Not trying to boast, but worth reporting.

[artjr338wm]

Was gifted with a unexpected oportuninty to go shooting again and took it. Shot three different loads out of my 10ML-II, but in the end my new favorite load was once again the best of the lot. The load in question is the same one I reported on in a thread still up on this forum. The one pioneered by Wilmsmeyer as fallows:

Hornady .458" 325 grain FTX
68 grains of H-4198
Harvester Black CR Sabot
Fed 209a

Considering this is a muzzleloader the accuracy of this load after now having shot over a dozen 3-shot 100yrd groups is a 100% BS free, honest 1.2" Yes there are more than a few MOA and sub MOA groups, but I would be guilty of being less than truthful if I claimed these groups were the norm. In MY humble opinion this is very good just short of excellent because of the fallowing fact. I placed my last four 3-shot 100yrd groups (groups shot after I dialed in final zero) one atop the other and the holes line up so closely you can push a pencil through any one of the three holes with out tearing the paper more.

I concede this is likely not a 300+ yard load, (it might be but I don't have the info to confirm it) but for distances of under 300 yards this is a superb deer killing load.

For those looking for a load that is easy to develop and requiers little time, effort and cost, the components of which are cheap, and easy to come by, capable of not just fine accuracy but consistant repetable accuracy, has a MPBR of 225 yards (thanks again Wilms) and will cleanly kill ANY animal in North America and I'm guessing most of the rest of the world as well, you can't go wrong with .458/325 FTX, H-4198 and Harvester CR sabots.

Like I said I'm not trying to boast, but simply share what is a excellent performing deer/elk/moose load that is dirt simple to develope, and the credit of it's origin belongs to Wilmsmeyer.

[Deleted]

It doesn't matter if it's not a 300 yard load.
When it consistently shoots that great at 100 yards, that's all that matters!
Congrats!

[dannoboone]

But perhaps it IS a 300yd load. Some may remember
Ozark pointing out that with any group, the POI will
be half of what a person's group has been. He
argued that if a person had a 1 1/2" group average
at 100yds, your POI would be within 3/4" of POA.

In this case, POI will be .6" from POA @ 100yds,
1.2" @ 200yds, and 1.8" @ 300yds. Is that good
enough to trust making a humane shot at that
300yds.? (Yes, one needs to factor in the drop,
but still.....)

[artjr338wm]

I just got done running the numbers at Hornady's ballistic program (stumbled across it today), if the data is correct and if I do my part, it easily has the capability to be a 300 yard load, BUT 300 yards would be it's max. The only down side I can see at this point is if My 10ML-II keeps performing like it has been, it will be extremely difficult for me NOT to use the 10ML-II as my one and only deer hunting rifle forcing my slug rifles into semi retirement. Especially if I'm likely to encounter shots beyond 150 yards, which happens more often than not.

[Deleted]

Don't be afraid to hang the sluggers up, you won't need that second shot anymore!

[Richard]

Art.................I have also developed a number of loads with XTP's and Sierra Pistol bullets in the 300 gr. range that will day in and day out shoot five shot bug holes at 100 yards but will not hold up consistently at 200 and 300? They all would be capable of 6 or 7" at 300 which should be deer good. Probably your 325 FTX's would do much better but of course testing is the only real way to tell.
Very good results!
Richard

[deadeye]

art- I love success & as Richard & others advised 300yds is a matter of testing/I think it will be successful there as well but not much further/1 way to find out!

great shooting & enjoy your reports!-keep up the great work!/thx for sharing.

[mrbuck]

That is some fine shooting ! I will give that combo a try this Spring .