I decided to shoot some Shockwaves this afternoon before Igodeer huntingover a hay field. I figured I would throw a couple down range just to check them. Then decided to try them with Pinnacle 3f instead and see how the powder behaved..Also I wanted to try shooting without swabbing. I loaded 110 grains of Pinnacle 3f. The first three shots I could not have been happier about. Then the fourth missed the bull bya little at about 8 o'clock position. I wrote that off to myself although I was sure I did it all right.The fifth really shocked me... Can you tell it is a shockwave from the sideway entry hole? After the 6th one missed the bull also, I decided to swab. It brought them right back into the bull. I guess this stuff might burn clean but I would really suggest swabbing like every third shot...

I just wanted to show you that entry hole. It's the first time it happened with a modern projectile. I've had conicals do that but never a Shockwave. Might have made a nice entry hole though. By the way, we are loaded with 250 Barnes Expanders tonight and good old Goex!!

Well I need to get on stand!!

Cayugad - Wow, I've never seen that before. How far away were you from the target? Maybe the sabot failed, maybe the lead within the bullet jacket was uneven, maybe the MLs gods were playing with your head[] ...

Your range report reinforces the virtues of proper swabbing anyway...

I'm also thinking you must have suffered a sabot meltdown. Is 110 grains of Pinnacle 3F a fairly hot load?

I would not consider 110 grains of Pinnacle 3f all that hot of a load. I was at the 25 yard station on the bench rest. I was going to sight in a tight five shot group, and them move back to the 100 yard station. When I fired that sabot and looked through the scope at the large hole I could not figure that out, so walked up and looked. Needless to say that was a first for me. I then shot the next one just to see if I could do it again. It does not look like the sabot went through. The hole is a perfect copy of a shockwave.

After I swabbed the accuracy came right back. There really was not that much fowling in the barrel. And loading was real easy. I wanted to work that up and hunt with it. Instead I took the other black powder rifle and used a Barnes and Goex. Again, the deer refuse to cooperate with me.. Shooting all around me off the other hills but nothing came across that field...

DID IT FALL DOWN??

There is something to be said for a little left-to-right breeze.

That's an amazing picture, are you sure you put the bullet into the sabot before loading it?

Never had one hit like that. I've shot a fair number of ShockWaves, most at 100 yards, usually can shoot 6 or 7 before I need to swab.At that point I think it is plastic fouling that becomes the problem more than powder fouling. That would explain why you needed to swab even though you were using Pinnacle. With 100gr of 777 2F I often get groups like your first 3 shots at 100 yards. I'll be using the ShockWaves on my deer hunt next month just for that reason.

Good luck on your hunt.

That's wild! Neat picture. Isn't muzzleloading great.

Good luck with your hunt. Keep us posted.

Man Cayugad, that is unreal how the bullet hole matches the bullet shape. I have never seen that. Really neat stuff.