............I've been shooting the regular pyrodex pellets. 2 pellets (100 grains) under TC Shockwave 250 grn bullets. All of these, gun, bullets, and pellets are what I'd call less than precision components, but it shoots 5" groups at 300 yards. So I thought by weighing powder and switching to one of the supposed better bullets like a Barnes that maybe I can squeeze her down to say 4" at 300 and have a fair long range muzzleloader. This one seems to be a real shooter for what it is.
IMO if you want long range accuracy from a production muzzleloader, loose is the way to go. I've read many posts where shooters have shot through chronographs many rounds with pellets and the differences in fps is considerable. Then these same shooters shot WEIGHED loose powder through the chronograph with very little difference in fps. Although there are other variables involved, such as bullet seating force, with the difference in pellets vs loose powder and fps, loose weighed definitely gives better consistency.
The Shockwave can be a very accurate bullet and I've shot a few myself but, found that performance on game didn't meet my standards. Although they're a reasonably priced bullet and in most rifles can be very accurate, I've seen some that have exploded, where others haven't expanded properly. Lots of guys shoot them and their different colored tip twin, the SST, both made by Hornady.
Now don't quote me on this but, I believe with centerfire shooters, that they really don't have concerns shooting a BT or Spitzer out to 200yds, with neither bullet having the edge. Its the ranges beyond 200yds where the BT starts to have the edge. With the muzz, I'm looking for ANY contributing factor that might add even the slightest improvement, which is why I shoot the Barnes 250gr TMZ, which is a BT. How much of an edge is gives, really isn't important if it gives even the slightest edge. There's no question on its reliability and performance on game.
Here's some examples of Shockwave performance.
Barnes performance....
