I just got a new H&R inline muzzleloader for Christmas. I started shooting it and am getting very inconsistent accuracy and after a couple of shots I can't hardly load it for the gunk in the barrel. I am using 2 50 grain 777 pellets and a winchester 209 primer. I was wondering what primers and loads you guys use. I have used several bullets all with about the same results. I am having a hard time finding many options for primers and powder because inlines aren't very popular in Idaho because they can't be used on regualr muzzleloader hunts they can only be used on rifle hunts and short range weapon hunt. Any help would be apprecieted. Thanks

I have a friend that uses 777 pellets and I went through this same thing sighting in his gun. I ended up cleaning the barrel every fourth shot or so. (I always do this any way for increased accuracy with frontloaders)We were using Winchester 209 primers. I use loose powder and I dont have these problems. One thing I use though is TC Bore Butter. This stuff is great it "seasons" your bore over time and reduces fouling and makes the gun easier to load. I highly recommend it. They came out with some new primers designed just for muzzeloaders that are suppossed to be a cleaner burn at the breech plug. I bought some but havent used them yet. I use 120 grains of loose powder behind a Hornady 240 grn. 45 cal.sabot. Powerbelts are much easier to load but their ballistics dont compare to Hornady sabots.

your inconsistant patterns might have more to do with the kind of bullet that your using, as opposed to the primer and powder. What Cal. is the gun ?? what kind & grain of bullet are you using ?? I use (2) 50 grain pellets of 777, Winchester 209 primers & 50 cal. Hornady 300 grain XTP sabots. I'm shooting a 1 inch 3 shot group at 100 yards with a CVA optima. I went through a bunch of different bullets (having the same problem)until someone recomended the 300 Grain Hornady sabots. You should also run a pre-lubed cleaning patch down the barrel every 2nd or 3rd shot.

Winchester makes a 209 primer just for the shooting 777 pellets. I noticed a difference when I switched over. Never had a accuracy problem, just with the fouling. I can now get off a few more shots before cleaning when I need to. When target shooting, I swab a dry patch between each shot. I could probably shoot about 6 or 7 shots without much trouble with cleaning. Try a Hornady XTP 240 grain sabot bullet, that is what my Knight rifle likes.

I clean my CVA Optima after every 3rd shot and I don't have any problems. I am using Winchester 209 primers with 100 grains of 777 powder and .45 caliber 195 grain Powerbelt sabot.

Bore Butter does help a lot if you use it.

I use 777 loose powder with .209 primers and I shoot a 245grain powerbelt arrow tip. Works great in my Encore!!

i bought a new cva optima 3 years ago and decided on 245gr powerbelt and 2 50 grain pellets of 777. it was a dream to load the first shot but the second was nearly impossible to load and the bullet wouldn't seat it would like about a half a inch seating properly it was very hard to load without cleaning the barrel and there was no way you would load the third shot so i gave up on sighting it in that day. when i got home i decided to read the info packet included in the 777 and in the smallest of fine print it said warning shooting 777 may cause rising of the bore and you may have to swab your bore after every shot before reloading i threw it in the garbage and bought some regular pyrodex and no more problems hope this helps

Thanks for the help I think I will try the pyrodex and see if that helps.

I know that 777 can cause some fouling issues, but it has some really good benifits. First, they do not contain sulfer, Pyrodex does. 777 does not stink, and will not rust your bore out like Pyrodex does if you cant clean for a few days. Secondly, to my knowledge, 777 has a slightly higher velocity rating than pyrodex. This means a more ft/lbs, and few extra yards. I swab a dry patch thru my bore after each shot while practiceing. I always keep some patches with me while hunting, but have not had to use them yet. You will rarely fire more than a couple of shots while deer hunting with a muzzleloader during a day's hunt. You may want to think about this before switching. Try some of the Winchester 777 209 primers, or the Rem kleenbore primers before you switch powder, they will help some.

I think what everybody is telling you is that you need to experiment to find what works best for you and your gun. I'm currently shooting a traditions pursuit .50 cal with 100 grns of 777 powder, 295 powerbelt hollow points and I'm extremely happy with it. I usually clean the barrel after 4 or 5 shots when I'm practicing, haven't had any problems loading. I also have an H&R/ NEF .50 cal that shoots 3 50 grn 777 pellets and the 295 HP. I use regular Winchester 209 primers in them.

I use the Barnes spit-fire MZ in 245 and 285gr. I use 3 50gr pellets of 777. I had your problem when I first started to sight in. You fail to mention what type of sight and the distance you are shooting. I have a Winchester apex mag which is made by CVA for winchester. My problem was that at 100 yds you cannot accuratly sight in with iron sites. The front bead is covering the whole 15 inch circle on the paper. If you don't know you are holding on the same spot then you probably aren't! I put the Nikon 1 power muzzle loader scope on it ( only thing legal in wisconsin during muzzleloader season) and could see very well to hold on center. I found that corrected the sight in problem. After the sight in problem was corrected I could switch to different bullets to find out what worked best and I settled on the Barns. I do not like the plastic balistic tips. The solid copper Barnes expand and hold there shape inside the animal leaving a large exit wound. I dropped a doe with it at 125 yds. She never knew what hit her and folded instantly.

777 is highly corrosive - it WILL start rusting your barrel within 24 hours of shooting it, and will start pittting it after a week or more. It will do that even on a stainless barrel. I know from experience. Pyrodex is less corrosive, but not considerably so. American Pioneer (Shockey's Gold) is probably the least corrosive stuff on the market, but you get better velocity (with the same volume) with 777. 777 does stink, but instead of smelling like rotten eggs it smells like burning dish water

All the powders have their pros and cons - you just have to pick which suits your needs best.

I am not so really worried about gumming up the barrel in a hunting situation as I am about getting this gun sighted in. It takes all day to get off a few shots when you have to clean you gun after each shot. I think the problem with the accuracy is with the sights. They are a williams fiberoptic sights. I have used TC 250 grain shockwaves, hornady's 250 grain lock and load speed sabots, and TC's 275 grain maxi hunters. I started out at fifty yards and could hit a 2 1/2 x 3 ft box let alone the target, so then I moved it up to 25 yards. still nothing. I finally switched to the maxihunters and hit the very bottom of the target. So I then moved the rear sight up the ramp. I was also hitting way right. SO I adjusted for that to. So with all the adjustment allowed in these sights at 25 yards I am about three inches low and 6 inches right, which puts me clear off the target at 100 yards. I ordered a scope mount and a Nikon omega bdc scope so maybe when that gets here I'll have better luck. For now I'm going back to the .54 cal Hawken I at least know I can hit something with it. Thanks fot all the suggetsions and for any other advice that you can give me.