Or how I almost fell off my chair at the range today!
Given a really nice day here in NH, I packed my muzzleloader and chrony up to the range before work this afternoon. I decided I was going to try to find a solution to my big-huge-box-o'-stuff for my muzzleloading. One bullet, one propellant, n'more!
So I chrony'ed some loads (my rifle is a 20" T/C Encore) and here's the results:
1) 110gr Goex FFg, 240gr Mag Express sabot. Holy smokes!! I forgot how to handle recoil shooting my "rat rifle" that last few weeks. Big ball of fire, smoke, noise. Sort of fun, indifferent 100-yard accuracy, but could have just been me anticipating. Average speed: 1570-fps (roughly).
2) 2 Triple Seven pellets, 250gr Shockwave Superglide sabot combo. I've tried to find someway to use the pellets. Quite a few people tell me, "Why would you buy that rifle and then not use sabots?" Duh! If I wanted shotgun patterns, I'd shoot buckshot. Again, not super consistent accuracy-wise, and again, probably me. Average speed: about the same as Goex load above.
3) 95gr Pyrodex RS, 240gr Mag Express sabot. I originally intended to lay-to-rest my buddy's claim that Pyro is hotter than BP. I always told him "No way." Well, unless I did something to my chrony, he's right. This load also "grouped" the best, with 5 shots within 6". Of course, if I throw away the low shot (#2), the remaining group of 4 is a decent 3.5". Average speed: 1734-fps!! Smokin'!!
I think that settles it. I'm loading 95gr of Pyrodex, a 240gr Mag Express, getting the rifle zeroed and calling it ENOUGH!! The rest of the stuff in my range box (sabots, powders, etc) can be left in a dark corner now. Finally. Of course, now I need to get on the horn with TC and get the proper height front sight ordered up, for this load was shooting a little low at 100.
So much for pellets, fancy bullets and super-special sabots. It's cheap, it shoots well and is readily available at all local stores. What more can you want? (Other than venison in the freezer, but we won't worry about that this year methinks. )
Given a really nice day here in NH, I packed my muzzleloader and chrony up to the range before work this afternoon. I decided I was going to try to find a solution to my big-huge-box-o'-stuff for my muzzleloading. One bullet, one propellant, n'more!
So I chrony'ed some loads (my rifle is a 20" T/C Encore) and here's the results:
1) 110gr Goex FFg, 240gr Mag Express sabot. Holy smokes!! I forgot how to handle recoil shooting my "rat rifle" that last few weeks. Big ball of fire, smoke, noise. Sort of fun, indifferent 100-yard accuracy, but could have just been me anticipating. Average speed: 1570-fps (roughly).
2) 2 Triple Seven pellets, 250gr Shockwave Superglide sabot combo. I've tried to find someway to use the pellets. Quite a few people tell me, "Why would you buy that rifle and then not use sabots?" Duh! If I wanted shotgun patterns, I'd shoot buckshot. Again, not super consistent accuracy-wise, and again, probably me. Average speed: about the same as Goex load above.
3) 95gr Pyrodex RS, 240gr Mag Express sabot. I originally intended to lay-to-rest my buddy's claim that Pyro is hotter than BP. I always told him "No way." Well, unless I did something to my chrony, he's right. This load also "grouped" the best, with 5 shots within 6". Of course, if I throw away the low shot (#2), the remaining group of 4 is a decent 3.5". Average speed: 1734-fps!! Smokin'!!
I think that settles it. I'm loading 95gr of Pyrodex, a 240gr Mag Express, getting the rifle zeroed and calling it ENOUGH!! The rest of the stuff in my range box (sabots, powders, etc) can be left in a dark corner now. Finally. Of course, now I need to get on the horn with TC and get the proper height front sight ordered up, for this load was shooting a little low at 100.
So much for pellets, fancy bullets and super-special sabots. It's cheap, it shoots well and is readily available at all local stores. What more can you want? (Other than venison in the freezer, but we won't worry about that this year methinks. )