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Post by smj617 on Nov 20, 2009 16:38:04 GMT -5
What is acceptable accuracy from an inline .45 muzzleloader at 100 yds? Im shooting a scoped CVA magnum kodiac with 275gr powerbelt bullets and 150 grains of 777 preformed powder. I cant get this thing to shoot under 6" groups.
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Post by jmarriott on Nov 20, 2009 18:30:53 GMT -5
I have to admit to being a rather novice smoke pole shooter :::::::::but back off the powder to 100 grains and see if the groups improve. Just because a gun will handle a large powder load does not always mean that big charge is going to be the most accurate. I bet it will shoot better with 100 or even 80 grains of 777 than 150.
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Post by jimiowa on Nov 20, 2009 18:31:46 GMT -5
Never Have shot an inline, myself, Though there is a Ruger 77/50 in my closet that belongs to my son(Suppose I should shoot it at least once just to prove I'm not totally predjudiced?). I prefer Tradional and regular Black powder. Bailey bought two boxes of those pellets and complained of the same. I told him to take the other unopened pack back and get granulated powder and gave him a cheap powder measure I had bought at Walmart on clearance(that way he could taylor the powder charge for accuracy). I told him to start at 75 grns and go up 5 grns till it shot good groups and quit when he was satisfied(but not exceed mfg reccomendation). I'll have to ask him what he settled on? Which he did He is also using 777 and no longer has any complaints. At least he gets a deer every year with it, so I guess he's happy with it. I don't think the pellets ignite uniformally causing the accuracy problems?. An unfounded and tested theory of mine is whatever bonding agent is used to make pellets muddles everything up. For all I know They may be having these assembled in Northern Missourri by a bunch of tobacco chewers and their using good ol N Missouri Twist(not everyone knows N Missouri is somewhat famous for it's twist) tabaccy juice for bonding.(777 is made by Hogdon if I remember Right?)  Same reason I refuse to use Charcoal Briquetts in my grill and smoker. I use only hardwood charcoal(Royal Oak brand). |
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Nov 20, 2009 19:41:38 GMT -5
Yeah, get the loose powder (after the new year at walmart) and a 5 dollar measurer. You'll save a ton of money real fast - probably buy an entire pound for what 20 shots cost.
I would think with a scope you should have no problem getting 3-4" with a couple different bullets.
Powerbelt appears not to be it, but I would back it off to 90 or 100 to see.
Furthermore, I don't have very high expectations of powerbelts on deer sized animals. There are WAY TOO MANY reports of those things blowing up. I'd be looking at the 300 or better yet the 348grain bullets. Oops...you have a 45cal. The 275's are the heaviest bullets (unless you get the platnium series) so they would obvouisly be my choice. Don't you dare go lighter! Try 90 grains and see what happens.
Again, I forgot you have a 45. That being said, I would agree on shooting full caliber bullets. Unfortunatly there aren't a whole lot of choices aside from the powerbelt line. The next step would be the T/C maxi-hunter and maxi-ball (in that order). If you had to, then I'd move on to the 40caliber pistol bullets.
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Post by smj617 on Nov 20, 2009 21:32:40 GMT -5
Why not lighter? I was thinking of dropping down to 225gr. The ballistic info shows it even flies flatter than the 275gr. I have had no problems with the powerbelts blowing up. I have killed a few deer under 50 yrds with the 275gr with no problems. I put the scope on thinking I could start taking deer out to 150 yrds or so but with 6" groups I wont even attempt that far of a shot.
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Post by deputydon on Nov 20, 2009 21:41:43 GMT -5
I think jimiowa & jmarriott both have good advice for you!!!!
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Nov 20, 2009 21:43:33 GMT -5
If you haven't had a problem, go ahead and try it. Traditionally the bullets have had substantially lower reviews than other reputable bullets on the market - the vast majority of the negative reviews have been with 0 penetration. By going lower, all that does is increase the likelyhood of that happening. There's about 200 reviews of the areo tip and hollow point. Many are quite disturbing (if true). www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?cmCat=MainCatcat20712-cat20720&id=cat200005I remember when the bullets first came out, they were all over the TV shows being promoted. I saw an elk hunt and they were using a 45cal powerbelt. They honest to god shot that elk 5 or 6 times in the chest before it finally died. After seeing that, I vowed never to take a second look at them.  So in a way, I may very well be biased. I'd rather be 1" higher at 100 yards and know the bullet will work properly. |
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Post by smj617 on Nov 20, 2009 21:55:19 GMT -5
Point taken. Any other bullets you recommend? I would really like to keep using the powder though, due to the ease of use, but I would consider loose powder as a last resource.
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Post by jimiowa on Nov 20, 2009 22:13:26 GMT -5
I talked to Bailey a few minutes ago. He's using 85 grn's 777 with the 50 cal Powerbelt sabots.
Remember that's a Ruger 77/50 he's shooting.
I have always had good luck and found Hogdons data to be real reliable. So in the 45 I would start with whatever charge they reccomend and work from there. They have them written right on the bottle.
I can see no reason a .225 would not be more than adequate.
It's significantly heavier than the 45 ball I shoot.
I wonder if the guys who have had powerbelts blow up were driving them faster than optimum velocity the manufacturer designed them for?
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Nov 20, 2009 22:17:22 GMT -5
Good point on the velocity. I would argue they should of been made better though.  Fair enough on the powder, I won't hound you about it ;D If I had a 45cal, I'd be using (or at least trying) the Thompson Center maxi-hunters. They make sense to me, but 50 yards is generally a long shot for me. They are not built to buck the wind, but who knows they might shoot well in your gun. If you want a serouis long range 45cal gun for 150-175 shots, then you might look at different powerbelts. As long as you have good experiences, continue to experiment with their line of products. Some of the 40cal sabots are probably worth looking at as well. Offhand, the hornady 200gr SST would come to mind. I'm just trying to think of something round nose or balistic tip since the plan is shoot long distance. |
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Nov 25, 2009 21:30:18 GMT -5
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bounce
Royal Member
Posts: 5,727
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Post by bounce on Nov 26, 2009 5:03:01 GMT -5
Get some swiss black powder, a lee mold. spg lube, and a .45 cal milk carton cards to stick on the base of the bullet, should get you 2" at 100yds. Or buy you a tradisonal Round ball muzzy. Many peaple can't figure the powder & power out?? .45 cal +70 gr. powder = 45-70
and so on 45-90 or 45-110 a very powerfull gun so when your 45-150 or above your hunting something exteint for 60 million years, DD does this all the time. LOL. You should see his trophy room.
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Post by deputydon on Nov 26, 2009 8:21:36 GMT -5
Get some swiss black powder, a lee mold. spg lube, and a .45 cal milk carton cards to stick on the base of the bullet, should get you 2" at 100yds. Or buy you a tradisonal Round ball muzzy. Many peaple can't figure the powder & power out?? .45 cal +70 gr. powder = 45-70 and so on 45-90 or 45-110 a very powerfull gun so when your 45-150 or above your hunting something exteint for 60 million years, DD does this all the time. LOL. You should see his trophy room. Bounce I don't recommend my loads for anyoneelse's guns. remember I have custom made rifles buildt to withstand heavy loads. Orginally I had the rifled .62 caliber made by 2M's so I could take it Elk hunting in Colorado where shooting was sometimes long-range. "Big Thunder" does work well on deer too w/ my longest witnessed kill being 275 paces on a whitetail. I don't know if my eyes are that good anymore I KNOW the rifle is. But I don't think people should put heavy loads in OTC rifles. JMHO |
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bounce
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Post by bounce on Nov 26, 2009 9:05:13 GMT -5
DD anymore they are avertiseing 150 gr. loads on inlines, but you know the experance most have with black powder, nota bit. If they would just realise that a 50cal. with 150gr powder was and is more than a 50-140 sharps bigger than quiglys 45-120 sharps they just may begin to understand their over kill?  ? maybe? |
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Post by Bubba on Nov 26, 2009 20:25:39 GMT -5
I shoot a Thompson Center TRIUMPH™ in .50 Cal., with Weather Shield™ Barrel and Composite Stock topped with a Nikon 3 X 9 X 40 Prostaff scope. I've been shooting Hornady 250 grain sabot bullets with 150 grains of TC pyrodex pellets ... the last time I shot I grouped 5 in a 4" circle at 100 yards at the 12 o'clock position about 1" high. I haven't shot it in a year so I've got to go out again soon and make sure it's still on for our January season but I'm sure it will shoot the same.
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? maybe?