New Accura and BH209 all weekend

[rc2125]

Prettymuch spent the whole weekend shooting muzzleloaders off and on, testing/comparing loads, chrono, groups,etc. Was in the 50's with 5 to 10 for wind. Went thru two jugs of BH209, 60 barnes mz's/tmz's, 20 powerbelts and some hornady fpb's. Quickly learned that the "muzzleloading" primers don't reliably ignite BH powder, had several misfires, quickly changed to standard winchester 209's and had zere failures after that.
Ran loads from 70gr (all weighed, not by volume) up to 84gr and inbetween with the various bullets/sabots I had on hand.

Got this decent group with barnes originals, 250gr w/black sabots, 71gr BH, 1892fps avg, 100yds:

Much faster, and they opened up a bit, tried 75 & 80gr.
The originals always group'd a tad better than the yellow sabot tmz's.

Gave the hornady 300gr fpb's a try, they did't do to good at 71,75 or 80gr, didn't look promising:


*(71gr 1800fps avg, didn't write down 75 or 80gr fps)

Powerbelt platinum 270's:
71gr, 1785fps avg, 100yds


75gr, 1872fps avg, 100yds


chrono'd one w/80gr, 1933fps
Jumped up to 85gr, 2018fps avg:


3 shots at 200, aiming at bottom edge of orange dot to check drop:

(*shot with 100yd dead-on zero)


portable shooting deck, with 200yd target in background:


With all that shooting, it only took like 3 patches to rid the bore of black, ran a few more to make it absolutely spotless at the end of each day. The breech plug unscrewed with two fingers, no resistance whatsoever and not a bit of black in the threads.
Really happy with this ML, shoots alright, has a fantastic trigger and cleaned up quick thanks to the BH209!

[tdillinger]

I like your report, I also like BH209. Imo they are they best you can get to date for a black powder Sub. I sent them a muzzle loader a year ago to play with which they disliked very much but they got it shooting 3/4 inch groups at 100. Plus there is so much less to clean; a very good powder. I also like your portable test bench..

[smokepole50]

How do you like your new Accura? I think they are a very good ML for the money.

I just fired my new Accura w/Bergera barrel today. I loaded up some 275gr Parker BE bullets in some MMP-24 sabots in front of BH209 and Win 209 primers. I started off at 80 gr weighed and the first two shots at 25 yards to adjust the scope, cut the same hole. After I got the scope close to the bullseye I backed up to 100 yards and jumped the powder load up to 85gr weighed. The recoil was about like my 3 1/2 Mossberg Turkey gun and I can handle that for a hunting situation. The groups were not as good, maybe 2 inches but the wind was blowing bad at 15-20 mph the whole time so I did not waste to much powder and lead. I'll take it out again tomorrow and dial her in better. Hopefully the PBE bullets will fly like I want them to but I may need a tighter fitting sabot or a lighter 250 gr bullet. The MMP slid down the barrel like it was greased. I love BH209, it is so nice not to have to wet and dry patch for every shot to get good accuracy. Hopefully I can work up a holes touching load at 100 yards, that's my goal.

Smokepole50

[rangeball]

Smokepole50, from what I've read the bergara's are pretty spot on spec at .500 across the lands. The parkers are only .4505, and the MMP-24s are a thinner wall as well. From how you state they loaded, I bet you'd find better success with a tighter fitting sabot like the mmp-12 or short blacks. If you don't have these you could try knurling the parkers up a few thousandths.

[smokepole50]

Thanks Rangeball.

That makes sense because last year I was trying to work up a load with my T/C Black Diamond and the Parker BE bullets. The Black Diamond had always wanted a tight fitting sabot/bullet combo to shoot well and I had been using the Hornady 300gr SST and 300gr Harverster bullets with good success and acceptable accuracy. I however, had discovered the PBE bullets and was trying to improve long range accuracy with them and found that the MMP-24 sabots would not work well with the PBE in the T/C Balck Dia. and had to use Knight HP sabots with the PBE to get them to shoot well. I have a few of the Knight HP sabots left, maybe I'll give them a whirl until I can get some thicker MMP sabots ordered.

Thanks for the advice,

Smokepole50

[rc2125]

Oct 7, 2010 15:53:53 GMT -5 smokepole50 said:

How do you like your new Accura? Smokepole50

So far, so good. Comparing it to the many nice ML's I've had in the past, T/C's, rem's, savages, etc, this accura has quickly became my favorite.