muzzle loader thread

[chrisgunguy]

I didn't see one that wasn't a specific question or a classified listing. Looking at the TPWD County listings I see some new muzzle loader (ML) specific hunts. Milam CO. has an extended doe and spike season for ML only and doe are closed during general season. This type of format should produce more ML hunting. It has for me. I took my son and his ML out yesterday and shot for the first time. We had never before done this. Our setup is this:

Winchester Apex .50 ML with Nikon Omega scope. Both stainless finish. Powder I went with pellets and am shooting three pellets of Hodgdon Triple Seven.
Bullets are Hornady 180Gr JHP Sabot
CCI 209 Shot primers.

Groups at 100 were about 4". The trigger pull on the gun is pretty terrible.

1st question. Is a 4" group the norm for 100yd ML grouping?
2nd question. Is the mix of supplies a good one, or am I mixing something I shouldnt? (pellets and sabot for example)

Thanks.....

[Phillip Fields]

I'm not familiar with the Apex so can't really comment on its accuracy. My Thompson Pro-hunter will group just over an inch at 100 yds. I use the Hornady 250 grain SST sabot, over 3 pellets of Pyrodex (Triple 7 works just as well) and the Winchester 209 primers. I, along with several of my buddies, have taken a truckload of deer with this setup. I don't think the 180 JHP is quite as effective as the 250 gr SST.

[32drawlength]

Good thread, the new regs have my attention too

You probably could get more accuracy but that's not considered horrible....consider trying 2 pellets rather than 3 and possibly a different bullet to help

Good luck

[tbeak]

So here in colorado we can't use sabots or pellet ed powder. So,I am shooting 275 gr thompson maxi ball with 100 gr pyrodex rs. Second shot consistency is a negative. I can get 4"groups with first shots

[Drycreek3189]

My Encore is not quite as accurate as my Austen&Halleck was, but 1.5/2 in. groups at 100 are pretty normal with it. Three pellets of Pyrodex under a 250 gr. ( I think ) Powerbelt bullet is what I used, but if I were really getting serious about 200 yd. accuracy, I would use granular powder and do some load testing. I only shots does at up to 150 or so yards, but never did I feel under gunned
Fifty caliber is a big ole smasher of a bullet !

[diamond06]

Love me some MZ hunting. I am shooting a CVA wolf and it will cut holes at 100. Shooting 300grain hornady XTP HP with 150 grains of 777. Will shoot flat out to 200 yards.

[krt]

Milam County has 3 days for doe during the regular season. I believe they are November 24 to 27.

[chrisgunguy]

I think I will try a better/heavier bullet. What do you guys do for "seating" the sabot over pellets? Do you give a tap, or push until you feel the rod stop? I tried to stay consistent, and found the sabot easier to push the further down it went. As soon as it hit the pellets I gave a gentile amount of pressure. Never a tap.


Also, how many grains is a pellet? I couldn't find it on the box. Of course I am not patient, and just stuffed the muzzle and started running.....thus the 4" groups and the request for help. lol.

[Talon]

Here's mine. Its a new David Pedersoli .50 Hawken with a brown barrel, 1:24 twist with a 6X Malcolm scope. I shoot 100gr of Pyrodex P with a 300 grain Scorpion PT gold saboted polymer .451. This gun is one of few if not only side ignition rifle made to shoot modern bullets. When I saw this rifle on North American Muzzleloader Hunting I knew it was for me. (there is a great article there on it and others) I took it out and held a 3 shot group 3.5 inches at 150yds. I will try farther like stated in the article. He got it under 2" at 175. I love the look. The follow up shot is the daisy!

[diamond06]

I think I will try a better/heavier bullet. What do you guys do for "seating" the sabot over pellets? Do you give a tap, or push until you feel the rod stop? I tried to stay consistent, and found the sabot easier to push the further down it went. As soon as it hit the pellets I gave a gentile amount of pressure. Never a tap.


Also, how many grains is a pellet? I couldn't find it on the box. Of course I am not patient, and just stuffed the muzzle and started running.....thus the 4" groups and the request for help. lol.

Bounce the rod till you get a good bounce you can tell when it is seated


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[retrieverman]

I've killed a bunch of deer with a ML in Oklahoma and a few in TX, and my current set up is a smokeless NULA and won't be any help.

In my old Knight and Encore, I used two pellets of Pyrodex and 250 gr Barnes Expander.

Modern inline muzzleloaders should easily group under 2 inches at 100 yards.

[Phillip Fields]

I think I will try a better/heavier bullet. What do you guys do for "seating" the sabot over pellets? Do you give a tap, or push until you feel the rod stop? I tried to stay consistent, and found the sabot easier to push the further down it went. As soon as it hit the pellets I gave a gentile amount of pressure. Never a tap.


Also, how many grains is a pellet? I couldn't find it on the box. Of course I am not patient, and just stuffed the muzzle and started running.....thus the 4" groups and the request for help. lol.

Pellets are 50 gr, though there are some 20 gr pellets made. After I feel the bullet hit the pellets, I give the ramrod a sharp tap. Once I get a charge properly seated I will mark the ramrod at the muzzle for a quick reference that the charge is fully seated when I load.

[critter69]

We cant shoot sabots here, but I have had real good accuracy with black belts ( not considered sabots) and years back I shot some keith style bullets from presision bullets. Also the hornady great plains bullets shot very well. Knight rifle, open sights ( cant use scope here either.) Found it shoots best with 125 grains of ffg goex.

[sendit]

Been shooting and hunting for about 40 years now and only last year decided to get into muzzle loading on a whim. Bought a CVA Accura V2 long range along with a Zeiss 3x8x50 to go atop it.

I tried some pellets but decided on Blackhorn 209 loose powder along with a few different bullets. The 300gr. Hornady XTP has shot good and performed like a champ. on deer and hogs. Shooting 80grs of BH 209 by weight behind it.

[DDP]

Mine was getting 4" groups or larger with Sabots. Went to the Power Belt Bullets and I can put 3 or 4 in the size of a half dollar at 100 yards.