I know
@swat1018 likes to ride me, and I don't feel any need to justify myself to him, he does raise a valid concern. As I sat in the barn watching for deer that didn't show up until it was too late to shoot, I contemplated the question. Do we go back to the range after every miss or bad hit? Actually, for some, depending on their location, range access, and time availability, the answer may be "Yes". There is nothing wrong with that, but for most of us, it is more complicated. Even when I'm at the range trying to shoot groups and have plenty of time to focus on shooting form, and breath control, every now an then, I'll have a flyer. I typically know this even before I look at the target. Something didn't feel right about the shot. Flyers at the range may only be a matter of a few inches off the group, but things are magnified considerably in field conditions.
So, I'll use my missed shot as an example. Why did I feel confident enough to hunt without going back to the range. While equipment failure was certainly possible, why did I deem it unlikely. First, there was a wide range of possibilities that either individually, or in combination, that could contribute to the missed shot.
What do I think was the most likely contributor? My vision. About 5 years ago, I got Pigment Epithelial Detachment (PED) in my right eye. It tore the retina. They tried first to laser it but that failed so I ended up having a cryopexy. This year, I had PED in my left eye. It did not tear the retina this time, but a blood vessel broke. I had floaters from this in the left eye, and then, just coincidently, I got a large floater in my right eye. Under normal conditions, the only real issue I have is with something fast moving like a pickleball. Given the floater in my right eye, the low light at the time, the less than optimal light transmission of the scope, and black reticle, it is quite possible I was not actually using the reticle.
Of course, there are all the normal potential issues with a muzzleloader. I'm pretty finicky about measuring powder. I use a powder dispenser to throw a powder load into a vial, but I tare the vial and weigh the powder, and if it is not within a couple tenths of a grain, I redo it. But of course, there is always room for a mistake there. Did I get all the powder into the funnel when loading? Most likely. Even though I use a sizing die, could have it been bumped the last time I sized bullets? It seemed like the normal fit when I loaded it. Did I seat it properly?
Then you have shooting issues. Even though I was at a bench with bags, did I flinch? Was my adrenaline rushing too much?
While SMLs are notorious for killing scopes, why did I feel that was unlikely? When I first got the muzzleloader, I put a Leupold VX 6 on it with QR rings. During my first season, I dropped the gun and one of the QL leavers got bumped. This caused the gun to spray. Once I found the issue and locked the leaver back down, it was fine. Since I really don't travel to hunt, I really don't need QL rings for any reason. So, when I got the Burris Eliminator 6, I bought heavy duty rings from Hankins. These are monster rings that have 3 torx screws on each side of each ring. It is rock solid. An internal scope failure was possible, but, most of the SML scope killer guns are lighter bolt action guns shooting hotter loads at higher speeds than my Encore. The Hannkins built Encore has a very heavy barrel and wooden stock and forearm. It is by far, my heaviest Encore.
The gun was at the range before the season. After that, it rode in a hard case home and has been sitting in bags on my bench since. So, I see no chance of physical damage. A week or so prior, the firearm and scope were verified with the 244 yard shot that was spot on.
This is just an example of the kind of information that goes into a decision whether to revalidate equipment at the range. Had the next shot, 100 yards at the doe, not been spot on, I defiantly would be headed ot the range.
I hope this stimulates thought in some of the new folks and they find it useful.
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