BETTER day at the range....still need help though

[DrAsus]

I went to the range today to make sure the new Nikon I received from Natchez was a good scope, as they had a note reference their 15 day return policy. So I know they wouldn't honor another defective scope after their policy. GOOD news: I have a good scope now. I was able to get it sighted in at 100 yards 2" high dead center---(what I wanted)-----100gr 777 pellets and 240 gr Hornady XTP. I figured that 2" HIGH at 100 yards would help on longer ranges. BAD NEWS: I'm not even hitting paper at 200 yards!!!!!...Well with this combo anyway. I did manage to hit paper 1"low and 5 3/4" right with 100gr Pyrodex and a 200gr Shockwave. I was just seeing what the lighter bullet would do. At least 1-2 more range days are planned for the future to hopefully get it dialed in. BUt I bought a lot of 777 packages at Wal-mart at the end of season last year for next to nothing....and I've burned thru them already. All I have left is 3 1/2 tubes of Pyrodex (which I do not like as well as 777---personal opinion). One problem my dad pointed out was I need to use a large target at 200 yards---which I was not. I was using 12" x12" Shoot em/ see em targets. Luckily I had a friend go with me today to help out. So guys, I may be eating crow as far as my 300 yard ML I wanted------I CAN'T EVEN GET 200 YARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went to Dicks sporting goods and bought 2 boxes of the hornady XTPs 240 gr and 1 box of TC Shockwaves 250 gr bonded. I wanted to have something that is ready available to hunt with. I will eventully probably go to Barnes or Noslers.....but not for this hunting season. So guys....help me out Triumph owners!!!!! What am I doing wrong....what am I doing right???? Help help help!!! I've got to save some $$ now to buy more pellets before I go to the range again. Its just SOOOOOOOO confusing. There are to many choices. Powders (pelelts included)....what grains to use.......Bullets........weights...etc etc. I JUST WANT TO FIND WHAT MY GUN LIKES TO SHOOT THAT GIVE SME THE BEST PERFORMANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But this trial and error crap is going to break me! Triumph owners please respond!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!---DrAsus [:@]

[SWThomas]

Since you bought the Omega scope from Natchez and you probably took advantage of their sale, you got the scope without the BDC reticle right? If that's the case, you'll need to aim high with the Nikoplex reticle at 200 yards, especially with only 100g of pellets. That's one of the main reasons I decided to go with loose powder. You have more room to play with the load and see what the rifle likes. You can't do that with pellets. It's either 100g (2 pellets) or 150g (3 pellets). With loose you can increase the charge in 5g volumetric measurements. Or you can weigh it if you like. It's really going to depend on you to get out there and test different loads and bullets/sabots to see what you need to do to hit black at 200 yards. Personally, I think a 12X12 target is plenty for 200 yards. If you can't at least hit somewhere on that target, you probably shouldn't attempt to take game from that distance.

[benamen]

Here is a link to MM where loads for a Triumph were suggested.

http://www.modernmuzzleloader.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=12482

[hunting junkie]

Up the powder charge, that is the downfall of trying to get distance.And yes you need a bigger target to see where you are hittig at the range,until you get it right.Go with loose powder it is cheaper and you can play with it.

[sabotloader]

DrAsus

If I could suggest - do not even worry about 200 yards yet. Get really comfortable at 100. When you are really good at 100 with almost every shot and you want to extend your range try 150 then maybe 200. A 200 yard is not the easiest shot i nthe worl a lot of things have got to go right....

When you can make the switch to T7 loose and you will probably find that you can find a lot of 2f powder but if you get a chance to pick up a bottle of 3f and you do not mind experimenting get one and shoot 100 grain loads of that by volume. It burn cleaner and burns fast.

bought 2 boxes of the hornady XTPs 240 gr and 1 box of TC Shockwaves 250 gr bonded. I wanted to have something that is ready available to hunt with. I will eventully probably go to Barnes or Noslers

Which 240's did you get the 44 cal or 45 cal 240's? Both of those bullets are decent bullets - the 240 XTP's have probably harvested more deer than any other bullet out there. The 250's SW's will be by far the better long range bullet. The choice of Nosler or Barnes is excellent for hunting they are just to expensive to shoot at paper other than to verify your POI.

In your neck of the woods do you have Speer or Sierra bullets available?

I think you already know what that I shoot Nosler's for hunting and Speers for practice and it looks like my Triumph is going to shoot the HPH-24 - It is way to tight to get a Short Black harvester down. I do shoot T7-2f as that is what i started with and the easiest to find around here. But, I am stocking up on 3f and when I run out of 2 I will switch totally to 3f.

BH is outstanding - but way to expensive and for me T7 does everything that Bh does so it is not a need for me.

Best thing you can do is find a box of inexpensive bullets (do not buy those bubble packs unless you have to) and a sabot that will load and shoot the heck out of that gun. The more you shoot the better you get and the better the gun gets.... You have a lot of time yet to find the BEST of everything... SHOOT....

[cayugad]

I agree with sabotloader. All too often people try long shots when they have not become comfortable with close shots. Find a good bullet and powder combination. When you can pick that rifle up and shoot a great group at 100 yards, move back to 125, 150 and so on. You have to learn the rifle and the distances.

So work on consistency in loading, cleaning, etc.. make all things equal when you shoot and the accuracy will follow.

[MountainDevil54]

now this is with a 245gr HP powerbelt with 2 pellets. 3" high @ 100 = 7.6" low @ 200. The sabot should shoot quite a bit flatter than this so i dont know why you are not hitting the target. Maybe try some loose powder and see how that goes.

[Semisane]

Hey DrAsus, glad the scope thing worked out OK.At least you have good tools to play with. You left out a key piece of information that might give us a better idea of what's going on. Although you said you got it dialed in 2" high at 100 yards, you didn't give us any info on what kind of groups you were getting at that range. Did you shoot a three or five shot group at 100? If so, what was the spread? I agree with the others who suggest going to loose powder - cheaper and more flexibility.

[Chasam60]

Dr-My Omega with a 250 or 260 gr Nosler over 105gr 777/3f prints 6" lower at 175yds than at 100yds. I set up for 100yds 3" high and when I was comfortable,I moved out to check impact. 3" high at 100=3" low at 175 Aim dead on anywhere out to 175.(Max PBR)

Charlie

[Grouse45]

I wont ask why you need to shoot a Muzzleloader 300yds. XTP'S are AWESOME bullets for Deer. But, they have a very low BC. I would use a better BC bullet to accomplish your goal. The XTP'S are a stretch for 200yard bullets in hunting conditions.The 250grn Bonded SW is a good choice for your Triumph. I was shooting 115grns of BH209 and Harvester short black sabotswith that bullet out of my Triumph. It was scary accurate at 200yds with the Nikon Omega scope with BDC reticle.

Save yourself some time and money and quit buying Pyrodex and 777. BH209 will be your best option for what you want to accomplish.