Balistic question please help

[bellyup039]

HI,

This past hunting season, I was out with my TC 50 Renegade Flintlock
Hunting deer.

I came across a deer standing broadside at 219 yds. AS measured with my nikon rangefinder.

I had a very very steady rest. A large haybale and could hold on her (doe) quite steadily.

She stood there long enough for me to call a friend on my cell phone and ask him to look up the drop on a 245gr 50 cal powerbelt on the internet and let me know if i should take the shot or not.

He laughed and never looked it up for me.

Ok so I shoot very well at 100 yds and dead on at 50 yds.

Question: Should I have taken the shot? (which i did not).
And If I did take the shot, How much drop should I have aloud for that range with 100 gr of Goex Black powder.

I guess I was worried that the bullet might hit my deer, but only injury it, so that is why i didn't take the shot.

Next question: Is there even enough energy left at 219 yds to kill a deer with a well placed shot?

I haven't had the chance to take the Flinter to my range at 200 yds yet to see, thought I would ask here. thanks

Bellyup!

Opinions welcome, and feedback pro or con welcome. thanks

 

[mykeal]

No.

If you've never shot that distance with that load in that gun and PROVEN both your ability to hit a six inch circle reliably and repeatedly and the gun's ability to deliver the round with sufficient energy, then you should not take the shot.

 

[bellyup039]

Ok I agree. but Would it have had enough energy?

 

[mykeal]

I honestly don't know; I'm not aware of any Powerbelt data at 200 yards. However, I rather doubt it with just 100 grains of real black.

 

[Oyeboten]

Well, what was the Bulet weight?

And, what was expected for FPS at the Muzzle or not far from the Muzzle with that Bullet and Powder charge, as per prior Chronograph tests?


If those are known, then, one could do some rough off-the-cuff calcs.

 

[damoc]

hehe you did the right thing i think

but whats the deal with the nikon rangefinder and a flintlock LOL

 

[whosyrdaddy]

According to the manufactures published data, a 245gr Aero tip over 100 grains of powder zeroed for 150 yards has a MV of 1900 fps and drops 14" at 225 yards with a retained velocity of 1128 fps and 692 ft/lbs of kinetic energy out of a 26" barrel.

http://www.bpishopping.com/skin/frontend/default/powerbeltbullets2010/docs/PBB26inchballistics.pdf

I would not expect much in the way of bullet expansion at that distance.
Real world testing would be the best way to confirm if your bullet is both gyroscopically and dynamically stable while retaining a sufficient tractability factor needed for repeatable accuracy.

 

[J-Bar]

Ned Roberts (the guy who the .257 Roberts is named after) wrote a book, "The Muzzleloading Cap Lock Rifle" (you can find reprints on Amazon and in the bookstores). In this book he proves that blackpowder muzzleloading rifles can be amazingly accurate at long distances. The pictures of targets shot in 1000 yard matches show groups that would make modern centerfire shooters jealous.

So, a 200 yard shot with a muzzleloader is feasible, IF the shooter has practiced with the gun at that range and knows what sight picture to use. A 50 caliber hole in a deer is sufficient; the projectile does not have to expand.

The fact that you did NOT know how the gun would shoot at that range means that you made the right decision passing on the shot, and I applaud you for not risking wounding the animal.

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

Nice call. She will be around next fall.