300-350 yards.
 
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