i bought a BPI-Connecticut valley arms muzzleloader with a Bushnell scope for 100bucks but i was wondering what you guys are shooting for loads and bullets out of muzzleloaders, ive used them before but never owned one so anything else to add would be great. thanks!
A lot of the guys I hang around with like the 250 grain T/C Shockwave sabots used ahead of 100-150 grains of Pyrodex pellets or 777 pellets and a 209 shotgun primer.
That is about as simple a recipe as you will find. Just like centerfire rifles, you can experiment endlessly to find a combo of powder and projectile that shoots best in your particular firearm.
To give you an example........In my T/C Encore .50 cal muzzleloader, I shoot 220 grain Dead Center sabots ahead of 110 grains of loose 777 powder......all fired off by a .25 ACP pistol brass with a small rifle primer. You don't want to know how much I spent on different bullets and powders before I discovered this combo.........................but my T/C will now shoot sub MOA groups, and I would feel comfortable taking a 250 yard shot.....
For most of the guys around here, a 2" 100 yard group is just fine. Most of the shots here are under 100 yards, and the biggest part are 50 or closer. I am a tinkerer by nature, so I have a tendency to tweak on stuff that is probably OK already. I am not even satisfied with 2" 100 yard groups out of my pistol.........
Good luck with your new ML!!
Aaron Campbell
Barling, AR
2007 Bass Cat Sabre
2011 Merc 175 Pro XS
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by adchunts »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Just like centerfire rifles, you can experiment endlessly to find a combo of powder and projectile that shoots best in your particular firearm. </TD></TR></TABLE>
+1...........it takes alot of time and patience to milk the performance from a smokepole, but once you're dialed in, it's all good. out of my ol'delapitated t/c black diamond xr, i shoot 110gr of 777 behind a 250 t/c bonded shockwave -i have found that the original t/c shockwave upon impact, the jacket/core would seperate, though the deer dropped where they stood- and a winchester triple 7 209 primer. @100yds, i'm getting an average 3 shot group of 1/2", 2 1/2" high. that load combo is my guns sweetspot. if i juice her up any to 130 gr 777, it'll open to just over 3/4". the next best concoction i've got, which was my original load for it was throwing a 250 gr hornady sst in front of 120gr 777 using win 209 primers averaging just under 1". was going to go to loose powders, but was told i wouldn't get anything better than i currently use
Reply With Quote