CVA 45/70 conversion question
Sept 9, 2019 20:09:56 GMT -5
Post by cward84 on Sept 9, 2019 20:09:56 GMT -5
Hello All,
New to the forum, was suggested to me as a great resource to improve my smokeless muzzle loading experience in the field and on the bench. I've been following threads for a while but never posted information before, seems like a great group and I look forward to responses this thread may generate.
I have a CVA 45/70 that has been converted to a .45 caliber smokeless muzzle loader. I have only fired five 275 grain Pittman bullets through the rifle, using 58 grains of IMR 4198. two shots to zero the rifle and a nice three shot group cutting the same hole. I've noticed that my muzzle velocities have consistently climbed from 2332, 2326, 2404, 2432, and 2463. I have sized my bullets to .4495 to .4500 depending on how much pressure I apply to my micrometer. I've noticed that the first five bullets got harder and harder to seat as the barrel fouled. My concern is that as I'm loading the bullets there appears to be significant resistance approximately 8-10 inches above the breach plug. With my bullets sized to .4495, they load relatively easily until the sticking point in the barrel that I mentioned. At this point, I have to apply a great deal of body weight and strength to completely load the bullet...way more force than I've had to apply with other black powder or smokeless muzzle loaders.
Does anyone have any advice or reassurance that this issue is first of all safe and secondly will this affect consistent performance? If recommended, I can seek out a local gunsmith and have him scope the barrel for imperfections.
Any and all suggestions are welcomed and wisdom is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
cward84