Not sure what is going on here... I have sent an e-mail and pics to Cecil and am awaiting his report.

I just bought a custom .50 cal barrel from MGM and was shooting three pellets of 777 with various bullets. These pics are after 10-12 shots... .25 ACP brass was filthy inside and out as well as the gun.

Any ideas? The only thing I could come up with is that the barrel and breach plug threads were not to spec and allowing for some escaping through that way? I don't know what else to think? My brother was right next to me shooting a .25ACP breach plug with the factory TC ML barrel and his was clean??

Thoughts and expertise please...

Thanks!

Mark

Man, that is nasty, you are definately getting blow-by. I have the .25 ACP breech plug on my Encore and never had any fouling in the action. You might check that the .25 ACP case isn't too deep, mine has a little "crush" when you close the action. Just by looking at the pictures though, it appears to be getting past the threads. Let us know what you find out.

Do you have access to a dial caliper or a micrometor ? check your brothers o.d. breach plug size then yours , if the same +-.005 then put his breach plug in your barrel if the same results happen ? then the barrel thread is oversized from the tap when manufactured , T/C will tell you it's ok and send it back ! even when you know it's a piece of S--t ! believe me I know from experience ! Their guarantee is BullCrap !

concho,
I think this is a custom barrel, not a T/C.

MIBIGHNTR,
You might post this on the Muzzleloading Hunting forum, you'll probably get more replies.

Thanks for the insight guys...

I am a Quality Engineer, we don't how to use Calipers or Mics...LOL! I have a CMM at my disposal and I have thought about doing a full dimensional layout of the different breach plugs and the barrels and also thread-gaging all of them as well, but then I thought about all of the time involved and said, "bag-it".

I am going back to a Ultimate Firearms. No quality issues and having to worry about if it's going to go bang or not, accurate, and dependable 200%. Heck, when I had mine last year, I felt like I was carrying a centerfire rifle.

BTW - There were some machining issues with the MGM barrel, but to their credit, they are taking it back and issuing me a full refund. Can't beat that...

Thanks!

Mark