777 & Barnes & Knight

[Lee Woiteshek]

Muzzleloading season for whitetail ends today in Virginia. Had a terrible time trying to sight in my rifle, a Knight Disc Extreme in .45. I went with three pellets (150 grains) of 777, and a Barnes/Knight Red Hot all copper bullet of 175 grains. I bought the rifle for the extended range 150 grains offers. Accuracy was just terrrible at 100 yards. I sight in off bags, but I got so desperate with flyers everywhere, I broke down and used a gun vise. It didn't help. Witnesses told me sometimes there would be a lot of smoke and a deep bang when the rifle went off, and sometimes more of a "crack" and very little if any smoke. I felt I had a bad batch of 777. I finally gave up the hundred yard sight in. I ended up sighting the rifle in at 50 yards point of aim. I didn't think I would do well at all, unless the game came very close. I hunted the woods for the first part of the two week season, swamps and oaks hoping for the close in shot. The pre chase phase of the rut kicked in, and the does started heading towards the fields that still had standing crops, and I went there. I ended up with two six pointers, and a four pointer. All my shots were in excess of a hundred yards with the farthest being 188. I was able to recover one bullet and it looks just like the pictures, incidently it was my farthest shot. I am still not pleased with the target performance of the 777 and the Barnes bullets. However, it certainly appears that if you can put the bullet on the animal that it will get the job done.

 

[socomcen]

777 isn't supposed to be used in more than 100grains in a .50 cal no matter what the gun can handle. My Rem 700ML will shoot 2.5" groups using Powerbelt 295gr hollowpoints with 2 pellets which equates to 100grs off 777. I think the rifle can shoot a little better than that if I replace the cheap Simmons scope and rings and mounts with a better Leupold and rings and mounts.

I took two large does yesterday on my friends hunting lease in Rappahannock Co.

 

[smokemaker]

Most rifles won't shoot their best groups with three pellet loads of 777. I completely gave up on pellets, and went back to powder, and my groups shrank down to near-tack driving levels, just by playing with powder levels, 10 grains at a time.
.45's also tend to be more finnicky, usually requiring less powder for tight groups than your average .50, though I've seen exceptions to that, too.

Buy some 777 FFG, and play with powder levels, you might be surprised how well the gun will do when fed what it likes.
My Omega in .50 was lousy with three pellets, but 130 grains of 777 FFG and a 300 grain SST, and it'll do three shots into 1.5 inches at 100 yards, with a peep sight.
You can always play with bullet styles and weights, too!