Smokeless Muzzleloader Build

[JayCutright]

Yes the stem on the funnel is there to put the powder in the barrel rather than assume it made it past the brake.

 

[expiper]

OOOOO ......I seee....Iwas wondering what kept the powder from falling out the bak end...ahhahah......now I can see how it is safe to load ,,,,and after the powder charge is in place you put in a fresh primed ctg case.....Thank you Jay.......Roger

 

[muddy72]

Jonathon, I don't know if you have visited any smokeless muzzy forums but here is the link to a very informative site http://dougsmessageboards.proboards.com/index.cgi .Click on the Savage/Smokeless Section and there you will find a wealth of knowledge. I too have spoke with Richard and viewed the video's, good stuff!

JayCutright, I sent you a PM!

 

[Jonathan Zimmerman]

I forgot to mention this in earlier posts with the load data. This is really important for accuracy. I am jamming these bullets about 28" into the lands.

 

[kj]

I forgot to mention this in earlier posts with the load data. This is really important for accuracy. I am jamming these bullets about 28" into the lands.

Thats funny!

 

[bozo699]

I forgot to mention this in earlier posts with the load data. This is really important for accuracy. I am jamming these bullets about 28" into the lands.

Thats funny!

I know what he meant and you know what he meant but your right that's very funny!
Wayne.

 

[RandyB]

"about 28" into the lands" I damn near fainted! That"s funny!

 

[Jonathan Zimmerman]

Alright guys, I finally finished the project. I ordered a Whidden Composites 140 stock back in the middle of December. It has been in my basement since late January waiting on me patiently. Tonight I made some time to fit the barreled action to the stock. It did not take long because the barrel channel was cut to the specs I sent John. There were only a couple of tight spots against the action, but they cleaned up with sand paper. I will be shooting soon hopefully, and give one last report on accuracy. I am impressed with the stock, it feels very solid. Take care.

 

[bozo699]

Alright guys, I finally finished the project. I ordered a Whidden Composites 140 stock back in the middle of December. It has been in my basement since late January waiting on me patiently. Tonight I made some time to fit the barreled action to the stock. It did not take long because the barrel channel was cut to the specs I sent John. There were only a couple of tight spots against the action, but they cleaned up with sand paper. I will be shooting soon hopefully, and give one last report on accuracy. I am impressed with the stock, it feels very solid. Take care.

Jonathan,
If it shoots as good as it looks you won't have any worries ;D where did you take the pic, is it leaned up against a old oak tree? Let us know how she shoots.
Wayne.

 

[Jonathan Zimmerman]

Old Maple in the back yard. Thanks Wayne.

Jonathan

 

[Jonathan Zimmerman]

I know it has been almost a year since I started this thread. But, I shot a group tonight with the muzzleloader featured in this thread worthy of sharing. This makes the second group I have shot at 300, yes only two groups in one year of building this rifle at 300. Anyway, it was worth posting. The Whidden Composites stock works great, highly recommend them if you are in the market of a new stock. I am going out Saturday for a 300 yard shot on a creek bottom, so I wanted to verify my zero. After firing two shots within an inch of each other, I thought I may as well shoot a third and call it a group. I am glad I did (0.980"). Yes, a sub inch 300 yard group with a muzzleloader. I was extremely pleased once again with this rifle. The 275 Parker Ballistic Extreme is a great bullet. Maybe I will have another deer to add to this thread Saturday night, just maybe. Take care.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

That barrel should last a long time at that rate.

Nice shooting BTW.

 

[jonbearman]

Awesome shooting,my friend just built one and accidently stuffed 2 bullets in and only bulged the barrel. He is now waiting on a new barrel and he marked his rod this time.

 

[SuperiorRifles]

Nice thread! This smokeless muzzleloader build has been on my mind for a while. Just ordered my videos from Richard Franklin. My wife just sighed at the thought of yet another gun project!

 

[284driver]

This is interesting. I haven't given a muzzleloader any thought since I acquired a white some years ago. With that said, would it be possible to get smaller diameter barrels, say a .284 Cal. And shoot 7mm bullets? Just curious.

 

[Jonathan Zimmerman]

skyav8r: To answer your question, yes. Swinglock Muzzleloading is already doing that, and I believe down to 6mm (don't hold me to that). Most of the other smokeless muzzleloader shooters I have talked to that have chronographed their loads say the ES is generally in the single digits or low teens. When you get rid of the brass variable (seating pressure, case capacity, concentricity, shoulder setback, work hardening, neck tension, etc.) all you have to worry about is the bullet and powder. That makes life simple. I have not adjusted powder charges yet, and am still jamming 28". Life is good.

 

[SuperiorRifles]

Well, I got my Richard Franklin videos and watched them last night. Great videos with his sense of humor, and he builds some really nice hand made stocks! The work for the barrel seems pretty straight forward, and I can see how these guns shoot so well by eliminating all of the brass dimensions, neck turning, headspacing, action truing and brass prep. It's the perfect consistant load. Measure your powder load and shoot with no variation of chamber variables due to brass consistency. You could build one of these on a non-blueprinted Rem 700 action and I bet it would shoot just as well as the BAT SV action he used in the video. I am defiantly going to add one of these to my collection, and hopefully offer these to my customers in the near future.

 

[wvuredneck09]

Has anyone ever done this with anything other than a 700 action? in particular I have a savage action that I would love to build one off of. The trigger is plenty good for 500+ yard shooting and I already own the action. Also what would be the biggest problems with the "smaller" caliber versions. I think a 338 would be sweet.

 

[SuperiorRifles]

Has anyone ever done this with anything other than a 700 action? in particular I have a savage action that I would love to build one off of. The trigger is plenty good for 500+ yard shooting and I already own the action. Also what would be the biggest problems with the "smaller" caliber versions. I think a 338 would be sweet.

I thought of that as well (I could not legally use it for hunting in my state with a 45 cal or larger rule) but I wonder if the boat tail on say the Berger 300 gn Hybrid would cause any problems?

 

[Jim See]

Has anyone ever done this with anything other than a 700 action? in particular I have a savage action that I would love to build one off of. The trigger is plenty good for 500+ yard shooting and I already own the action. Also what would be the biggest problems with the "smaller" caliber versions. I think a 338 would be sweet.

I built 3 of them on savages this fall with Brux barrels and yes I used the nut as this makes it much easier to set a slight crush fit on your primer brass to nipple. I also remove the ejector and extractor on a .223 bolt head and then machine it like a shell holder to hold a 45 acp brass that has been shortened slightly. This keeps the brass in perfect place as you close the bolt with-out fear of it moving.