Muzzle loader hunter's question

My biggest issue was with accuracy on the PR bullets....it's my personal feeling that pure lead bullets are not made to be driven that fast and in a three shot group, there would invariably be one flyer. If I kept them sub 1850 fps, things would tighten up. I've heard guys that swear by them but for me and a couple buddies, as soon as you started pushing them past 1,900 fps, accuracy went out the window. There is a lot of obturation in pure lead bullets and while some is desireable when not using a sabot, I think too much causes the inaccuracy issues. Put them in a sabot and that obturation starts to put some weird pressure points on the pedals of the sabot. While breaking pedals off is quite common and nothing to worry about, with pure lead bullets pushed at high velocities, we were actually seeing the pedals melting off from friction from the extreme obturation of the lead bullet. As the sabot pedals are soft, the obturation isn't uniform and the bullet, being smaller than the bore, actually gets a bit canted in there and causes the accuracy issues...at least that's my theory and I've seen enough sabot with melted pedals to give it some credence. Personally, I think high velocity muzzleloaders need jacketed bulets and is likely why companies like PR try to downplay the 150 grain loads.
 
Actually, I have considerable range and field time to back up what I say.....enough to be constructive anyhow.
 
Ask the optics forum, I have Elite 4200 2.5-10s on two different Savages. I've scoped myself three times but all 3 were shooting from odd angles in tree stands.
 
Yes, I've got one on my Omega.....it does work as advertised but I do find the size of the circles (mildots) distracting. I think a regular mildot type scope is more user friendly but it is a good quality scope like most Nikons.
 
Have you ever had any issues with the sabots?
Anyone else had that issue with sabots?
Yep
Had alot of trouble loading my Knight and Savage with all kinds of sabots I tried. I thought I'd put a ram rod thru my hand with the force required loading. Now I use Harvestor "crushed rib" 50/45cal high pressure black sabots and loading is no longer a problem. I buy em 500 at a time from MidSouth(They now sell a new smokeless red "crushed rib" version but I've not tried them yet). Accuracy has been VERY good from my Savage using a dipped 43grs. of IMR SR4759, Hornady .452" 300XTP mags, and CCI 209M primers. I shoot at 100 and 200yards with my Savage quite effectively now - and the fun's back in it.
 
I've got the Nikon Omega on my TC Encore, I wish all my shot's were over 125yds so I could justify the intent of the circle mildots, which for me worked great shooting from a bench at paper out to 200. I think the selling factor for me for this scope is the constant 5" eye relief. Not to mention the crisp clear and brightness the Nikon's provide. Maybe after my 10 millionth bigame animal taken or my infinity of field time (whichever comes 1st..like it matters) I'll switch to a Nikon Monarch w/ SF;)
 
You are not the only person who shoots animals at a distance with the smokepole.

You can get the same ballistics with less powder from a purpose built muzzeloader bullet (Long olgive, boattail, etc).

www.prbullet.com

But if you enjoy rocking your world with that charge - git r done

My twelve year old shoots 3 pellet loads, and thinks its a good time. You're saying they recoil? Don't tell the kid, what he doesn't know won't hurt him.:rolleyes:
 
My twelve year old shoots 3 pellet loads, and thinks its a good time. You're saying they recoil? Don't tell the kid, what he doesn't know won't hurt him.:rolleyes:


I will take that information to my grave! Did he have a good season? We all like to hear stories of first time hunter success stories - especially ones with pic's. You can never tell how is more proud - the first time hunter, or the mentor.
 
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Three pellets can be 120 or 150 right? I've never shot blackpowder, only smokeless


Pellets come in 30 and 50 grain increment. When I talk three pellet loads I mean 150 grains but I guess it could be confusing for some for sure. I shoot Pyrodex pellets as well....not Triple7.
 
I use the Hornady 300gr SST in my Savage over 45grs of Li'l Gun. I also use a bore button under the sabot and it shoots 1 inch groups. I have gone higher with the powder charge and still get 1 inch groups but the recoil gets to be severe.
 
I will take that information to my grave! Did he have a good season? We all like to hear stories of first time hunter success stories - especially ones with pic's. You can never tell how is more proud - the first time hunter, or the mentor.

Actually, I did post his pictures. He finished his first season with 4 deer, which we'll be eating this winter. Two were with my MK85 with FX111, 3 pyrodex pellets (150 grains) and the 250 grain SST. The other two were with his .257 Weatherby Synthetic. I'll probably have to give him the Knight, but will see how my yet unfired Savage works out.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=187877&highlight=Dogleg+Junior
 
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