Improving my muzzy reach

[amp713]

My first year hunting big game was with a 54 cal patch and round ball and I killed a deer that year and a few more with that gun.

Then the inlines came around. I got a CVA wolf for Christmas one year and still have it. My dad and all his buddies I hunt with quickly went to pre formed pellets and powerbelts for ease of use. None of them have ever been into chasing the precision or efficiency game. If they can shoot it half decent and kill some game they are content.

As I moved to mostly archery I didnt worry about the muzzy stuff much.... then this year I had a multi season elk tag and missed a chip shot on a decent bull. Now this was in no way the guns fault and can be entirely laid at my feet. However it started me down the path of betterment and desire to improve everything rifle based in my life.

This created a bunch or rabbit trails but one of those is improving my current muzzleloaders capabilities. I've finally mounted a scope on it (a take off from another gun as I upgraded scopes down the line). After doing some research myself and talking with the guys at barnes I've picked up some 290 gr spit fire TMZ boat tail sabots to replace the powerbelts. Now I had planned to go to blackhorn 209 powder BUT I have noticed it isnt temperature stable and was curious if anything else out there is a better option or if it is still the "best" option guys are going with.

This gun is going to probably not truly reach "long range" muzzy status. But I want to be able to double my old effective open sight range and honestly I think it shouldnt be hard to do.

Would love to hear feedback and talk muzzy shop!

 

[Ladd]

My first year hunting big game was with a 54 cal patch and round ball and I killed a deer that year and a few more with that gun.

Then the inlines came around. I got a CVA wolf for Christmas one year and still have it. My dad and all his buddies I hunt with quickly went to pre formed pellets and powerbelts for ease of use. None of them have ever been into chasing the precision or efficiency game. If they can shoot it half decent and kill some game they are content.

As I moved to mostly archery I didnt worry about the muzzy stuff much.... then this year I had a multi season elk tag and missed a chip shot on a decent bull. Now this was in no way the guns fault and can be entirely laid at my feet. However it started me down the path of betterment and desire to improve everything rifle based in my life.

This created a bunch or rabbit trails but one of those is improving my current muzzleloaders capabilities. I've finally mounted a scope on it (a take off from another gun as I upgraded scopes down the line). After doing some research myself and talking with the guys at barnes I've picked up some 290 gr spit fire TMZ boat tail sabots to replace the powerbelts. Now I had planned to go to blackhorn 209 powder BUT I have noticed it isnt temperature stable and was curious if anything else out there is a better option or if it is still the "best" option guys are going with.

This gun is going to probably not truly reach "long range" muzzy status. But I want to be able to double my old effective open sight range and honestly I think it shouldnt be hard to do.

Would love to hear feedback and talk muzzy shop!

I've tried them all. BH209 is the way to go. I don't find it difficult with regard to temp sensitivity. I have a 50 cal. muzzle loader I use it in that gives me a 2-inch group at 400 yards. I'm working on a .45 cal. muzzle loader that I hope will do the same and more.

 

[amp713]

I've tried them all. BH209 is the way to go. I don't find it difficult with regard to temp sensitivity. I have a 50 cal. muzzle loader I use it in that gives me a 2-inch group at 400 yards. I'm working on a .45 cal. muzzle loader that I hope will do the same and more.

What bullet are you running and how much powder? What range do you feel it wont perform on game anymore? I'm new to trying to calculate out the effectiveness at distance still.

 

[Ladd]

What bullet are you running and how much powder? What range do you feel it wont perform on game anymore? I'm new to trying to calculate out the effectiveness at distance still.

My current .50 cal. load is a 300 gr Parker Match Hunter in a Remington sabot with 150 gr. (by volume) BH209 which is similar to 4 pellets or 200 gr of Tripple 7. I don't know anything about your CVA but I would say this load is meant only for a magnum muzzle loader. This combo gives me 2385 fps MV and translates to 1605 fps and 1716 ft-lb at 500 yards.

 

[amp713]

My current .50 cal. load is a 300 gr Parker Match Hunter in a Remington sabot with 150 gr. (by volume) BH209 which is similar to 4 pellets or 200 gr of Tripple 7. I don't know anything about your CVA but I would say this load is meant only for a magnum muzzle loader. This combo gives me 2385 fps MV and translates to 1605 fps and 1716 ft-lb at 500 yards.

As I recall this gun (or maybe my dad) said not to run over 150 grains. So it may not be ready for that type of load. But I'll look into it more as I get there! Thanks for the info!

 

[Ladd]

Give the Parker Productions Ballistic Extreme or the Black Max a good look. They may be a good bullet for your rifle. They would be a good alternative to the Barnes, maybe better.

 

[ENCORE]

Not sure where the temperature sensitive came from or why, but if its loaded in an ignition system designed to shoot BH209, its going to go off.
My rifle was loaded for 21hrs at -3° and fired instantly with no hesitation.
84/120grs .060" veggie wad and Arrowhead LRMP

 

[azmetalman]

My first year hunting big game was with a 54 cal patch and round ball and I killed a deer that year and a few more with that gun.

Then the inlines came around. I got a CVA wolf for Christmas one year and still have it. My dad and all his buddies I hunt with quickly went to pre formed pellets and powerbelts for ease of use. None of them have ever been into chasing the precision or efficiency game. If they can shoot it half decent and kill some game they are content.

As I moved to mostly archery I didnt worry about the muzzy stuff much.... then this year I had a multi season elk tag and missed a chip shot on a decent bull. Now this was in no way the guns fault and can be entirely laid at my feet. However it started me down the path of betterment and desire to improve everything rifle based in my life.

This created a bunch or rabbit trails but one of those is improving my current muzzleloaders capabilities. I've finally mounted a scope on it (a take off from another gun as I upgraded scopes down the line). After doing some research myself and talking with the guys at barnes I've picked up some 290 gr spit fire TMZ boat tail sabots to replace the powerbelts. Now I had planned to go to blackhorn 209 powder BUT I have noticed it isnt temperature stable and was curious if anything else out there is a better option or if it is still the "best" option guys are going with.

This gun is going to probably not truly reach "long range" muzzy status. But I want to be able to double my old effective open sight range and honestly I think it shouldnt be hard to do.

Would love to hear feedback and talk muzzy shop!

I cannot attest to temps below freezing but here in Arizona I have never experienced any problems with BH 209 shooting between 35 deg. and 90-100 deg. I like the Barnes 290.

 

[amp713]

How many grains of BH209 do you guys shoot by weight? Not sure how to work up a load on this just yet.

 

[RBanta66]

It's on there website but here are the conversions, first will be volume and second will be weight or grains. 80/56 100/70. 120/84. 130/91. 140/98. 150/105. Hope this helps.

 

[RBanta66]

I shoot the Harvester Muzzleloading Scorpion White lightning 50cal. It is a .430 diameter bullet so it is longer than most. Therefore it carries a higher BC .290 to .300. which is more down range energy. I'm shooting them out of my old Knight Bighorn Magnum getting 1in groups at 150yds. Here are a couple great websites to check out. "North Americas No 1 Muzzleloading website.com" tons of great data. The next one is a article on muzzleloading powder. "Thebiggamehuntingblog.com/Blackhorn-209-vs-777-vs-goex" it's eye opening about Muzzle velocities. Hope these help you in your quest to stretch out your Muzzleloader.

 

[ENCORE]

How many grains of BH209 do you guys shoot by weight? Not sure how to work up a load on this just yet.

With your production rifle, understand that the MAXIMUM charge is 120grs by VOLUME, or 84grs by WEIGHT of BH209. Do not exceed that.

 

[TNTt321]

My current .50 cal. load is a 300 gr Parker Match Hunter in a Remington sabot with 150 gr. (by volume) BH209 which is similar to 4 pellets or 200 gr of Tripple 7. I don't know anything about your CVA but I would say this load is meant only for a magnum muzzle loader. This combo gives me 2385 fps MV and translates to 1605 fps and 1716 ft-lb at 500 yards.

I am getting ready to build a custom magnum 50 for elk. Any idea what max distance you can reach out to with adequate energy for a bull elk with your setup?

 

[Ladd]

500 yards easy with a good bullet from Parker or Arrowhead.

 

[62flint]

500 yards easy with a good bullet from Parker or Arrowhead.

ladd , what muzzle loader are you shooting?

 

[Ladd]

ladd , what muzzle loader are you shooting?

I don’t have one at the moment.