I currently have my Encore sighted in with the 250gr Shockwave. Is this a suitable bullet for whitetails out to 150 yards? I have read many different opinions on this bullet, some say they tend to detonate on game when the shots are close (within 50 yards), others say they don't expand at all, while others say they work great. Anybody have any practical huntingEXPERIENCE with this bullet?
I think you hear conflicting reports because of different powder charges....While some drive this bullet over 2000 fps, others drive it closer to 1600....
Between a couple of buddies and I, we have killed 10-12 whitetails with this bullet during the last few years...I have killed deer from about 15 yards to 143 yards...My load is 90 grains Pyrodex RS out of a Knight Disc with a 22 inch barrel....One of my buddies uses 90 grains of Triple Seven and the other uses 2-50gr Pyrodex pellets...So we are all pushing them fairly slowly compaired to some guys...I sight in 2 1/2 inches high at 100 yards and I'm about 3 inches low at 150 yards....Typically we get complete pass throughs...I can find no fault with these bullets...
I have in the past two years used the 250 Gr Shockwave with 2 Pellets of T7 without a problem, also get pass throughs but with a significant wound channel. Farthest I have shot is about 40 yards even though I have tested that load to 100 yards.Farthest a deer shot with this load has run is about 40 yards so I am happy with that.
The deal with SSTs/Shockwavers is the same deal with almost any similar composition bullet..... performance derived on shot location &powder energy/bullet speed. One poster aims for bone while hunting- the other for soft tissue. One poster uses 120 grains - the other 80 grains. One poster unknowingly deforms the bullet head while seating it -- another one doesn't. Etc... Etc... Etc.
There are performance variances-galore with muzzleloaders. These are not centerfires or shotguns with factory loads.
__________________ Make Smoke - Not War with those using a different style muzzleloader than you.
Whats the deal on the SST/Shockwave?
