More shooting cause I just had to know....

outdoorslover · 08-24-2007, 10:12 PM

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Well, I went to the sporting goods store today and couldn't help but jump at the deals they were having. The whole store is closing down so everything was 70% off. I got there too late, so the only good MLing stuff left was some powder. I had no choices so I got some APP powder sticks for 6 bucks a bottle. I have never tried sticks before so this new to me and I figure it would be a fun thing to test since I've had such good results with the brand before.

The targets were shot at 50 yds with 100 grains APP(2 pellets), and 300 grain XTPs with Winchester primers. The first one is a 2 inch group overall and has 3 shots. Target #2 is the same thing but I put a five shot group in play. The group on top is four shots. That would have been a 1 1/2 in group but I just had to go and put that last shot right in the heart, where I was aiming so intently lol

. That turned it into a 3 incher but I'mnot disappointed. Like I said, I'm in it to kill deer, not impress people. As you can see, I would have killed that one

. By the way, I only swabbed the barrel after each group. That powder does not foul hardly, but smokes like a son of a bitch!!!

I then went to 100 yards and switched to 240 grain bullets cause that's all I had left. I was not pleased at all, because I couldn't get on paper. The only ones that registered were way high, so I think they were shooting over. I don't understand this at all, because I hit 2 inches low at 100 yards with 300 grain bullets and I should only hit a little high with these, not 8 inches high.

Tomorrow I'll go and tinker around at 100 yds and figure it out. I'll compare my two powders and see if I am on paper with Pyrodex(cause I should be). As you know, I don't have much experience with 240 grain bullets and will have to test them more. My gun's all quirked for the 300s. I'm also gonna shoot at 50 withe 240s and see what happens then.

Tell me what you think. That shouldbe everything, so now I'm done rambling.

More tomorrow hopefully.

dmurphy317 · 08-24-2007, 11:19 PM

Looks like it's coming along very well, nice shooting. If you think your shooting high, try putting an aiming dot 8 to 10 inches low and shoot at it. That way you don't have to change your setup to verify whats going on. If you end up liking the other bullets you can always re-zero latter. Good luck with it.

outdoorslover · 08-25-2007, 10:41 PM

I've been busy this weekend so the 100 yard shooting will just have to wait....I'll be sure and let you knwo though.

Have a good weekend!

wabi · 08-26-2007, 07:47 AM

The shoot high/low thing is too complicated for me to figure out [&:]
I've found that a lighter bullet and/or aheavier powder charge can actually lower groups insome cases. The bullet exits the barrel before recoil raises the muzzle. But the tightness of the bullet in the bore also makes a difference. In my experience, with the same powder charge a tight bullet shoots higher than a looser fitting one.
An example:
I was shooting the T/C NewEnglander a couple days ago. Using 70 grains of T-7 for all loads. A 320 grain Lee R.E.A.L. (goes down easy after it engraves the rifling)was dead-on, a 260 grain Knight lead bullet/sabot combination (goes down fairly easy)was 2" high, a T/C 240 graincheap shot bullet/sabot (about like the Knight on loading)was close the Knights, and a 250 grain Barnes expander/sabot (very tight fit)went 5 or 6" high.

cayugad · 08-26-2007, 08:55 AM

I think that is the fascination of muzzleloaders. Whether an inline or a traditional, half the enjoyment is making them do something right... time after time after time. They can one day shoot all bulls eyes and the next day for some unknown reason hardly group at all.

It looks like you are getting it all figured out. I never shot APP sticks, so this is an interesting thread. Keep up the good shooting and the great field reports. I learn a lot through others experiences...

Semisane · 08-26-2007, 09:17 AM

Quote:

They can one day shoot all bulls eyes and the next day for some unknown reason hardly group at all.

Semisane"™s Ten Laws Of Muzzle Loading

1. Whatever worked yesterday will not work today.

outdoorslover · 08-27-2007, 09:23 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: cayugad

It looks like you are getting it all figured out. I never shot APP sticks, so this is an interesting thread.

I only wishI had bought more.....

I was pretty damn busy out in the woods today. Me and a friend went out to set up my treestand and basically explored the whole woods. We got lost for about 2 hours and had a blast!!!!