Physics....... the Laws of Physics....... with each force, there's an equal and opposite force. Therefore, 2,300fps at the muzzle with a 300gr projectile, both rifles would have equal and opposite forces. Law of Physics
Ok, so I literally prove that changing the variables (compound vs crossbow) changes the physics and you disagree. Riddle me this: my gun shots 43 gr of smokeless powder and you might and I mean might get close to that velocity with 120 of BH. What changed and how is it possible? Also, if you took a lit cigarette and touched a pound of black powder with it, you'd be missing a hand. Do the same thing to smokeless powder(most of them/few oddballs out there) and it would fizzle. Please explain why. Your physics say that it should have an equal reaction and the reality is that it doesn't. Not really sure why you're being contrary and misinformed.
With regards to a double charge, no gun is safe and both will either bulge or split. I will agree smokeless is more dangerous if you're using something unique like bullseye powder, but none of the recommeded savage powders are ANYTHING like it.
It is apparent to me that you don't own/like/ or use a sml. If I didn't reload for center for rifles, I'd be a bit scared too.
For the OP, 300 yards is really a bit much for most bp muzzleloaders. Even assuming you can get the accuracy, the drops are steep. The KE is really falling fast as well. Most guys at the gun club are thrilled to shoot 3-4" groups at 100. They always say it's shooting minute-of-deer. Hope you do far better.
Changing the variables, like comparing a lit cigarette and placing it to two different propellants, is exactly that. You changed the variables, not the force. However, the law of physics still apply with force and or velocity. If you take two different charges and they're both sending a projectile at 2,300fps at the muzzle and the projectiles weigh 300grs, the velocity and weight are identical, right? That means that there's an equal and opposite force that is also identical. Physics.
What may feel different is the perceived recoil. If you're shooting identical charges from a 6# rifle compared to a 10# rifle, the velocity (2,300fps) and bullet weight (300grs) are identical, so is force, equal and opposite. Which rifle will seem like it recoils harder? There is less weight in the 6# rifle to help dissipate the equal and opposite force, therefore recoil will be perceived as harder than that of the 10# rifle. Its why heavier recoiling rifles are heavier. Use the same IDENTICAL rifle, say the 10# rifle. In this case, lets use the RU or UF rifles. Either one. If you shoot 180grs of T7 with a velocity of 2,300fps using a 300gr bullet, it will have the same recoil when shooting a heavy charge of BH209 (its approximately 134grs V) at 2,300fps and the same bullet. Yes the burn rates are different, yet the velocity and projectile weight are the same, thus both propellants will still have equal and opposite forces. Its also why the guys are building smokeless muzzleloaders at 14# and adding muzzle brakes.
I'm not saying always, but most production muzzleloaders that are double loaded end up with a bulged or ringed barrel. They rarely explode like a muzzleloader shooting smokeless propellant. Smokeless propellant double loads can open up a barrel as shown in the photo. That's just one of the photos I have, where someone shooting smokeless propellant had a barrel rupture. All it takes is one screw up and the results can be catastrophic.
The RU or UF rifles are VERY capable rifles at 300yds and out to 400yds for whitetail and certainly capable of 300yds for elk, retaining approximately 1,450fps and 1,350fpe w/300gr bullets. That's near what many traditional shooters have at 75 - 100yds hunting elk with a round ball. Now I'm not recommending that ANYONE should be taking 300 or 400yd shots at whitetail, or elk for that matter. Most shooters are not even close to being capable of taking a hunting shot at those ranges. As you indicated, many are pleased with 3" or 4" groups at 100yds. However, there are shooters who can easily make 300yd shots, but they also shoot hundreds of rounds each year at those ranges. With the right person pulling the trigger and developing the load, there's really no reason ANY NEW production muzzleloader can't be capable of MOA at 200yds.
For the record, I've reloaded CF cartridges since the very early 70's. I still load, although not very often, for both the .450 Bushmaster and 30-06. I do though shoot almost four (4) cases of propellant each year through a muzzleloader, and a couple years over 2,000 rounds sent down range. No, I do not own a smokeless muzzleloader, as there's no need to own one. Its also not legal to use during our muzzleloader season. I have no need to have one, just to say I have one. For what I would spend on building a smokeless muzzleloader, I can purchase a lot of propellant and bullets for something that's actually legal to use during the muzzleloading season.
I've pretty much expressed my opinion on a post that wasn't started by me. So I'll refrain from further opinions here. What ever the OP decides, I wish him great luck. Muzzleloading and accurate shooting, especially long range, is addicting.
