Electric Ignition Black Powder Rifle?
 

I've seen a black powder rifle (Electra, I think?) that uses an electric ignition system instead of percussion caps. It uses a 9V battery. Anybody have one, or have used one?

I've got a .50 cal T/C Hawkins, that I acquired as repayment of a debt years ago, never have fired it. It's a wall-hanger right now. I've been thinking more about black powder in the event of SHTF and need to learn the skills to shoot effectively. I can't seem to find 209 caps anywhere.

Are there any good beginner websites to learn blackpowder techniques? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Re: Electric Ignition Black Powder Rifle?
 

Who would want a rifle that doesn't work if the battery goes dead?

Re: Electric Ignition Black Powder Rifle?
 

I foresee more trouble obtaining primers than 9 volt batteries.


Our new Electra™ rifles are like no other muzzle loaders on earth, featuring the patent pending ARC™ Electronic Ignition. The ARC™ Electronic Ignition is completely sealed from the elements – there’s not even a flash-hole. No parts other than the barrel have to be cleaned of fouling – ever!

Ignition is absolutely instantaneous. The trigger pull is incredibly clean – because the “trigger” is really an electronic switch. And since there is no pressure explosion, as there is with primer ignitions, there is no accuracy robbing displacement of the charge – allowing full and consistent burn of the powder charge at the bottom of the barrel.

One 9-volt battery will reliably fire the rifle at least 500 times, and the battery will last 600 hours (25 days) – and that’s if it is left turned on!

The Electra is the ultimate muzzle loader in ease-of-use, rapid reloading, ease-of-cleaning and never-fail reliability. And all Electras are equipped with a premium Bergara Barrel – for unmatched accuracy.


http://www.tjgeneralstore.com/cva.htm

Re: Electric Ignition Black Powder Rifle?
 

I can't seem to find percussion caps anywhere, therefore the Electra-Arc is looking very interesting right now, no problem finding 9V batteries!

$459 blued, with black stock, or $519 in stainless. I'm thinking about this.

Re: Electric Ignition Black Powder Rifle?
 

I'm sure you can find a case of 209 primers around somewhere.....if not, and you really need them.....I can find them and ship to you.

I have lots of opinions of guns....I have quite a few and a lot of experiences with various guns.......so, when i wanted to get into a muzzleloader a few years ago...i researched the world over....and in my opinion there is only one model i would even think of getting...and that is what i got:

Savage 10 ML II (as in version 2.0) - it is the only muzzleloader factory proofed to - I think 100,000 cup pressure.....it is factory approved for smokless or black powder. I pretty much only shoot smokless in mine....has 30.06+ energy and accuracy.....why jack around with anything else.....can shoot smokless of black powder.....

I think they run between $500 - $800 depending on exact model.

I like the stainless model with laminate stock.

Get a 5000 case of 209 primers any you will be good for life.

Re: Electric Ignition Black Powder Rifle?
 

any propellant experts here?
Can regular nitrocellulose propellant be electrically ignited?

Re: Electric Ignition Black Powder Rifle?
 

If you have a TC Hawken, you can's use 209 primers. I am not sure if you could even use musket caps. You need to look for #11 percussion caps. 209s are the rage for all in-lines, but your Hawken is a traditional sidelock and I don't think there is a 209 conversion for sidelocks. You should be able to get #11 caps without much trouble.

As for tips, get yourself a lb of Pyrodex RS (rifle and shotgun) and a box of maxi-balls. You will also need a tube of TC bore butter to use as lube. In the case of SHTF you can save up grease from cooking to use as lube. Forget using patched roundballs. Also forget using hi-tech sabots (unless you have an aftermarket GreenMountain Barrel) as the TC Hawken comes in a 1 in 48 twist which is not fast enough to stabilize the sabot, ie no accuracy. Load you gun up with 90 grains of pyrodex, lube the grooves of the MB and seat the bullet. Place the #11 cap on the nipple and squeeze the trigger. You might have to make some changes in the powder charge, say 80 grains up to 100. Do not use the 150 grain magnum loads that are standard in many of the modern inlines.

YOu will get 3 or 4 shots out of this before accuracy goes to hell and you need to clean. Run a brass shotgun brush thru the barrel followed by several damp patches with TC blackpowder solvent. Patches will be black. Afetr a 4-5 patches you will notice they are more grey. Then run a few dry patches thru the barrel, followed by a few more wet patches followed by a couple more dry patches. I recommend doing all this in a vise (just be sure to protect the stock or barrel while in the vise). Pop a couple caps through the barrel to blow out any moisture reload and shoot again. Go throough the whole process again when finished (except popping caps). Also run a couple patches lubed with the bore butter inside the barrel. Do Not Use Petroleum Based cleaning agents in your blackpowder rifle. Heat plus petroleum makes tar a makes you ML a biotch to clean. The natural bore butter or cooking grease will season your barrel much like a cast iron skillet and make for easier cleaning.

YOu can also pull the pin on you Hawken and really give the barrel a thoroug cleaning with scalding water and detergent in you bath tube (highly reommended for long term storage after hunting season).

ML is very time intensive. You can't just shoot a few rounds and be done till tommorrow. A simple session of ML shooting will require an hour or two. But it is an addictive passion. My TC Encore is the only firearm I use during the firearm season for deer.

I started with a TC Hawken when I was 11 (my first gun I bought myself).
25 years later I still am a ML only guy. Hope this primer helps some.

Re: Electric Ignition Black Powder Rifle?
 

Remington came out with an electical ignition rifle a few years back. Not sure how it worked or if you had to have specila cartridges with primers designed to work with the firing system. I'll research some more.

Re: Electric Ignition Black Powder Rifle?
 

I think the TC Encore has that design where you can drop the action and the breach plug by simply moving a lever....makes it easy to clean the barrel....think of a single shot shotgun.

while on that line of thinking.....ever think of a ML conversion for a Mossberg Shotgun ...there are also some out there for the Remington 870.

Also, there are ML designs based off the single shot shotguns....migh be made by N.E.F.

Still - I say go with the Savage 10 ML II - shoot smokless where possible....nearly never needs cleaning......keep in mind, many states frown on smokless - read the rules...break the ones you don't like........i do not see a conservation officer making you discharge your ML to prove what is inside the loaded bore.....just carry some black powder/BP substitute afield with you.....

i have had crushing performance on deer with 250 - 300 grain 45 cal hollow points in a sabot from my 50 cal Savage.

Re: Electric Ignition Black Powder Rifle?
 

got it.
Remington 700 EtronX....
had special primers in standard ammo cases...
I was wondering if the nitrocellulose itself can be electrically ignited...

Re: Electric Ignition Black Powder Rifle?
 

Thanks ever so much!:coolbeer: Dunno how I got it in my head that it used 209's! This is the type of basic info I needed.

Re: Electric Ignition Black Powder Rifle?
 

Nitrocellulose can be ignited electrically. That being said, gun cotton shouldn't have any problem touching off if you short a wire and get it glowing.


You strike me as the kind of guy who flew a few Estes model rockets in his day.

Same concept. Although I don't know of the ignition dynamics inside the breech of a rifle.

Get a tiny enough wire, get it glowing red hot, and I don't see why it wouldn't ignite.