So my Wolf has been fine the last few years, but I took it to the range to sight it for early muzzleloader. Just all over the paper. I'd get a good group, and then the next round would be 8" off. I opened a new container of 777 (open one is 2 or 3 years old, stored well, but still old). Groups tightened up, but still massive fliers. I noticed some of the primers were filthy, which I hadn't really seen before. And the accuracy almost always seemed to be terrible after taking out the breech plug to really clean it up thoroughly.
I did a little research when I got back. I am wondering if there is incorrect headspacing on the primer causing a lot of blow back. Sometimes the primer will seat properly (probably when some carbon has built up), but then once I cleaned the crap out of it, it wouldn't seat right. The breech plug head was a lot dirtier than I've ever seen it before (even after 40 frustrating shots).
I was thinking it was the scope, and it could still be, as I'd adjust it and it wouldn't move much, or it would jump a huge distance.
I've ordered a new scope, a 209 breech plug and I am going to go pickup some Blackhorn 209 at BP on my lunch today. Plus I am going to try Winchester 209 primers as they are supposedly about .005" longer, which should do a better job headspacing if it is short.
I also noticed with my firing pin channel cover cranked all the way down hard, it is recessed from the breech face a few hundredths. If I back it off slightly, but to the limit of finger tighteness (using my thumb nail), it is roughly flush with the breech face now (probably brought it up .01").
Any thoughts? Anything else I could look at? This gun has shot okay in the past. Doesn't appear corroded in storage (it is SS and I see no pitting or anything in the barrel).
PS I had figured a new breech plug isn't a bad idea and while I am at, switching to BH209. would be good to hopefully eliminate powder as an issue (for moisture and everything I've read BH has more consistent burn and doesn't have humidity issues) and I am tired of the significant clean-up my ML needs between shots and at the end of a range session.
I did a little research when I got back. I am wondering if there is incorrect headspacing on the primer causing a lot of blow back. Sometimes the primer will seat properly (probably when some carbon has built up), but then once I cleaned the crap out of it, it wouldn't seat right. The breech plug head was a lot dirtier than I've ever seen it before (even after 40 frustrating shots).
I was thinking it was the scope, and it could still be, as I'd adjust it and it wouldn't move much, or it would jump a huge distance.
I've ordered a new scope, a 209 breech plug and I am going to go pickup some Blackhorn 209 at BP on my lunch today. Plus I am going to try Winchester 209 primers as they are supposedly about .005" longer, which should do a better job headspacing if it is short.
I also noticed with my firing pin channel cover cranked all the way down hard, it is recessed from the breech face a few hundredths. If I back it off slightly, but to the limit of finger tighteness (using my thumb nail), it is roughly flush with the breech face now (probably brought it up .01").
Any thoughts? Anything else I could look at? This gun has shot okay in the past. Doesn't appear corroded in storage (it is SS and I see no pitting or anything in the barrel).
PS I had figured a new breech plug isn't a bad idea and while I am at, switching to BH209. would be good to hopefully eliminate powder as an issue (for moisture and everything I've read BH has more consistent burn and doesn't have humidity issues) and I am tired of the significant clean-up my ML needs between shots and at the end of a range session.
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