Newbie Muzzleloading Question

[Guns&Religion]

I recently purchased a Knight Bighorn .50 Muzzleloader. I'm planning on using it to hunt whitetail deer.

I've taken it to the range a couple of times, but my accuracy has been dismall (at 50 yards ). I've tried 1 box of .45 sabot rounds, I don't remember the bullet weight, but I'm thinking it was around 280-290 grains. I used a powder load of 110 grains.

Can anyone here recommend another bullet type or powder load I should try. Also, when find a good load, what max range should I try to take a deer at (75 yards? 100 yards?)

 

[birddog]

I've been using two Pyrodex pellets (my gun can take up to three) and Powerbelt 240gr Aerotip bullets. These are highly accurate, and I've taken deer at 125 yards with them with great bone-crunching ability. I can't find the need to step up to 3 pellets, with that kind of success. I've killed maybe a half dozen good-sized deer with this combination.

 

[Guns&Religion]

Thanks BD, I will try that next.

 

[mykeal]

Your maximum range is the distance at which you can reliably and repeatedly put a bullet inside a 6 inch circle.

 

[bushrod2]

Ya what do you consider dismall at 50 yds? I used to TRY to drive tacks all the time, but a consistent shot pattern in the 6"-12" area should be good enough to take a deer. A good bullet-sabot combo. in my opinion is key along with the proper charge, in your case around 100 grains of BP or a sub.Good Hunting!

 

[BHP FAN]

About 80gr. of Triple Seven should do the trick.

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

I used 90 grains of Swiss FFFg under 54 cal/45 cal sabot carrying a 300 grain XTP in my Wolverine.

 

[ontarget]

when it comes to amount of powder, sometimes less is more, so to speak. My, CVA plains hunter sidelock only likes 80 grains FFF and a 230 gr saboted hollow point. It is a .50 cal.

 

[swampgeek]

I personally do not recommended pellets, some people have great success with them but you do not have the ability to adjust your loads. In most modern in-lines I have owned or had time to spend with on the range as little as 5 grains of powder could be the difference between shooting 1" groups or the next guys targets with the same projectile.

I would recommend getting a jug of Blackhorn 209, I wrote up a review on it recently BlackHorn 209: On the Range. It is more pricey but I can tell you without a doubt it is the best propellant on the market. Fouling can play a large role in accuracy. Something as simple as using a nipple pick to clear the flash hole in your breech mechanism could provide consistent powder ignitions, no matter what powder or pellets you decide to use.

I can get consistent 1 to 1-1/2 inch groups at 100yds, 3 inches high...allows for roughly a 6" shot window out to 200yds. That is really pushing the limits of muzzleloading hunting due to energy loss on the heavy rounds we shoot. But with a good high velocity powder, clean barrel and high quality projectiles with good sabots it is very much within your reach if you spend the time to learn your new rifle.

If I were you I would get some good projectiles, I shoot hornady 250gr SST's with the red easy glide sabots, alot of people like barnes or T/C shockwaves, also you could get some cheap plinkers just to make sure your scope is good. If you havent bore site it as well. Start with 80grs of blackhorn 209 and shoot 3 round groups, step up in 5gr increments until you are happy with the groups and you have manageable recoil. Be sure to keep the flash hole clean and you could even swab if you feel the rounds are not ramming down the barrel smoothly enough. Yeah you will burn through a box of 20 rounds and sabots quickly but I bet you will find a load that you are happy with.

Good Luck!

 

[birddog]

I personally do not recommended pellets, some people have great success with them but you do not have the ability to adjust your loads. In most modern in-lines I have owned or had time to spend with on the range as little as 5 grains of powder could be the difference between shooting 1" groups or the next guys targets with the same projectile.

I never had a problem getting a group with 2 Pyrodex pellets. Just like buying commercial rifle ammo (yes, I am a handloader), you just sight the gun in for the load. My CVA Optima, 2 pellets, and an Aerotip have accounted for several deer -- all clean kills and at varying ranges.

The other plus to using pellets, in an actual hunting situation, is the speed at which you can reload with a speedloader tube.

Not that I've ever needed that followup shot.....

 

[swampgeek]

Yeah about that, like I stated in the opening sentence it is a personal thing, however I am sure many people have great success with pellets. I just like to have more control over my loads and use higher quality powders like Blackhorn 209. Night and day difference, try it...you wont go back.