Muzzleloader ballistics

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Easyrider

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Southwestern Manitoba
After almost a year, I am finally going to get serious about shooting my Pedersoli Gibbs rifle. I got started setting up my range today, out to 200 yards for starters. I shot a few targets, and am satisfied with my preliminary results. 2-1/2 MOA, at 200 yards, and I haven't done much tuning yet. I am optimistic that Mr. Gibbs is going to be a shooter. My objective is 1000 yards.
I need some help. I haven't been able to find a ballistics chart for this type of shooting. I am shooting a .45 cal., 530 grain, conical, paper jacketed bullet, ahead of 90 grains of Curtis & Harvey Fg black powder. Bullet length is 1.4". I don't have a chronograph, but I am assuming muzzle velocity around 1150 fps. I would be interested in seeing a ballistics chart to help streamline the sighting process out at longer ranges. Trial and error will get it done, but it would be nice to save a bit of time, alloy, and powder. It costs about a buck every time I pull the trigger...
Can anyone send me a link to a website with this information? Thanks.
Glen
 
Velocity should be 1250+, I believe. I believe Sam Fadala's book had some limited ballistics charts in there, and I think he listed the Whitworth or Volunteer rifles, which should be close. I am surprised that you are using paper patch boolits for a front-stuffer. Typically the paper won't well survive both trips through the bore. Edit: I did some reading on thus, and apparently the paper-jacketed boolit should just slide down the bore slowly with nothing more than the weight of the ramrod pushing it. This makes sense. Anyway, here is a link to ballistics for that specific rifle-
http://www.researchpress.co.uk/shooting/lrml/technique/gibbs04.htm

BTW - they list the velocity for 100 grains of powder behind the 540 grain bullet to be 1300-1325 fps.
 
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I also expect that you are getting more velocity than that. With a bullet that is nearly the same weight, but a greaser, I get just under 1200 fps with 74gr of Goex Fg. In my .45-110 shooting paper patched bullets over 105gr of Goex Fg I get almost exactly 1350fps. If you want I can dig up some sight settings for that rifle.

Chris.
 
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