New Optima update

TXFRNTLDER · 01-08-2007, 09:42 PM

Well I put in 3 or 4 hours at the range again today, much better than yesterday. I bought some of those pre-saturated patches and swabbed out and dry patched after every shot. Also tried a box of Hornady 245 gr. XTP I don't see them as being much of a pain, they went down easily and seemed to shoot pretty good. I say seemed because I think before i go judging any bullets I need to work on my shooting technique/skills more. I can't be saying this or that bullet/sabot combo isn't working when I may be the faulty part in the machine.

I forgot to load a primer today and noticed that I flinched quite a bit as the hammer dropped, you don't really notice it when the gun goes off with the loud report and smoke and fire etc... I've got to work on relaxing and a smoother trigger squeeze. Also today I went back down to 80 grns except for a few loads at 90 so it was a full box of Hornady 44-240 HP/XTP and at the end of the day 2 245 powerbelts. The guy at BassPro swears by the PowerBelts and says I shouldn't stray from them but he did say yeah go ahead and try the Hornadys it is a new gun. As of right now I like the Hornadys, like I said I can't blame bad technique on a bullet and I was getting some decent grouping out consistently and even put it on the target at 100 yards.

I'll be a pig killing son-of-a-b*tch at 50 yards and scare the hell out of em at 100!

Todays shopping list was
TC range rod
Hornady 240 XTP with sabots
245 grn PowerBelts
TC Presaturated patches
T17 Foaming bore
200 more cleaning patches

sabotloader · 01-08-2007, 10:01 PM

TXFRNTLDER

Congrats... that is really neat to hear....

Shooting techniques - we all could probably work on that one...

If you can find some Speer Gold Dots .452 - 300 grain HP's - made for shooting from a 454 Casual - try them they would be you pig slayer grande... You will need .451/.452 sabots for them though - TC Mag Express would probably be your best bet...

Keep talking to us...

cayugad · 01-08-2007, 10:03 PM

well it sounds like you have a good rifle and a good load. It should all come around when you practice. Good luck and keep us posted on your shooting. Flinching is a bad thing to get in the habit with. Practice will solve it.

Pglasgow · 01-08-2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: TXFRNTLDER

I forgot to load a primer today and noticed that I flinched quite a bit as the hammer dropped, you don't really notice it when the gun goes off with the loud report and smoke and fire etc... I've got to work on relaxing and a smoother trigger squeeze.

You are definitely on the right track.You want to see the target when the gun fires. Recoil with a muzzleloader is alot more thanmost centerfire rifles. But you will gain tolerance to it. There is nothing wrong with doing things to alleviate the recoil you feel. Things like using an additional recoil pad or more clothing or just placing something between the butt and your shoulder. Whatever makes it more comfortable. Just stay at it and you will continue to improve.