Sighting in a Muzzleloader

[rochelle]

Hey guys I have a few questions on sighting in and hope you can help me out. First what distance do you start at? How often do you try different loads? Do you swab after each shot? Also whats the best kind of rest to use when sighting in? Thanks!

[Gm54-120]

I start at 25 or 50 yards and all holes must be touching before i move further out.

I use BH209 powder and never swab at the range unless i shoot some conicals with lube on them. Using T7 you may need to run a damp patch then a dry patch between shots...it not really a big deal.

I use a Led Sled for load development and then just bags and then verify the load with only my support or whatever im going to use while hunting....such as a hunting stick.

[scottycoyote]

i used my leupold magnetic boreshighter this year to zero my ml and i have to say that was about the smoothest sighting in session i ever had. Brand new scope in new mounts....i was zero'd on my 3rd shot...couldnt believe it lol. At my range we have a target board at 50 so thats where i usually start, i like to just use sandbags as a rest and although i shoot bh209 i like to swab between shots. I learned a trick from somewhere on here, take a smaller diameter brush and wrap a seasoned patch around it and use that to swap, you dont lose your patch and it goes quick.

[Semisane]

I start at 25 or 50 yards and all holes must be touching before i move further out.

Me too. If you're not shooting a quarter size group at 25 why waste time, powder and bullets moving out farther?

[cayugad]

I sight my rifles in at 13 yards. At that distance you will shoot a ragged hole. If not, then the load you are shooting is not right for the gun or your sights need to be checked. You waste less ammo and there is no room for error at that distance. You should be on paper somewhere there.

If you are shooting a hole at that distance, make sure it is dead center in the bulls eye. Once you have that run it out to 50 yards. Normally it will be about two inches high. Move it to 75 yards and it will be real close. At 100 yards it should hit with in an inch of the bulls eye most of the time.

I like to refine my shooting at 50 yards though before I move back. Then decide what distance you WANT the rifle sighted in for, and go to that distance and make it sweet.

[SJAdventures]

I bore sight, then start at 25 and move out.

[gman57]

I also bore sight the rifle and go to 50 yes and make necessary corrections.then I take it 100 for final,I have very few opportunities to shoot further.