How Is Your Muzzleloader Shooting?

[BigV]

In preparation for the upcoming Ohio deer gun season I have spent a lot of time at the range finding the optimum bullet and powder charge combinations for my Thompson Center .50 cal Omega muzzleoader with leupold 3 X 9 VXIII .

I have finally narrowed my selection down to 2 bullets:
This target is using 245gr PowerBelts, 110 gr. loose 777 ffg powder and .25 ACP pistol brass with small pistol primers as the ignition source.

All 3 shots were taken at 100 yards using a rest.

This target was using Hornady SST 250 gr low drag sabots and 110gr of loose 777 ffg powder and .25 ACP pistol brass with small pistol primers as the ignition source.
All 3 shots were taken at 100 yards using a rest.

The only thing left for me to do is shoot both bullets with the same load(s) at the 50 yard line and pick the one that holds the tightest groups.

 

[simonkenton]

Have you ever shot a deer with that 245 Powerbelt?
I have heard of them blowing up on deer, and the deer being lost.

I can vouch for the 250 SST, great deer killer.

 

[kwhi43]

My muzzleloading shooting is going ok. Here is a 100 yd target I shot with
a .45 cal Flintlock open sights that I built. It is a 1/2 stock Hawken. The
most accurate load is a .454 round ball, 90 grs. Goex FF for 2,000fps. .020
Teflon coated pillow ticking patch. The barrel is a old H&HH with a 1-60 twist.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Damn kiwi, you done built a sniper rifle. That is a very nice five shot group. It's surprising how much harder a five shot group is to get that tight as opposed to a three shot group.
Nice shooting.

 

[shortwave]

BigV and kiwi, thats some excellent shooting. Simon, I`ve dispatched quite a few deer with the 245 jacketed arrowtip Powerbelt, out of a Rem., shooting a powder charge of 90-110 grns. loose powder. Don`t believe I`ve ever had a negative issue with them. Can also vouch for the 250 SST`s. Its what I shoot out of my Encore(it won`t shoot Powerbelts) thanks to Simon`s and other suggestion`s a few years ago. In case I didn`t thank them. Thank You Simon/other`s.

 

[FrontierGander]

I'd drop that charge down to 80gr T7. 110gr Is gonna make those bullets expolode as soon as they come into contact with a deer.

CVA Accura

250gr Ballistic Tip Thor conical pushed by 105gr Pyrodex RS, Winchester 777 primer. 3 shots @ 100 yards.

 

[BigV]

Here is my last string of 4 shots using 100 grains of Blackhorn 209 powder, Hornaday SST 250 grain sabots and Winchester W209 primers.

These shots were taken from a bench rest at 100 yards.

 

[FrontierGander]

i just found a great sabot load for my Accura a few days ago. 88gr (weight) roughly 120gr by volume Pyrodex RS, 300gr xtp, short black mmp-24 sabot with cci inline mzl primers. 3 shots @ 100 yards with no swabbing or cooling down between shots.

 

[koolminx]

Where do you live that you can hunt BP with a modern scope?

By the way, you all have good groups!

I shoot my Hawken .54 at about 75 yards, never much further because i"m a sneaker and never have to shoot at a deer that's farther away than that...

But my patterns are perfect on a bench with a .535 round ball and a wet or dry patch. But I almost never use a bench to shoot because I'm never near one when I am hunting...

 

[BigV]

But my patterns are perfect on a bench with a .535 round ball and a wet or dry patch. But I almost never use a bench to shoot because I'm never near one when I am hunting...

I use a bench to insure my muzzie is spot on at 100 yards. I have tried lots and lots of combinations of different powders and bullets as well as primers (yes even primers add another variable) to find the perfect combination for my TC Omega. I use a bench to eliminate the human variable as much as possible and to insure that when I take that shot, it will hit exactly where I aim. If for some reason I miss, or make a bad shot, I know it was me and not the rifle.

I also take a lot of time shooting off hand to hone my skills. This is done AFTER using a bench to insure the accuracy of my gun.

 

[shortwave]

How is your muzzleloader shooting?

As usual, the m/l is capable of better accuracy than I am. Wanting to re-test zero,I got in a hurry the other evening and set up a makeshift range in the backyard with target @ 50 and 100yds . Pulled the quad out of garage and used quad seat as rest. First three shots cloverleafed, dead bullseye at the 100yd target. I strutted down to target,looked and was thinking what a joy it was to shoot this particular rifle. I was running out of daylight so I came back up to quad, reloaded and tried my hand at 50 yd. target. I shot, stood up, waited for smoke to clear and didn`t see any holes in target. Couldn`t believe it so I walked down to check target and sure enough, no holes. Was scratching my head wondering as I walked back for one last quick shot when I noticed I had shot the top rail of wife`s pool swing (which I thought I was shooting over). Blew the damn rail right into. Momma wasn`t impressed at my first m/l kill of the season.

 

[BIGR]

Have you ever shot a deer with that 245 Powerbelt?
I have heard of them blowing up on deer, and the deer being lost.

Not with a 245 Grain Powerbelt, but I have used a 295 Grain Powerbelt Hollowpoint. I must add that I have never lost a deer with muzzleloader and I have used 240 gr. XTPs or HP Powerbelts. Most shots will drop them right there if I do my part. I took a 8 point buck this year and I recovered the 295 GR. Powerbelt on the opposite side against the hide. That bullet was mushroomed out nicely. I would send you a picture of it, but dang it I left the bullet laying in the camper at deer camp and thats 240 miles away.

I have heard other hunters mention that the powerbelts with the aero tip do not perform well so that might be what you are hearing about simonkenton.

 

[BIGR]

Great shootin guys, BigV I am a true believer in the Blackhorn 209 also. Looks like it is going to be consistant, and accurate with very little smoke. Clean up is nice too.

BigV, do you have any trouble with eye relief with your Omega? I was studying your picture and was curious. I'Ve got to do something with my Omega, scope set up. Mine still has the iron sights and with the low mounts I can't slide my scope forward much at all. I must say that my T/C Omega is the only rifle that has put a scope mark on my body. 3 times it has cut my nose, except this year it was the worst leaving a nice scar on my nose. Its worse when I am shooting from the bench and I never have had a problem when shooting deer. Think I am going to remove the rear sight (since I don't use it) and then slide the scope forward. Its not fun getting a bloody cut on the nose and yea I do wear safety glasses to protect my eyes.

 

[BigV]

Make sure your scope has plenty of eye relief. I have never had any issues with the scope too close to my eye. I am not sure buy I think I have 2.5” relief. I removed my rear sight as it was touching my scope. I just put the screws back in where the sight was.

 

[darkgael]

GPR

Here's a three shot group that I fired for a contest. Lyman Great Plains Flintlock - 50 cal. PRB. 100 yards.
Unfortunately, the group is supposed to be on the X.

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