200 yard gun

SCOTT78 · 05-07-2006, 12:39 PM

I am looking for an accurate inline muzzleloader for hunting whitetail deer in iowa. What gun hasgood accuracyout to 200 yards?

Redclub · 05-07-2006, 12:48 PM

Hard to beat a Savage at 200 yards,This is with smokeless of course. Don't know if its legal where you are.
Ken

hardcorehunter · 05-07-2006, 01:26 PM

Yea it is legal in IA. I've heard good things about the Savage. I have a CVA optima pro .50 cal that will shoot4-5'' groups at 200 yds. CVA puts out a damn nice muzzleloader and for the money you can't beat them IMO.

Flying Ferris · 05-07-2006, 02:15 PM

I have a TC Encore in .50 cal and with 110 graing of fffg 777 loose under a 200gr. T/C shockwave I should be getting 2100ish fps. Took it out shooting yesterday and at a 100 yards could hit the clays we were using as targets every single time. My spotter said they were almost all hitting in the center part of the rifle. I would say it's about a 1" gun at this point. Either way it seems to be putting up 30-30 type numbers for me which should easily be a good 200 yard deer gun provided I can do my part.

EDIT: the finer 777 does seem to get this gun dirty quick. In fact I cleant the thing between every shot. Basically I pull the breech plug clean the crud off with a stiff brush, use the wire brush attachment with some windshield washer fluid and get rid of the crud ring, run a dry patch to dry and clean the dislogged crud. Screw the breech back on reload, shoot, repeat.

I just like taking every shot like I would be in a hunting situation with that gun. Hence the somewhat anal cleaning regime between shots, and one when ever at my dads range that always draws the "you know you don't have to clean it between every shot <sniker sniker>" comment.

However I like when they're having trouble with their inlines and my clean bore shoots pretty much the same way everytime.

dmurphy317 · 05-07-2006, 03:35 PM

Many muzzleloaders can shoot accurately to 200 yards, even some round ball guns. If you can find an accurate load with enough bullet to give good energy at 200 yards, the rest is up to the shooter. I find that most guns with a good load shoot better than the average shooter. The best advice is to find the right load and practice, practice, practice.

I have a CVA Magbolt that has several loads that work well at 200 yards. I'm working on my son's Optima that shows promise as a 200 yard gun. I'm waiting on delivery of a Lyman GPH/R that I think will be a good 200 yard gun. The gun is just a part of the equation, the loadand the shooter is as important, if not more important,as the gun.

Keep us informed of what you end up with.

SCOTT78 · 05-07-2006, 04:12 PM

Thanks for your info so far guys. I am looking at buying something at the end of the summer and work up a load for december hunting. I know muzzleloading has came a long way and there are a lot of good guns i just wanted some ideas. What about caliber? Is 50 cal going to be the best performer.

SCOTT78 · 05-07-2006, 04:16 PM

Also i want something easier to clean. I know muzzleloaders get dirty but i have a Knight BK -92 that you have to take it seems like a hundred screws out to clean the gun.

mayguy · 05-07-2006, 05:08 PM

I have a TC Omega and it is a good 200yd. gun when loaded with 120 grs of loose 777 and a 290 gr Barnes TMZ. The 290 gr has much better energy, than a lighter bullet, and because of the high BC it gives up nearly nothing as far as drop. The 50 seems to be able to do anything you need and it has many more choices in bullets than any other cal.

mayguy · 05-07-2006, 05:11 PM

By the way, the Omega and Encore are probably, among the easiest, if not the easiest. I have a Stainless Omega.

Flying Ferris · 05-07-2006, 05:40 PM

To get the breech out of my encore is three steps break open the gun, move the extractor out of the way (I have the E-Z tip,) and unscrew the breech plug. Done.

As far as using a heavier bullet I think all that really does is increase the pounding you get. If I'm developing 30-30 numbers with my load at 200 grains why do I need to increase the energy. It's not like 30-30 is anemic at 200 yards as far as energy (deer killing,) is concerned. That said if I was going after a bigger animal I would use a bigger bullet in my encore.