Sighting In My Muzzleloader
#1
Sighting In My Muzzleloader
So I went and shot my muzzleloader today and sighted it in for 125 yards. It's about 2 inches high at 50 and 100 yards and about 4 inches low at 150 yards. I use 2-50 grain pyrodex pellets and a 300 grain Hornady XTP bullet wrapped in the fitting .50 cal jacket. Do you think that I should try shooting 150 grains to slow the rapid fall past 150 yards? What combinations do you guys shoot that you think works well and patterns good?
P.S. - I shoot a Knight Disc .50 cal with a 3x9x40 Nikon Prostaff.
Thanks!
P.S. - I shoot a Knight Disc .50 cal with a 3x9x40 Nikon Prostaff.
Thanks!
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 426
RE: Sighting In My Muzzleloader
I am a big fan of the 300g xtp. However, my setup is for a max range of around 100 yards. My pet load at 100 yards is 100g of 777 2F powder. I think for the range your looking for, you might want to up your charge. You might want to consider the 250g sst which shoots flatter. Good luck and have fun.
#3
RE: Sighting In My Muzzleloader
I would scrap the 300 and shoot the 250, if this is uead for whitetail, 250 is more than sufficient.
I am 2 in high at 100 and 2 in low at 200. This is quite a difference - with 125 gr. of loose powder T7.
If youre worried about drop, then definetly change bullets.
I am 2 in high at 100 and 2 in low at 200. This is quite a difference - with 125 gr. of loose powder T7.
If youre worried about drop, then definetly change bullets.
#4
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,425
RE: Sighting In My Muzzleloader
I've got a Knight Disc as well...First let me say, my personal limit is 150 yards.
I went to a 250 SST a few years back because I wanted a longer range zero...I use 90 grains of Pyrodex R-S and a 250 SST...I'm sighted 2 1/2 high at 100 and 2 1/2 low at 150.
I did some shooting with the Dead Centers, my Knight didn't group the ones I tried, I think they were 260s, anyway, to do much better than the SSTs I think you are going to have to go to the Dead Centers or one of the Barnes all copper boat-tail bullets...I just couldn't justify the price.
I went to a 250 SST a few years back because I wanted a longer range zero...I use 90 grains of Pyrodex R-S and a 250 SST...I'm sighted 2 1/2 high at 100 and 2 1/2 low at 150.
I did some shooting with the Dead Centers, my Knight didn't group the ones I tried, I think they were 260s, anyway, to do much better than the SSTs I think you are going to have to go to the Dead Centers or one of the Barnes all copper boat-tail bullets...I just couldn't justify the price.
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location:
Posts: 3,246
RE: Sighting In My Muzzleloader
ORIGINAL: brushbuster07
So I went and shot my muzzleloader today and sighted it in for 125 yards. It's about 2 inches high at 50 and 100 yards and about 4 inches low at 150 yards. I use 2-50 grain pyrodex pellets and a 300 grain Hornady XTP bullet wrapped in the fitting .50 cal jacket. Do you think that I should try shooting 150 grains to slow the rapid fall past 150 yards? What combinations do you guys shoot that you think works well and patterns good?
P.S. - I shoot a Knight Disc .50 cal with a 3x9x40 Nikon Prostaff.
Thanks!
So I went and shot my muzzleloader today and sighted it in for 125 yards. It's about 2 inches high at 50 and 100 yards and about 4 inches low at 150 yards. I use 2-50 grain pyrodex pellets and a 300 grain Hornady XTP bullet wrapped in the fitting .50 cal jacket. Do you think that I should try shooting 150 grains to slow the rapid fall past 150 yards? What combinations do you guys shoot that you think works well and patterns good?
P.S. - I shoot a Knight Disc .50 cal with a 3x9x40 Nikon Prostaff.
Thanks!
Barnes TMZ 250g or 300g
TC ShockWave 250g or 300g
Parker Ballistic Extreme 250g or 275g
You can see my shooting of these from a Savage 10ML at about 2000 fps
here:
http://www.the-gleasons.com/this_is_my_savage_10_ml_page.htm
I like the 300g bullets because they hold down range energy better and shoot thru the deer almost all the time. 250g bullets tend to be on off side and leave no blood trail. Of the above bullets I believe the ranking on killing power is:
Barnes is bestbecause 100% wt retention,
parker BE, retains nearly 100%
TC SW, sometimes shoots thru without expanding, so shoot high shoulder shots.
If your 300g XTP Mag (I love them by the way) shot well in your gun, then I would just limit myself to 150 yard shots and use them. If you need the extra 50 yards, drop down to 250g bullet, up your charge by 10, 20 or 30 grain and shoot any of the 3 above bullets they will do the job for you. To get educated on these bullets, read Cabelas "product reviews" for all the bullets you want to use, then select the bullet. Also MidSouth has product reviews. The Parker BE are also marketed as Traditions XLR and Remington something. they sell the remington at Gander Mountain, since I just bought 2 packs this weekend. 12 bullets $18, or 1.50 each, crazy but I paid it cause they are accurate in my gun.
Chap
#7
RE: Sighting In My Muzzleloader
It would not hurt to try 150 grains of pellets, but you might not get the accuracy results you want. If yourwereshooting loose powder I would suggest you kick the load to 110 or 120 grain but your not. As to whether the 300 grain XTP is a 150 uard projectile.. I could not say. I personally would think so, but you would have to try it out on the range. It sounds like you have a 125 yard shooter, so another 25 yards is not all that much further (until you try it).
I have no first hand experience with the killing power of the XTP. I have read a lot of posts by people that shoot them, and they feel they are a real deer killer. Whether the 240 grain would work better or shoot better, only some range time would tell you that. For the long distance stuff you might want to look into a 250 or 300 grain Barnes Expander. They are expensive, but one of the best bullets out there. Also your Knight Disc should love them. I shoot the exact same rifle actually... the older model though with the orange primer holders.
I have no first hand experience with the killing power of the XTP. I have read a lot of posts by people that shoot them, and they feel they are a real deer killer. Whether the 240 grain would work better or shoot better, only some range time would tell you that. For the long distance stuff you might want to look into a 250 or 300 grain Barnes Expander. They are expensive, but one of the best bullets out there. Also your Knight Disc should love them. I shoot the exact same rifle actually... the older model though with the orange primer holders.