Muzzleloader max (comfortable) range?

[Kwood]

I'm shooting a CVA Optima V2 w/ blackhorn 209 charge of 110gr, and a 250gr Barns w/ sabot.

After dropping the gun on a cheap scope I just bought a nicer Leupold VX-2 scope. My question: How far would you guys comfortably shoot at a deer? Also, how are you guys sighting in your guns? I was thinking I'd get set up 1" high at 100yards with thoughts I could be pretty close to zero at 125yards...

What do you more experienced muzzleloader guys say?


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[Doe Shooter]

'IMO, the first step is to determine how accurate your load combo really is.This will take time. Consecutive shooting heats up a barrel pretty quickly with big charges of powder and blows open groups. IMO the T/C bonded 250 gr. are pretty good. The are a bonded version of Hornady SST. Sabots can affect how well you group. MMP makes sabots exclusively and are pretty good. Harvester crush rib sabots work well for me. Hornady XTP'S always fly good. It is not unreasonable to expect 2" groups @ 100 yds. if you find what your weapon likes. Generally the harder the bullet pushes down the barrel (read tighter fit) the more accurate. You can try a .458 bullet with a .451 type sabot. In my experience solid copper stuff does not obturate enough to get a good gas seal . So there is not a hard and fast answer to your question. Check out Dougs Message Board .They have a great muzzle loading exclusive community who might better help you. Probably guys who shoot your model weapon. Nice people like here. http://dougsmessageboards.proboards.com/ I'm sure you will get help there.

 

[dogdoc]

My limit is 150 yards with my Optima. I shoot 110 gr of loose triple 7. I hate sighting in a ML. Have to wait forever for that barrel to cool down and have to clean it out every 3rd shot. However, I love hunting with the ML. Go back 150 yards and shoot. Then go back 200 yards and shoot. Figure out what your comfortable range is with your gun and load. Only way to know is to shoot it at different distances.

todd

 

[George]

130gr 777 pellets, 300gr barnes expander hollow point, sighted in 1-2" high at 100 at 150yds probably 2-3" low. I had a 150 yard line that I was comfortable with. 110 and 250 should have similar results.

I know guys that shoot 150 and 200 and have 200 yard kills. I'll shoot pumpkins that far but not deer.

This flower petal dropped a big buck on the spot it was neither a spine or shoulder shot but rather a frontal, the petal dropped out of the liver.




G

 

[Doe Shooter]

My limit is 150 yards with my Optima. I shoot 110 gr of loose triple 7. I hate sighting in a ML. Have to wait forever for that barrel to cool down and have to clean it out every 3rd shot. However, I love hunting with the ML. Go back 150 yards and shoot. Then go back 200 yards and shoot. Figure out what your comfortable range is with your gun and load. Only way to know is to shoot it at different distances.

todd

If you have not tried that Blackhorn 209 , you're missing a good thing. Almost like smokeless.

 

[Kwood]

I'm by no means an expert with a muzzle loader, not even a novice.... but I will say blackhorn 209 is the way to go over 777 loose or pellets. I was cleaning every 2-4 shots with 777, more like every 15-20 with blackhorn. That's not an exaggeration either.


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[dogdoc]

If you have not tried that Blackhorn 209 , you're missing a good thing. Almost like smokeless.

Same grain of powder? I will have to check it out.

 

[dogghr]

I won't buy new till I use up old, and that can take a few years with ML. Heck took me forever to use up my black powder. Anyways, don't make it difficult. For my 50 cal, Triple 7 pellets @ 150 gr w/ 270 gr Powerbelt Platinum. Zero 2-2.5 high at 100 and your zero will be at 150. I've shot easily to 275 yds on the range. But you better know your ballistics. Do you Know your drop if you are going to shoot 150+ ??? My 11 pt I shot 2 yrs ago was at 125 yd shot on running deer. Dropped. I've shot my side hammer ML with open iron site ,with loose Pyrodex @ 90 gr and killed deer at 180 yds . My point is...Gotta know your ballistics with any load of rifle or projectile.
Site in swabbing with bore butter, then dry patch, every 3 shots. I put a little lube around base of sabot in my speed loaders for easier hunting in field quick reload.

 

[Doe Shooter]

Same grain of powder? I will have to check it out.

Volume measure. Very clean. Dry patch between shots. Velocity spreads very close. I hunt with a Savage 10ML2,so I use smokeless,but my brother in law started using it when it first came out, and his improvement in velocity and accuracy was amazing. Sub 1" @ 100 yds.

 

[Doe Shooter]

IMO, you really can tell what your max range is until you know how tightly it groups.
IMO a gun that shoots,bench rest 100yd sub 1"---200 yds
2"---150
3"---100
4"---50

 

[j-bird]

I set mine up at zero at 100 yards and try to stay with that as a shooting limit. I shoot a CVA wolf (short barrel) with 230 grain bullet and 100 gr charge (150 gr charge doesn't burn completely and blows powder out the barrel and actually causes accuracy issues). I don't use a range finder when I hunt. I eye-ball it, but this set-up gives me the "error" I need if things are a bit further than I think.

My 2 cents worth is that in MOST cases the gun is more accurate than the shooter. This is why some folks can shoot the same gun better than others. It isn't the gun! How your gun performs in your hands in the same manner as you intend to use it in the field is what will determine your range. Getting a 2" group from a bench or vise at 100 yards is far different than 100 yards off-hand or from a poor rest in the heat of the moment. The gun and load could be very capable at 200 yards or more......but is the shooter?

 

[Doe Shooter]

I set mine up at zero at 100 yards and try to stay with that as a shooting limit. I shoot a CVA wolf (short barrel) with 230 grain bullet and 100 gr charge (150 gr charge doesn't burn completely and blows powder out the barrel and actually causes accuracy issues). I don't use a range finder when I hunt. I eye-ball it, but this set-up gives me the "error" I need if things are a bit further than I think.

My 2 cents worth is that in MOST cases the gun is more accurate than the shooter. This is why some folks can shoot the same gun better than others. It isn't the gun! How your gun performs in your hands in the same manner as you intend to use it in the field is what will determine your range. Getting a 2" group from a bench or vise at 100 yards is far different than 100 yards off-hand or from a poor rest in the heat of the moment. The gun and load could be very capable at 200 yards or more......but is the shooter?

I respectfully believe some bench rest time gives the most important information. If you don't know the best accuracy your weapon is capable of ,under ideal conditions, you can't answer what distance it is ethical to take the shot. Field shooting is different. But if your weapon won't group 6" at 100 yards ,field shooting will only magnify your POI ,and you need to work out your accuracy problem before you shoot at game. I know if I miss it's not the weapon.
Just my opinion.

 

[Elkaddict]

My knights routinely shoot into 11/2" at 100yds. With 250g Barnes Expanders and 150g (3) pellets. I've taken deer and antelope in excess of 200yds and have complete confidence in the performance. I've seen deer shot at 300 yds with this load but velocity had dropped off to the point of limiting expansion. I found sighting in 31/2" gave a 175yd zero. Not all MZ will shoot this well with a 150g charge. The 3 Knights I've worked with all shot this load the same.