Center fire precision VS Muzzleloading

[SPOOK74]

To start out I'm a avid FTR shooter at 1K. So Many of you might know the level of precision that us centerfire reloaders go to.

I just bought a CVA Accura V2 muzzle loader. I have triple 7 pellets, but wanted to try BH 209. I have heard and read great things about BH 209.

So I fill my loading tube up with BH 209 witch is suppose to be 120gr. Now I poor that into my pan and weigh this on my Sartorius GD503. It comes out to be 90.012gr.

So can I go higher? Would you go higher? As all of us know there are signs to look for when near max or over max...when it comes to centerfire. What are the signs in Muzzle loaders? Shooting the 209 primers will they tell the tell? Will the breech be hard to open? Etc Etc...... What do some of you more experinced muzzle loader shooters do?

Thanks in Advance!

 

[ENCORE]

To start out I'm a avid FTR shooter at 1K. So Many of you might know the level of precision that us centerfire reloaders go to.

I just bought a CVA Accura V2 muzzle loader. I have triple 7 pellets, but wanted to try BH 209. I have heard and read great things about BH 209.

So I fill my loading tube up with BH 209 witch is suppose to be 120gr. Now I poor that into my pan and weigh this on my Sartorius GD503. It comes out to be 90.012gr.

So can I go higher? Would you go higher? As all of us know there are signs to look for when near max or over max...when it comes to centerfire. What are the signs in Muzzle loaders? Shooting the 209 primers will they tell the tell? Will the breech be hard to open? Etc Etc...... What do some of you more experinced muzzle loader shooters do?

Thanks in Advance!

I NEVER trust loading tubes or volume measures, rather its BH209 or any other propellant. I've checked every measure I've ever used and found some to be DANGEROUSLY off. One was 30grs heavy.

With BH209 you need to use the conversion of volume to weight provided by Western of .7 The MAXIMUM charge recommended by Western is 120grs VOLUME....... by WEIGHT is 84grs. 120(V) * .7 = 84(W)

Read this entire web site.... Blackhorn 209

So to answer your question about going higher........ NO..... back it down. Beside the extreme pressure, you want to burn all the propellant in the barrel. Incomplete burn will pepper the snow (if you have snow) and in most cases will create a loss of consistent accuracy. You are exceeding the manufacture's recommendation.

I've shot BH209 exclusively since I could get my hands on it and know many muzzleloaders who shoot it, many that shoot here with me. In just about all cases, the most consistently accurate loads for tight groups and for most models, is running between 100grs (V) and 110grs (V). Using the conversion, this when used as weight runs 70grs (W) to 77grs (W). I do know of a couple guys that shoot the maximum charge of 120grs VOLUME (84grs weight) and still retain groups. This however is NOT the norm.

I've always used Western's conversion number and loaded BH209 by weight. I shoot 75grs (W) exactly. This load is capable of giving me 1/4" groups at 100yds, 3/4" groups at 150yds and less than 2" groups at 200yds consistently. That is if I can do my part.

More is not always better with a muzzleloader. I've had muzzleloaders in the past, that with just 5grs difference in powder, would take a 3" group to a 1" group. Each one, regardless if of the same model, can be a little finicky. I'd suggest you read the entire web site for Western and BH209. You need the proper breech plug to consistently ignite BH209, it cleans up with Hoppe's and not water and you'll also need a few other pointers, such as a drill bit to clean the flash hole of carbon. I'd back down on that charge to start also.

Frontier Gander will chime in later and will give you some advice on your CVA.

 

[SPOOK74]

Encore,
Thank you for that very imformative post. The info will help a lot Thank You!!

 

[ENCORE]

Encore,
Thank you for that very imformative post. The info will help a lot Thank You!!

Happy to help if I can. Been at it a long time. Good luck finding the load and combination for tight groups!

 

[FrontierGander]

Cleaning your new Muzzleloader Part 1
Cleaning your new Muzzleloader - YouTube

Part 2
Part Two: Cleaning your new muzzle loader - YouTube

Blackhorn209 breech plug installation
Blackhorn209 Breech Plug Installation - YouTube

Cleaning Blackhorn209 fouling
Cleaning Blackhorn209 - YouTube

And this is just a range report. I'd suggest a 250gr Barnes TEZ with 110gr Volume Blackhorn209.
CVA Accura V2 Sight In - YouTube

 

[SPOOK74]

Thanks for the videos Frontier. I have not shot the rifle yet, but I did break the rifle down and give it a good cleaning very simple to disassemble and reassemble.

As much as I have read about the Bergara barrels I was at least interested in checking out the barrel. So I inspected the barrel with my Hawkeye borescope. I was impressed with what I seen. It may not be one of my Brux's barrels but yes very nice. The rifling is very uniformed and it appears that the barrel has been lapped unless it's a hammer fored barrel?? Never the less. I was impress with the looks of the Barrel. We will see how well it shoots next week once I get a day off work to shoot a bit.

Again Thanks for the info guys.