I have a couple of Muzzleloaders, I have the Mossberg 500 .50 cal Muzzleloader conversion barrel. I love the multiuse of the shotgun, but it is a bitch to clean having a solid breech, no removable plug!!
I therefore mostly use my Knight Bighorn with a scope.
I am fairly new to muzzle loading. I use Pyrodex pellets, but have also now started using Shockey's Gold in both forms because of the Mossberg. I have tried several kinds of sabots and am looking for combinations that have worked for the Knights Green Mountain Barrels. I know that I will need to work with it some, but It would really help if I had a good start. I don't have a significant amount of time to spend days at the range (it is about 70 miles away too) trying dillerent loads and rounds finding the best combo for mine.
If anyone has any results with the Knight to narrow down my list I would love to hear them. Then I could hopefully get it done in a day. I am in Ohio, so mostly it would be used on deer. I have an 11 year old too, so it would mostly be 75-100 yard shots, at least till he gets more patient.
If this is a 209 model and you shoot pellets, then a Winchester W209 primer is a good primer. If you are shooting loose powder the 209 is a good choice or even a simple #11 cap. I am guessing that this Bighorn has the 22 inch barrel?
First thing I would do is save the APP for the Mossberg. Get some Pyrodex RS or Goex 2f black powder. Load 85 grains of loose powder and a .430 diameter 300 grain Hornady XTP (not the magnum). I would try some of the crushed rib sabots or the standard sabots.
Another good projectile is the 250 or 300 grain Barnes Expanders. Again with 85-100 grains of powder. That is all the power you will need for deer out to well past 100 yards..
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
If this is a 209 model and you shoot pellets, then a Winchester W209 primer is a good primer. If you are shooting loose powder the 209 is a good choice or even a simple #11 cap. I am guessing that this Bighorn has the 22 inch barrel?
First thing I would do is save the APP for the Mossberg. Get some Pyrodex RS or Goex 2f black powder. Load 85 grains of loose powder and a .430 diameter 300 grain Hornady XTP (not the magnum). I would try some of the crushed rib sabots or the standard sabots.
Another good projectile is the 250 or 300 grain Barnes Expanders. Again with 85-100 grains of powder. That is all the power you will need for deer out to well past 100 yards..
Knight sells the Barnes Expanders as the Knight Red hot:
they are an awsome bullet, since they shoot thru, open quickly and retain 100% of weight (i.e don't fragment, loosing energy). I would try those with the Knight supplied sabot in your gun, in that way your going with a bullet that Knight is recommending. They appear to be a few dollars cheaper than the Barnes MZ, TMZ and SpitFires that Cabelas and Midsouth sell for about $1.00 each. Chap Gleason
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Chapman Gleason
Purcellville Va
http://www.the-gleasons.com
My Bighorn likes 85 grains of 777 and just about any projectile. The best accuracy has come with the 300gr XTP Cayugad suggested. Mine also will shoot well with 85 to 95 grains of Pyrodex and multiple projectiles. It has been one of the easier guns I have had to get to group.
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A really bad day hunting or fishing is still better than a great day at work!
I also will reccommend the Expanders for hunting. I have shot two hogs with this bullet. One went about ten feet and dropped and the second was a bag flop!!. Unless you are going to be making really long shots, you won't beat the terminal performance of a Barnes Expander. I practice with Hornady XTP's and hunt with Expanders. The POI is almost exactly the same. Hope you enjoy your Bighorn.
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A really bad day hunting or fishing is still better than a great day at work!
I bought a Knight Disc about 8 years ago, for about 5 years my load was the 300gr Barnes MZ and 100grs of either Pyrodex R-S or Goex FFF...This gun didn't like the 250s, but those 300s sure will give you a good blood trail...
About 3 years ago, I switched to 90grs of Pyrodex R-S or Goex FFF and the 250 T/C Shockwave...It is just as accurate and shoots flatter than the 300gr Barnes...Either of these bullets will do the job...
Mine will shoot excellant groups with the 240 gr XTP mag and 90 gr Pyrodex P and its taken quite a few deer with that load before I got the Omega and the Triumph. Lee
I got out this weekend, it is 53 miles for me to shoot! Each way.I tried everything I have. the Powerbelts did ok, the Hornadys did a little better a few others not so well. The Barnes (Knight Red Hots) with 100 grains of Pyrodex pellets put 6 rounds through 3 holes that all touched at 75 yards. I think that one is going to work. Thanks. You saved me a lot of time, the guys at the firehouse all had me shooting with 150 grains of Pyrodex! Those shots were not so good. I was starting to think twice about the muzzleloaders. Now they are here to stay.
Lots of people learn that magnum 150 grain loads just do not work. But when the powder charge is lowered, all of a sudden things tune in. With the load you described that should be all the hunting load you would need.. Sounds like it is shooting good for you.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
Knight Bighorn-Looking for accuracy
