With hunting season fast approaching, more and more of us will be hitting the ranges with our muzzleloaders working up that "special" load. Many of us are lucky and already know what the rifle likes and does not like. But I want to take this opportunity to remind all of us, especially people new to the sport with limited knowledge of powders, and projectile weights.. Know your rifle and its limitations. Be sure to read your manuals.

Be aware that not all rifles are "magnum capable" rifles. Also not all magnum rifles are the same. Read your manuals and know what the limits of your rifle are. For instance, I have a CVA Staghorn Magnum able to shoot 150 grains of powder. But if you read the manual you learn that means 150 grains of pellets not loose powder. When shooting loose powder they suggest 100 grain loads. Thompson Center and Knight rifles, are able to handle 150 grains of pellets, but again in loose form most of them suggest 120 grains as a max load. Even in brands, the limitations change.

Also we are facing an ever increasing selection in the powder markets. We have standard black powders like Goex, Swiss, Wano, Elephant, Graf's & Sons, and others. But here again.. not all black powders are made alike. Swiss for instance is 10-15% stronger then Goex they claim. Also the finer the granulation the increase in pressures your rifle barrel will experience. So keep that all in mind when you load up. Know your powders you are loading.

In the sub powders like Pyrodex RS, Triple Se7en, APP, Black Mag3, Pinnacle, Shockley Gold, all of them have different characteristics. In loose form, Triple Se7en and Black Mag 3 are 15% stronger then the other powders. Now throw into the fact they come in 3f grain size and you have added another consideration to the pot. Again, different grain sizes changes barrel pressures. Also in pellet form while all powders are "suppose" to be equal, well there is new pellets on the market called Triple Se7en "magnum" pellets. They are not recommending more then two of them be loading in your rifles. So again, know your powders and your rifles.

Also many manufacturers have limts on projectile sizes. I think it is 300 grains for a sabot in my Staghorn and 400 grains if a conical.

The point I am trying to make is, just be safe out there. Most of your magnum loads do not shoot as well and a moderate to strong load, and moderate to strong loads have been taking game for hundreds of years... [/align]