finally got her dialed in - range report

[oldsmellhound]

I've been messing around with different loads the last few weeks trying to get ready for gun season. I've only had this rifle a year, and haven't managed to work up a load/combo that I'm happy with (the rifle is a CVA Cascade Magnum .45 cal, bolt-action with a Bushnell 3x9 scope). At first I thought I had a really sweet shooting load - 80 grains of loose 777, Harvestor sabots, 200 grain 10mmXTPand a Remington primer gave me this 3 shot group:

[oldsmellhound]

Then when I adjusted the windage and elevation on the scope to center it and shot a 5 shot group with the same load, I got this crap:

[oldsmellhound]

I didn't know what to do, so I decided to switch sabots and primers (switched to a MMP sabot and a Federal 209A primer). The reason I switched primers is because I usually pop a primer before each shot to clear the flash hole, and with the remingtons, the sound of the "pop" wasn't consistent each time - in other words, sometimes it was noticeably louder or softer. Thought that if the primer isn't consistent, it could screw up the groups. With the new setup, I started to shoot consistent groups.

This pic is one of the average 5-shot groups (all groups were shot at 100 yards from a rest). I've shot better, and it's not great compared to some of you Davy Crockett's out there , but the important thing is that it is consistent. And if you notice, no shot is more than 2" from the point of aim. I figure that translates to "dead deer" within 150 yards, which is as far as I'd ever shoot anyways. Can't wait for the season to start this Monday!!!

[cayugad]

Rifle groups are often time taken too serious. Granted they are a good indication of the rifle's load and even the shooter's ability, but I know a person that can not shoot a group with a rifle. Yet he never misses on a deer, he picks off cans at 100 yards every time, so what do you tell him. That last group looks pretty good. Perhaps you might want to drop to even a lighter bullet and try that, like a 180 grain XTP. Also there was some trouble with the older .45 calibers and their twist in the barrel. Not that I am saying this is the case with your rifle. But you might want to give CVA a call and discuss the rifle and groups for suggestions and see what they offer as a solution. If you are not satisfied with the rifle of course.

Are you swabbing between shots? Are there different sabots you could try? Have you ever shot powerbelts? I am thinking that maybe the XTP's are not your rifles favorite load. Try some Shockwaves also next trip out. Play with powder charges as well. I am sure you will get the rifle doing just what you want because you sound determined.

[flint head]

Dave is right on... groups are fine and everyone would like to have a 1/2" shooter but it is not needed. Muzzleloader are still short range weapons, 150 yards and in, so I wouldn't fret to much. Try this, buy some of the life sized paper deer targets and set them out at ranges you expect to shoot. Aim your muzzleloader the way you do when you hunt (ie: shooting sticks, free hand, resting on your knee, proped on a rest...etc) and see if all of your shots would kill the deer. If your shots are "grouping" in the kill zone then your good to go.

[frontier gander]

Those kleanbore primers were junk in my rifle too. I'd actually get hangfires with them. I use either winchester 777 primers, cci shotgun shell primers or federal primers.

Ever thought about switching to a 225-275 or 300 grain powerbelt in that .45? My .45 loves the 225 aerotip over 80 grains triple 7.

[oldsmellhound]

Between firearms & muzzleloader seasons this year (MZ season starts after Christmas) I'm going to play around some more and see if I can do better. I still have a ton of the 200 grain XTP's left, so I'm going to try and work up something with them. I do clean the barrel between each shot, and follow the exact same loading procedure each time. I do agree Cayugad, that this rifle doesn't seem to like the XTP that much. Frontier gander - the best load I've ever shot out of this rifle was 80 grains of 777 and a 225 grain Powerbelt (hollow point). It will pretty consistently shoot 2.5" groups at 100 yards with that setup. The reason I'm not using them for hunting is that I've just heard too many bad reviews about them not penetrating or blowing up. I hunt in an area where I may have to shoot 120 or 150 yards, but I also may get a 20 yard shot. I guess I want a bullet that I'm sure will perform properly at both close & long range. I have no doubt that the PB's work just fine at the right velocity. I'm just afraid of a deer walking right under my stand 5 yards away, shooting it with a PB and not get penetration. Have any of you tried the 275 grain .45 Powerbelt? I have a feeling that would be less prone to blowing up or over-expanding.

[frontier gander]

The 225's are an excellent bullet. I was shooting 200 yards with 100 grains of goex and i was able to recover a few bullets that were nicely mushroomed and lost no weight. People often push these with over 100 grains of powder and they dont handle it.

Your rifle is a bolt action? Have you ever tried running a piece of paper under the barrel/stock? My winchester x-150 had quite a bit of plastic touching the barrel and the rifle would do a respectful 2 - 2 /2" group @ 100 yards. I went and free floated the barrel and that turned it into a sweet under 1" group @ 100 yard shooter. You should really consider cleaning up the stock and remove all plastic under the barrel and the plastic that touches the sides of the barrel.

[oldsmellhound]

Frontier - thanks for the advice. I may get some more powerbelts and play around with them during the break between seasons. I'll also check out the situation with the stock. I'm not an accuracy freak, but I would like to have a rifle/load combo that will print 2 - 2.5" groups on a regular basis.

[frontier gander]

free floating the barrel and removing that plastic will really help out. Theres always a trick in every firearm to make it shoot better