Range report

[yeoman]

Last week, for the first time, I tried 44 cal 300 XTP's, using 90 RS and the short sabots with which they come. I was pleased with the 6 shot group results at 50 yards using the Hawken with open sights.

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Knowing the group would shoot low at 100, I used the long sabots to hopefully raise the 50 yard group. That didn't happen. Instead the group size swelled to 4 inches at 50 yds. and moved farther low right. I didn't bother bringing the target home.

So I went back to the short sabots, moved to the 100 yd target, and shot my first open sight MOA group of three! I wasn't about to shoot a 4th. I did try raising the powder charge to 100 grains which did raise POI but also spread the group. Seems 90 is the magic number.

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For my clean barrel shot, I tried a long sabot with the 260 Scorpion at the 100 yd target. Last week, this combo had put it right where I wanted at the 50.

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This time, at the 100, the clean bore shot was the right elevation, but 9" to the right of POA![:-] Off the paper!

Back to the drawing board.

[frontier gander]

very nice! Its good to see that a fellow blackpowder shooter can shoot amazing open sight groups. To some people, such as cascadedad, shots like that are not possible unless you have a glass tube

My .45 with a 225 powerbelt will print groups darn simular to your rifle! Excellent shooting and that seems like a great load on paper and should be on meat!

[cayugad]

All I can say is very nice shooting. And I like the way your testing the different aspects of the load. Good information there. And I am going to give it a try myself.

[gleason.chapman]

I agree your sweet point is 90g of RS. Raise it up 2 or 3 inches and you should be good to go. Nice groups with open sights.
Chap Gleason

[yeoman]

Its good to see that a fellow blackpowder shooter can shoot amazing open sight groups

Gander - thanks. The operative word there is CAN. Cascadedad would I'm sure allow for the possibility of the occasional good group from open sight shooting and he'd be right to question me I said this happens on a regular basis. I am hopeful that the results of the 9 shots I've taken with the 44/300 and short sabots will be repeatable or at least indicative of what I can expect going forward, though I have my doubts.

Raise it up 2 or 3 inches and you should be good to go

Chapman - I've been seriously considering this. Unfortubnately, I have the original fiber optic sights that come with the GM barrel. I'm hesitant to fool with the adjustment this close to deer season, even though I coated the parts of the rear sight with liquid electrical tape to keep them from slipping the moment I loosen the set screw. I think I'd better shoot at least another session with this bullet before I comit to the sight adjustment.

Those "rules of muzzleloaders- what worked last week will not work this week" are waiting.........

All I can say is very nice shooting

Cayugad - thanks. I went to an NFL game yesterday. Sitting on the 40 yard line and looking down on the field I couldn't help thinking how bizzare it is that 3 bullets with all the variables of muzzleloading could travel the length of that field and land in an area you could cover with a quarter, regardless of the optics used. I am thoroughly impressed with the GM barrel and believe it is by far the most important "variable" in the equation.