Traditions Vortek Strikerfire

I don't have any experience with the Traditions guns, the BH209 is harder to get going. Do you loads fit loose in the barrel? I've read where some people went with a tighter fit and that fixed it. Nothing wrong with 777, used it for years, but I do like the BH better.

I don't believe its loose. I'm pouring the BH down barrel, and then placing a tight fitting Hornady SST with sabot down to powder with good force (until it stops/doesn't pack down farther). Then CCI209M, fire. or delayed fire.

Has anyone else had hang-fires with BH209 when using the correct primer (non-ML primer)?

I've now cleaned my breech plug with drill bits and small files using solvent. Before, it was breech plug chemical cleaner only with minimal mechanical cleaning.

I clean my breech plug in the CVA and Thompson guns with a drill bit every three rounds. Just twirl it with my fingers while holding the barrel pointed up. Lots of crud can come out of it.

this might just be my problem. I was just soaking in TC Breech Plug Cleaner every 3 shots for 1 min, minimal mechanical cleaning (just wiping down the outside).

I'll start cleaning with bits every 3 shots & let yall know. I just really don't want to be sitting in the Midwest and have a problem while trying to shoot a buck of a lifetime.

I use a torch tip cleaner for cleaning my breech plugs and have never had an issue with BH209

Looks like I may shoot 777 pellets. All I've found so far and they are convenient.

I shot 777 pellets for many years, they are extremely easy to use for sure. They did build a "crud ring" just above where the bullet seated. Could shoot 3-4 times then would have to clean it out or bullet would not seat. No problem when hunting, always hunted with clean barrel and could get the second load in without swabbing. I did make a batch of swab solution out of windex and a industrial solvent we use at work, was some good stuff as long as I didn't get it on me

Update--cleaned breech plug well...first shot Blackhorn209 & CCI209M....hangfire. Switched to Winchester 209 standard shotgun primers (blue box) next two shots --fired fine. I only had 3 charges made up (77grains weight, same as 110gr volume).... I plan to step up near the max (83grains weighed charges....About 118 volume) and see how she groups. I'll keep y'all posted if any hang fires with Win primers.

For what it's worth, Traditions tech support suggested trying different primers with the blackhorn to see what worked best in my gun. Blackhorn tech support--never responded, but their site says CCI209M & Federal209 have been the best primers for that powder.

Interesting, thanks for the update.

Last update:
12 more rounds fired Win209 shotshell primers + Blackhorn209 powder, zero misfires or hangfires.
Blackhorn 110-120grain volume with 250gr SST ....poor groups, 3-4.5" 3 shot groups @100 yards.

BUT....100 grain volume load....1.2" 3-shot group center-to-center, last two shots basically same hole with fouled barrel. The blackhorn powder was still super easy to clean with Hoppes#9 only. Shot 4th time with this load, fouled barrel, same result--dead on.

So, finally, I found a good Blackhorn load. As I reload centerfires and shoot more rifles & MLs, I'm finding that NOT starting near max loads often yields the best accuracy.

Hope this helps.

Good deal, I have had good results with those 250 gr SSTs.

Terminal performance of the SST-ML? I was thinking of going to the Hornady monolithic bullet for more penetration/weight retention. Anyone had SST-ML real world experience on big mature whitetails?

I use the SST's for zero and practice, then switch to a bonded shockwave for hunting. A lot of our club is crop land so I end up hunting edges/boundaries and I need to be able to break shoulders. Out of about 10 deer with the bonded shockwave I have not recovered a bullet. If I slip it behind the shoulder it will make lung soup. From what I understand the shockwave and SST are the same bullet.