dem4570,
I never put loctite on the ring screws, just a drop of loctiteon the base screws after you've cleaned the threads out on the receiver and the threads of the screws.
You said you dbl. check the ring screws, but didn't mention the screws on the base. What type ring/base set up do you have? Are you consistant with your seating pressure? Is this a new or used scope?
If you know everything is good to go, all you need to do is find the correct load.
I'm very fond of the Barnes bullets and I've had good results with Power Belts and the Precision Dead Centers.
I haven't shot Pyrodex R/S for awhile, but when I did I always made sure that I mixed the powder up. The fine stuff makes it way to the bottom of the jar and it will shoot differently than the larger granules on top. I'd be interested if anyone else has experienced this with Pyrodex too.

It is a new scope actually the second new scope. this is the third weekend of me messing with this gun. it was shooting so bad that i thought the scope was bad. i took it off and exchanged it for another one.That was the first weekend. then i tried it last weekend and found a loose mount. it has knight base and millet rings. i have never put loctite on the rings before either. i have the same rings on a 300 mag no problems. so maybe tonight i will tear it down and check the bases. but they were loctited in place from the git go. as far as how much pressure im putting on the bullet when seating it im sure that i could use some help there. ill try that tomorrow.

dem4570,
You can use a bathroom scale for checking out your bullet seating pressure. I was going to post a picture of a bullet seating gage I made at work years ago, but someone ran off with my digital camera .....maybe later.
Consistant seating pressure is important when you use loose powder. Some powders are more pressure sensitive than others. I usually seat my projectiles with 50lbs. of pressure.
Something else toconsider, is what are you using to seat your bullets. Are you deforming your projectile with the jag you're using?
I assume that you are using a good solid rest/sandbags and not off the hood of you truck.

i will start fresh tommorrow, i was wondering how little or much powder i should start with just for the sake of experimenting. i think the max for my side lock was 120 but 90 gave me good results. how far down would you go 70 or 80 i want it to hit hard at 100 yards. but i do know being a reloader that i need to feed the gun what it likes how low would you go?

I would start the loads out at 80 grains and work my way up from there. Even 80 grain of Pyrodex with a 240 XTP will still push 1500+ fps which will thump them just fine out to 100 yards if the accuracy is good. Do you have a 22" barrel on that rifle like mine?

dem4570,
Using the Knight Balllistic Guide, a 90gr. charge with your 240gr. bullet will give you 1242fp @ the muzzle and 963fp @ 100yds. The general rule of thumb is 1,000fp of energy, but bullet placement trumps it in my book.
You may want to try someTriple 7 powder, it'll cost you a little more $$, but I heard that money was no problem for you LOL

yes it does have the 22" barrel. im headed for the range tommorrow thank you for the help guys. ill let you know what happens.

I never had luck with those lead bullets that knight sends out. Try some tighter sabots. Maybe some 250gr barnes expanders. Or hornady .44 XTP.

i dont know what make bullet they are but they are 240 grn jacketed hollow points they are not the wad cutter bullet.