I am having an issue with consistency. Last year I used elephant bp with a lubed patch and ball and at 50 yards I'd hit where I wanted then the next one would be off then maybe the third or 4th shot would be back near the first. I have some time to work with it and need some advice. I have a CVA mountain stalker. I had misfire issues with it but seem to have solved that issue with magnum caps. I have some conicals and they seem to do a little better but not much,got any ideas? Been fighting rust issues with this thing also, fellow who had it before was a little slack in the cleaning dept and he had a scope on it. I want to feel good about hunting with it but right now I am worried.

What I do is seat my load, and make a scratch mark on the ramrod at the end of the barrel so that all the following loads can be seated the same.

The mark can also be used to tell you if the gun is loaded or empty

Using real BP, you may also get better results running a patch through between shots

I agree with running a patch or 2 between shots.
Works for me ! With a rusty bore it will foul a lot quicker.

How do the patches look? If you have trouble with a patched load make it a point to retrieve each patch and examine it. I am not saying this is your problem, but if your patches are blown out or shredded I suspect the issue is the wrong patching material.

I hate to tell people to throw money at a problem that may not exist, but if you have had a misfire issue I'd suggest buying a new nipple and see if the problem goes away and you can use regular caps again.

If your bore is pitted, it could be tearing at the patch every once in a while, you can wrap some steel wool around the cleaning jag and make swipes with that and thin oil. Main thing to me is if I can feel the pits/rust grabbing at the steel wool then you know it is probably doing the same to a patch.

Hope that helps, post what happens next!

Mark

Check your barrels twist.
Might be you're trying to shoot the wrong type slug in it for the twist rate you have.
Anything longer than about 1:38 is for patched balls.

Scrub hell out of that thing with hot water and soap, then run some bore butter patch's down it while it's still hot.

I take the nipple off and run hot tap water down the bore until the metal is hot to touch. Then scrub it good with a brush until the outflow is clear. Once it's 'buttered' good the heat will evaporate the moisture from it and you shouldn't have any rusting problems. If you do, butter it up.

Good luck n have fun,
George