We all have shots that we brag about. Shots that by some standards seemed almost impossible or at least extreme. But what about the shots you made that did not turn out so well. Now I am not talking about a miss. I am talking about a verified hit, you recovered the animal, but the shot you made on that animal WITH A MUZZLE LOADER was far from stellar.

I will start it out. I once had a sure shot. I mean I could taste the venison in the pan, this shot was so easy. 35 yards away. Broadside buck. Weapon was a .54 caliber renegade with open sight. Load was Pyrodex RS, bore butter patched round-ball.

I was in a blind. Rifle rested on the window ledge. Set trigger on. BOOM!! Down it goes. Up it jumps. And I see a huge red spot on the side of the deer we commonly call the gut area. Deer runs off. Long story short.. lots of tracking, help with friends, and recovered the deer over a mile away.

The rifle was checked at the range back at the hunting cabin. It was shooting four inches low and left. Boiled the barrel with water. Chunks of bore butter (yes I was a bore butter user then) came out the barrel. Scrubbed the bore clean. Back to the range. Touched holes dead center bull at 50 yards.

I never used bore butter again in my rifles as a patch lube or as a protection from rust.