Arrowhead smokeless barreled action

Hey fellas,

I'm diving until the world of smokeless muzzleloading soon. Just ordered a barreled action from Luke at arrowhead and want to make sure I'm ordering what I need to get to the performance level I'm expecting.

Built in a defiance outcast with 28" #17 brux contoured on the muzzle end to fit a .875" clamp on from sight. I'm wanting to break the 3000fps mark with 325gr bullets.. this is what was recommended by Luke. I've been reading on here that some of these builds actually have a powder chamber? Is that necessary? If so does Luke do this with his builds?

Lastly I'm not finding h4895 anywhere but I can find n530 which is right there with 4895 in burn rate. Would this powder be acceptable for this build and expectation? Thanks for any help

Great action!

The heavy varmint barrel will easily get you to 3,000fps with 325gr bullets. I'm getting there with the 350gr XLD's from Arrowhead. My barrel isn't a Brux, but a Rock Creek heavy varmint. H4895
I DO NOT have a powder chamber.

Sounds like a hammer! Thanks for the info!

H4895 should be most places you look. It is one of the few powders that has always been on the shelves in NC. I saw 8-10 on the shelf at two different LGS in the last 2 weeks. I have 4 pounds of it for my ML. As for swapping for another powder, that is a Luke question.

Sealesniper said:

H4895 should be most places you look. It is one of the few powders that has always been on the shelves in NC. I saw 8-10 on the shelf at two different LGS in the last 2 weeks. I have 4 pounds of it for my ML. As for swapping for another powder, that is a Luke question.

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It's no where to be going locally to me or online at all unless you want to but it from gunbroker

IMR 4895 works if that helps.

MY bad. I use IMR 4895 and it is readily available.

70ish grains h4198 90ish grains of Benchmark

Really good resource with lots of experienced people.

dodgefreak8 said:

I've been reading on here that some of these builds actually have a powder chamber? Is that necessary?

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Are they "necessary"? No, however I've got an 80gr powder chamber in mine. The powders that I use (Benchmark, IMR 8208 XBR & H4895) all require powder charges MORE than 80 grains using 300 & 325 grain bullets…..which puts the bullet a little ABOVE the chamber. You DO NOT want the bullet inside the chamber the least little bit or you'll have problems. The theory behind powder chambers is that a short, fat powder column will burn more efficiently than a long powder column and result in less "fouling". I'm currently testing that theory .

Not to denigrate any advice given here, but your best bet on it is going to be whatever Luke recommends. He is the expert on them.

dodgefreak8 said:

Hey fellas,

I'm diving until the world of smokeless muzzleloading soon. Just ordered a barreled action from Luke at arrowhead and want to make sure I'm ordering what I need to get to the performance level I'm expecting.

Built in a defiance outcast with 28" #17 brux contoured on the muzzle end to fit a .875" clamp on from sight. I'm wanting to break the 3000fps mark with 325gr bullets.. this is what was recommended by Luke. I've been reading on here that some of these builds actually have a powder chamber? Is that necessary? If so does Luke do this with his builds?

Lastly I'm not finding h4895 anywhere but I can find n530 which is right there with 4895 in burn rate. Would this powder be acceptable for this build and expectation? Thanks for any help

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Is this a .40?

Ninering62 said:

Is this a .40?

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No, all Luke's stuff is .45

Very doable Luke is a great guy to deal with. I could not shoot mine with out a break I tried about 10 shots. That was enough for me. Sent it back and had one installed FYI.