Fouled barrel

[smoke]

Hi I have a 54 Hawkins caplock that even with very tight patches that need to be started with a hammer I can't shoot without wiping.I clean it to bare metal then WD40 barrel down and store. Any ideas? Thanks for any help in

[Gene Slodysko]

Let me start by saying, I have no clue, other then the first thing I thought about was the video I saw from Mike Beliveau, duelist1954. “Polishing a rough muzzleloader bore”, removing what he called micro burrs?

[MuskratMike]

Smoke: What are you using for lube? What size ball?

[TDM]

Sure sounds like a lube issue or lack of it but need more information.

[Mike Brooks]

Ball and patch size is too large.

[Tim Crosby]

 Are you using whatever this stuff is? https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=77709.0

   Tim C.

[smoke]

Normal lubes neats foot,bear oil,spit, etc.goex BP, tight ball and patch as well as loose

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

In a .54 cal. rifle, where the rifling is around .010" - .012" deep, you should be able to load a .530" or .535" PURE lead ball with a patch that is .018" - .021" thick, saturated to almost dripping with any lube, all day long without cleaning EVER...you may need or at least like to use a short starter _ I do.  If your rifle is a T/C "Hawken", all bets are off.  Their rifling is very very shallow - only about .002 - .005" deep, so a thinner patch and smaller ball may be required.  Also, if your bore is 'frosted', you will have more difficulty loading.  Creating the best muzzle chamfer (crown) is also very important to making loading easier.

[smoke]

Hi Taylor the rifle is a Robinson (I also have a Sapergia and a Dewick)ball is 535 patch is 19 if I squeeze firmly or 17 if I squeeze real hard between thumb and fore finger lube is neatsfoot or,bear oil, spit,moose milk mix.it is really stiff to get down the barrel.oh well I have lots of cleaning patches.Dan

[MuskratMike]

Keep everything else the same and try a .530 ball. In mine I can shoot all day using an oiled patch that is .018. If that is still a problem still I would and see if the barrel still has burrs and needs addressing. I believe there are directions you can search here or Bob McBride had a great You-tube video on how to do it on his black powder T.V. website. Keep us posted on how your progress goes. Remember change only 1 thing at a time.

[Clark Badgett]

I too had problems getting a Kibler Colonial with a Rice barrel and a Hawken built with a GM barrel to load a tight ball and patch combo, and that was after following Taylor and Daryl's advice. I finally just switched both over to .530 balls with .010" patching with neatsfoot and got great results, both on target and ease of loading.

[Waksupi]

Ball and patch size is too large.

This right here.

[Daryl]

Hi Dan.
I would be trying a thicker patch (of course). With a nicely rounded & smoothed crown  there should be zero trouble in loading & shooting all day.
A 10 ounce patch is what I'd be using with the .535" ball, in a smooth barrel.

[Mike Brooks]

Ball and patch size is too large.

This right here.

Didn't have to use many words either. 

[Tony N]

Ball and patch size is too large.

This right here.

Didn't have to use many words either. 

🤣😂🤣

[smoke]

Hi Daryl how thick is a 10 oz material? When the weather kools down I will try all suggestions and report back DanDan

[Daryl]

The last 10 ounce I bought sevrrl meters of, was .021 heavily compressed between forefinger and thumb. I measure the 8 ounce at .018".