Load Development - Speer / Harvester

[Josmund]

I did a little range work yesterday. You all have me convinced to try the Speer Gold Dots / Deep Curls. I also have a a wide range of the Harvester sabots so I did some tinkering.

Knight Disc Extreme Thumbhole
Speer 250 -300's
Various Harvester Sabots
Win 209 Blues
100 grains of BH209
35 Degrees
10:00 Wind at 10-20 mph



Right - 300's with Crushed Rib ( CR)
Left - 250's with CR
Bottom - 300's with long smooth
Top - 250's with short smooth ( only 90 of BH 209 )

Looks like the winner is the top target. I can't wait to stretch it out some and see what we have a 100.



The Lehigh conversion had zero blow back and worked like a charm.

[Omega45]

Stick to that 90gr load at 100yds. I do not think it will open up much. Nice shooting and post, very useful load data for people that have the same muzzleloader.

[mountaineer magic]

deleted : no longer want to be on the forum

[Josmund]

Originally Posted by mountaineer magic

The top target and the one on the right are both excellent. Are those at 50 yards? I doubt that the groups will open up a whole lot at a 100 yards. Be a good hunting load for sure. Keep us posted.Run that 300 Speer through a Coyote and see how it does

Yes, 50 yards.

I still have a doe tag which opens up on Jan 1 for a week. I hope to provide a terminal report vs just punching paper.

[cayugad]

Wow.. some excellent shooting there. I mean really excellent. That rifle is doing great and the deer better watch out.

[sabotloader]

Josmund

Nice job... and you probably have only begun to find out what that rifle and load might do.

I shoot the 300 grain with 120 grains of powder and the accuracy hangs right in there. I do drop back down to 110 with the 250, and I can not remember why for sure I do not think it had anything to do with accuracy as much as it was the unneeded extra energy for deer hunting and my thinking I would not be shooting anything over 175 yards with it... more like 60 yards.

Good shooting!

[Dutch]

To be honest I have never tried different sabots with the same bullet. Given the difference in your results, I think I need to do this with my rifle.

[sabotloader]

Josmund

I would venture to guess the CR is to loose for BH and the bore of your Knight. I use the MMP HPH-24 in all of my Knight 50's and they really load with I feel is the correct pressure. You might also try the longer regular Black harvester with the 300 grain bullet. It may give you a larger bearing surface on the orgive of the longer 300 grain and offer more contact with the lands and grooves of the bore...

[bronko22000]

Looks like you have a good shooting rifle/load combo going there. I like that target on the right. It appears to have more than 3 shots into it. If it doesn't then the top one gets my vote. Good luck at 100.