Tips for setting up muzzle loader for 300 yds.

[DJ Fergus]

We only have a little less than a week long muzzle loader season, so I don't want to invest just a ton of money into this. I have a cheap traditions 50 cal 28 twist muzzle loader and several scopes laying around to put on it. My goal is to be able to consistently hit a 12" gong @ 300 yards. Is this a reasonable endeavor to try for whitetail @ no more than 300 yds with the muzzle loader I have? I'm not going to buy another muzzle loader. I will set my scope for dialing elevation turret for distance.

Suggestions for propellant, projectiles, etc....?

 

[sourdough44]

I could just leave it at 'get closer', cut the distance. Even with more open cover, certain edges, corners, & fence lines are better than others. That's how bow hunters score.

I hunt with a tricked out Knight Elite, 45 cal at 2218 FPS. I really don't want to shoot past 150 yards, yes it can be done. I've seen hunters flub shots inside of 100 yards, easily done under field conditions.

Are we talking a side-lock with Pyrodex(or similar) powder? If so, get closer. This one was shot at 125, went about 40 yards afterwards. Many M-L projectiles start out under 2000 FPS, off by 50 yards on estimated distance & the planned trajectory will be wrong. Unless one spends time, then rang finds everything I don't see 300 yards being reliable. Even for the most tricked out M-L it would be a challenge, then you have to recover the deer, not just wound it.

 

[Darktimber]

With a standard break action muzzleloader, I would say 200yds is a more reasonable goal.

I'm shooting a 50 cal cva accura, Leupold ultimate slam scope. it shoots 3" 3 shot groups at 200yds. Using 90gr. of blackhorn 209 by weight with a 250gr. Traditions saboted bullet.

It smoked this buck at 193yds quartering away slightly. The bullet was recovered under the off side hide right behind the shoulder. Recovered the buck about 75yds away

 

[DJ Fergus]

I could just leave it at 'get closer', cut the distance. Even with more open cover, certain edges, corners, & fence lines are better than others. That's how bow hunters score.

I hunt with a tricked out Knight Elite, 45 cal at 2218 FPS. I really don't want to shoot past 150 yards, yes it can be done. I've seen hunters flub shots inside of 100 yards, easily done under field conditions.

Are we talking a side-lock with Pyrodex(or similar) powder? If so, get closer. This one was shot at 125, went about 40 yards afterwards. Many M-L projectiles start out under 2000 FPS, off by 50 yards on estimated distance & the planned trajectory will be wrong. Unless one spends time, then rang finds everything I don't see 300 yards being reliable. Even for the most tricked out M-L it would be a challenge, then you have to recover the deer, not just wound it.
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I would definitely be using a range finder for all shots and practicing regularly to 300 yards off of a bipod & hunting from a bipod will rear rest. U figured if I could get under 2 moa @ 100 yds it's possible that I could stay under 10" at 300 but I haven't ran the numbers on retained energy @ 300. It may not be enough. I'm going to buy some 270 great federal bore lock bullets I'm going to give a try.

 

[26Reload]

I have my knight ultra lite set up with an adjustable peep and marked out to over 250yds.."was" shooting homemade lead a lot...to get to moadeer
It takes a lot of practice and components.....lucky I found dirt banks yo shoot into..recycled some of my lead...
Doubt I could hit 10" at 100 at moment....

 

[DJ Fergus]

I was going to set this muzzleloader up for my son, but after trying a couple of different bullets & charges.... I think he could do better with his bow. He's really good with it. I just don't want to put any more time into the muzzle loader.

 

[Highvoltage]

Try some blackhorn powder and use patience. Blackhorn gives higher muzzle velocities than normal pyrodex. Call your muzzleloader manufacture and see what they recommend. I believe I'm using the 250 sst if I remember correctly. You can dial your load in very similar to working a load with a rifle because your measuring your powder charge. Best part is the blackhorn doesn't need to be cleaned as often as pyrodex so you can run through a whole load development without cleaning. 12" at 300 is very feasible with a decent scope and today's technology. I did this a few years back to go to ohio and without much work I was 2-2.5" at 200 yds. I bet with another day trip to the range I may have been able to shrink that even more. I use a 2-7 leupold. Best wishes

 

[kevin0270]

look into prbullets.com. The have some different bullet options.If your gun has the right scope,base and ring combo and the right bullet and powder load it is doable.I try to get inside 200 yards whenever I can.. I would also check out arrowhead muzzleloaders.Good luck