Shooting and Rocket Fuels

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Basics and Video Files

 

Smokeless shooting is not that different from shooting any in-line muzzle loader. The main difference would be how to decide what powder and how much to shoot. Any commercial rifle should provide a list of loads approved for the rifle and some recommendations how they work best.

 

All readily available rifles are 50 caliber. But you should be aware there are custom and converted rifles in 45 and 40 caliber as well. If you buy your rifle and it comes in a box it should be obvious but if you happen to purchase from a current owner this should be decided before you ever shoot a shot. Unlike a black powder rifle loads for 45 won’t work in 50 and so forth. Using a load designed for another caliber is likely a dangerous act.

 

All beginners should shoot a fairly light load. They should also use only bullets fit with sabots. Though Savage shows some loads that can be scooped by volume, the best way to measure a load is with a powder scale. The balance beam style scales can still be had for a small investment so the price is not much more than a shooter might pay for a good volume measurement system.

You must follow the rifle’s loading instructions. The following is a general guide to loading a smokeless muzzle loader. It is not intended as instructions to any particular rifle.

 

Loading starts with measuring the powder (a scale is best). A small container to hold the powder is suggested rather than going from scale to muzzle. This way all loading operations can be done in a series with much less chance of error.

 

With all components ready at the loading station the first thing to do is mark your ramrod with the barrel empty. “Witness” marks at empty and fully loaded act as a safety measure to ensure that the rifle is never double loaded. For this to work you need a second mark on the rod that indicates the rod depth with a properly loaded charge in the barrel. If the rod does not match the correct level (loaded or not) then the breech plug must be removed and the barrel emptied. Better safe than sorry.

 

With an empty barrel, clean rifle, and proper components in place you can then load up. It is best to prop the barrel where the load can go down without spilling. First pour in the powder then put the bullet in the sabot (you absolutely should shoot a sabot to start). If you put the sabot in the barrel without the bullet you’ll immediately see it’s an error because the bullet now cannot fit the sabot.

 

Place the sabot (with a bullet) square in the muzzle. It should start by hand, after it’s a short distance in the muzzle push it all the way down to the powder with the ram rod. If you  put a primer in the bolt pocket the rifle is then loaded .

Rather than print a large file containing basic functions a number of video clips will be used to help those are just starting or have interest in seeing how it’s done.

The clips presume you know nothing about smokeless shooting, keep that in mind if you’re thinking they are elementary.

They apply to any rifle but the Savage* 10ML is used as model.

*Savage and 10ML are both trademarks of the Savage Arms Co. the 10ML has patented components . Strictly adhere to the rights given by those patents. This site and it’s creators have no connection to the Savage Arms Co.

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