Muzzle loader that accuate to 300 yards

[enigma]

I want to buy a new muzzle loader I seen muzzle loader scopes that look like you can shoot 300 yards with them with the lines.I want to use it for deer hunting.I first thought may a T/C omega, triumph, or get a barrel for my T/C encore but I've read that the end is to small to push the bullet down or lots of problems with it.So now I'm looking or hear what other people have to say?But I need a muzzle loader that can shoot 300 yards

[GMB54-120]

If 300yards is a must, i would consider a smokeless 45cal barrel for your Encore from SMI or maybe PacNor. It would be the easiest way to reach the 300 without a rainbow trajectory.

[wilmsmeyer]

Do not rule out a quality BP inline. With BH 209 you can just about duplicate book smokeless speeds with good 300 gr bullets. I'm talking 2200 fps. One of the standard, tried and true, 300 yd loads is the Barnes Original at that speed in the Savage.

However, smokeless is also a great option

[screwbolts]

I totally agree with Wilms, and I shoot smokeless but still have family and friends shooting BH209, we practice all the way to 300 all year round. 297 yards to the far bank of my brothers pond.

Ken

[grouse]

Both the 45 and the 50cal Knight Disc Elite's would be a great choice with BH209. You might also want to wait and see what Knight comes out with this January as well.

BTW- You do your part, they will do there's at 300yds.

[GMB54-120]

A Knight in 52cal would also be tough to beat if you dont mind sabot selection. Hitting something at 300 yards and the bullet having enough fpe left for an ethical kill/performance would be the question. I seriously doubt you can shoot a 300gr bullet at 2200fps in a 50cal and stay within the max load data for the rifle and BH209 powder. Exceeding that data it may be possible but then my choice would be with an Elite 45 and a high BC 200gr bullet.

[grouse]

The 52cal LRH

Powder- 120grns by volume BH209
Bullet- .458 300grn Lehigh
Sabot- Grey MMP Knight sabot
Primer- Fed209A
MV- 1910 fps
100yd velocity- 1601 fps
200yd velocity- 1348 fps

In the Knight Rifles owners manual it clearly states 150grns of loose powder by volume is okay with 300grn and 375grn bullets in the 52cal. Now you can call western Powders and see were BH209 is pressure wise versus 777 so you know how much more powder you can use.

[GMB54-120]

Im beginning to really like the performance of the 458 325gr FTX and 120gr for long range use. It isnt that flat but man it hits hard and recoil is not that bad. The bullet also appears to perform well for the price. I get them for 35 cent each at gun shows.

[grouse]

Dec 27, 2010 12:15:14 GMT -5 GMB54-120 said:

Im beginning to really like the performance of the 458 325gr FTX and 120gr for long range use. It isnt that flat but man it hits hard and recoil is not that bad. The bullet also appears to perform well for the price. I get them for 35 cent each at gun shows.

gmb54120, I shot 5 Deer with FTX bullets and will never ever use one again. The 325grn bullet seems pretty big for Deer but would like to hear about your results on game with them

[GMB54-120]

I normally dont care for them either (on game) but quite a few people have used 458 325gr FTX even at smokeless speeds. So far not a single report of a failure upto at least 2200fps.

[zakjak221]

Grouse,

Why won't you use the 325's again? Too big for deer?

Mark

[grouse]

Dec 27, 2010 14:05:04 GMT -5 zakjak221 said:

Grouse,

Why won't you use the 325's again? Too big for deer?

Mark

No my fault, i have never used the 325grn FTX. I have used the 250grn FTX with horrible results on game. Though i will say very accurate in all my ML'S.

[wilmsmeyer]

Grouse,

See my post on the 325 FTX in the smokeless section. 13 hair tests. IMO a great bullet for deer....then again what bullet over 300 grs isn't?

[petev]

Wilms post is called "The new favorite bullet - 50 cal guns", by the way. Very interesting bullet and results.

[spaniel]

While makers may brand a line of bullets, each weight is its own animal and should be treated and evaluated on game as such. The 325gr has a lot more length to it for diameter than the 250gr.

I don't know how you could put a bullet through a harder test on a whitetail deer, this one went in the front and nearly came out the back from just across a narrow drainage ditch (10 yds?). Obviously it held together very, very well. MV was 1950 fps over 130gr 777.


It lost a few grains when it hit the burger grinder blades, I found it in the back ham. True retained weight was probably 280-300gr.



The same rifle has shot good groups to 500 yards with that load. I also took a deer at something like 150 yds and a coyote at 110 yds, quite excellent performance on both. I would still be shooting it with smokeless if not for the need to shoot it sabotless in a 45 and the extreme recoil it would generate at roughly 2400 fps.

That said, virtually any muzzleloader to which a scope can be mounted is capable of taking deer at 300 yards. The limiting factor is most often the knowledge and ability of the nut behind the butt. Simply buying a gun and topping it with a BDC reticle scope is not going to do it. I've taken deer to 338 yds, half a dozen 300+, with inlines but I have target turret scopes, a shooting-verified drop chart on my stock and a 400 yd range to practice on regularly. Once a load is developed and scope zeroed I do the majority of my shooting at 300+.

[sqezer]

I really like the way you wrote your report, especially the last paragraph. One can not practice enough in my opinion.

[savagebeast]

Dec 27, 2010 9:59:32 GMT -5 GMB54-120 said:

A Knight in 52cal would also be tough to beat if you dont mind sabot selection. Hitting something at 300 yards and the bullet having enough fpe left for an ethical kill/performance would be the question. I seriously doubt you can shoot a 300gr bullet at 2200fps in a 50cal and stay within the max load data for the rifle and BH209 powder. Exceeding that data it may be possible but then my choice would be with an Elite 45 and a high BC 200gr bullet.

I'm with you, I have my doubts that the BH-209 with a 300gr bullet in a 50cal can get you to 2200fps. Even if you do increase the powder charge past 120 most are reporting anything above 130 goes un-burned. In any case you better get real intimate with your rifle to make a 300yd shot.

[sqezer]

One way to find out if your burning all the powder you pour down the barrel is to do some shooting over a fresh snow or a large piece of white cardboard. You'll be surprised with what you'll see. When I first started out with the big hype of shooting 150 gr. I was surprised what lay-ed on the snow out in front of me.