Shot at a deer last weekend . My usual procedure is to reload in case deer was only injured. I dropped my 2 "777" pellets into the barrel and started the saboted bullet about 6 inches down the barrel but in my haste I DID NOT ram the bullet completely down the barrel. I did not need to fire another shot but after I noticed my mistake I am wondering if this could have been a serious accident like a barrel obstruction would provoke.
Would this have caused an accident?
- Thread starter Ed Smurf
- Start date
Generally speaking, a short seated load may result in a bulged or burst barrel, even if the barrel is made from modern steel.
6" in with 777? Who knows? Maybe it would just be popped out.
Good practice, though, to immediately reload. Just have to be careful doing it under stress...
6" in with 777? Who knows? Maybe it would just be popped out.
Good practice, though, to immediately reload. Just have to be careful doing it under stress...
vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
I'm not familiar with how 777 burns compared to real black powder. From what I have seen over many years of traditional muzzleloader shooting at target events and trail walks,with real bp and patched round balls they usually just pop out. It doesn't feel or sound quite right and isn't accurate. I suspect a wad or previously loaded ball seated on the powder would make it much more dangerous.
There definitely is the possibility of ringing the bore but most muzzleloader barrels I've seen that had a bulge had it much closer to the breach.
There definitely is the possibility of ringing the bore but most muzzleloader barrels I've seen that had a bulge had it much closer to the breach.
I can confirm - I short started twice in one day once, feels like "what the hell happened" and sounds like a whomp instead of a crack, has pistol accuracy and leaves a #### ton of fouling in the barrel. Called it a day after the 2nd one ..... decided I wasn't with it enough.
Nothing wrong with the barrel (.45 Colerain, 38" I think) no bulging, ring, or, loose spots ...
According to Hodgdon 777 (volumetric) loads are supposed to be 15% lower than black powder providing higher velocity ~indicating to me~ higher pressure and/or a faster burn (than black powder).
So your question: "Would this have caused an accident" (meaning to me: "is there 100% chance of failure") = No, with the caveat that there is a *probability* of failure, what that probability is, I don't know - assuming somewhere between 1%-99% .....
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
I did this exact thing with bh209, maybe 3 inches not 6 as my ball starter is about 3-4 inches long. No boom. Powder never ignited. Seated bullet properly and all was well shot went into the group at 100 yards. But this was loose powder not pellets. The powder could have anywhere in the barrel.
Either I or my nephew short started a ball about 9" down the barrel with black powder and that definitely bulged the barrel. I also am aware of a trade gun (modern) which was loaded with an unpatched ball in a stake shoot (first person or team to cut the stake off wins) The stake being shot at was at ground level and the ball rolled part way forward before the gun was shot; bulged the barrel
cheers mooncoon
cheers mooncoon
I've never short seated a bullet with 777 but I have forget a ramrod in the barrel. Got distracted shooting several rifles with various bullet designs so I was swapping rods around. No damage to the gun but the recoil made my 458wm seem tame. Rod went thru the target sideways but I was unable to find it in the backstop
Always pays to pay attention
Always pays to pay attention
