It was brutal out there today. 86 degrees and 84% humidity. Well it was hot!! But I wanted to shoot, so I pulled the bench back to the 75 yard line and put a target back in the woods.

I was shooting my Knight Wolverine LK-II .50 caliber rifle with a 3-9x40 Sightron S1 scope on it. This rifle does not like large powder charges. It is sighted in for 75 yards according to my notes and there was a light breeze from left to right.

I swabbed the bore with alcohol and then a dry patch. Popped two caps. Then loaded 85 grains of Goex 2f and a 250 grain Barnes Expander. The first shot hit high, as normal. After that, swabbing between shots, this rifle behaved wonderful. It really put them in the target.

I then super swabbed the rifle and loaded 85 grains of Pyrodex RS (according to my notes) and a 250 grain Speer Gold Dot HP with black MMP sabots. It put them in basically the same place as where the Barnes hit. I then hung a soda can up and put four rounds of the Speer Gold Dots into that without swabbing the bore.

I then swabbed the bore good again, and aimed for just under the red tape. I was shooting 85 grains of Goex and .430 300 grain XTP's (non magnum) with Harvester Crushed Rib sabots. I swabbed the bore every other time, and it actually made a difference in where they grouped. The second shot on a fowled barrel hit a little higher and to the right. But over all it was an excellent day on the range. Even though the barrel was very hot, it still behaved well. Although I did try and take my time swabbing, checking the target, etc.. to let it cool a little.

While there seems this mad rush for the new style rifles, it still is hard to beat a good old Knight rifle. This is not a magnum rifle, but with the above loads, a deer would not stand a chance...