Blackhoren 209 fouling shots before groups settle?

[heavybarrel]

How many fouling shots, from a totally clean bore, do you shoot before groups start to settle? And how many shots can be fired before groups diminish??

Heavy Barrel

[encore50a]

I'm no longer using it but, with all my Encore platform rifles, it took two rounds and then shot perfect from that point.

This target shows exactly what my first two rounds did from my previous Pro Hunter.  It was actually shot to provide an example.

[bestill]

Every gun is alittle different but my experience is a clean gun will shoot1 moa high and 1/4 moa right from a fouled barrel. I shoot all my competition rounds cleaning between shots for most consistent accuracy. Blackhorn fouling changes greatly depending on humidity. Low humidity dry fouling and high humidity greasy fouling. I personally have a rough time maintaining high level accuracy with fouled barrel with changing climate. But with a clean gun that variable is removed.

[heavybarrel]

encore50a, how many rounds would that rifle maintain that kind of accuracy? Hope to get mine shooting close to that good!
Also tell us more about that rifle and modifications that you did, if any. And load info. I see in the picture that you were shooting a Barnes 250gr TMZ, but what kind of sabot?

Thanks

Heavy Barrel

[encore50a]

Sept 25, 2015 4:24:47 GMT -5 heavybarrel said:

encore50a, how many rounds would that rifle maintain that kind of accuracy? Hope to get mine shooting close to that good!
Also tell us more about that rifle and modifications that you did, if any. And load info. I see in the picture that you were shooting a Barnes 250gr TMZ, but what kind of sabot?

Thanks

Heavy Barrel

Once the barrel was fouled, it maintained that accuracy until I was through shooting.  My charge was 107grs VOLUME, but I individually weighed it to 75grs.  I never swabbed between shots with that charge.  I know Bestill uses a much heavier charge in his custom, which may be why he gets his best accuracy swabbing between shots.  I learned early shooting BH and using CCI209M primers, it was a requirement to clean the carbon from the flash channel.  I did so after around a dozen rounds sent.  The carbon would build up and when that happened the groups would start to open.  With the T/C breech plug, turning a 1/8" drill bit by hand, would chip the carbon from the flash channel.  I'd always fire a primer only, just to verify that the flash hole was clear after that process.

I always modified my frames using parts from Bellm.  I would replace the factory trigger spring with a 2# spring, hone and polish the sear.  I changed out the weaker hammer spring to either the 44# or 51#.  I preferred the 44# for hunting, 51 for shooting the remainder of the year.  I installed the HD locking bolt spring and the HD firing pin spring.  In a couple rifles I installed trigger over travel screws.  Those changes made the rifles more accurate IMO.

All my Encore platform rifles shot the supplied sabot excellent, along with the Pro Hunter which shot that target.   The supplied sabot and bullet loaded very easy in the clean barrel at 32# force.  Once the barrel was fouled, loading force increased to an average of 52#.  I had a process of seating the bullet on the propellant HARD with two hands.  My average bullet seating force was 106#.
(NOTE:  I'm a retired Industrial Ergonomist and have the proper force measuring equipment to measure those forces accurately)


209x50 Pro Hunter
Nikon Monarch 2.5-10x50
Barnes 250gr TMZ w/supplied sabot
75grs WEIGHED (107grs volume) BH209
CCI209M primers

[schunter]

In several Knights I have shot with BH209 it only takes one shot before it will shoot a group. I have shot as many as 40 rounds in a range session without cleaning and maintained accuracy at 100 yards. Bestill has probably shot as much or more BH209 than anybody so listen to his advice.

The target below was shot with Rem 700 muzz action and a .45 McGowen 1:22 twist. It shoots the closest POI on a clean and fouled barrel of any gun I have shot with BH209. The bullet is a 250 FTX.