muzzleloader problem
 

Alright guys' here's one for ya! I have a .50 cva optima 28" barrel, i shoot 2 - 50grain 777 pellets and a 245 gr. hollowpoint powerbelts w/ winchester 209's. Every year i go through this same deal. When i go to sight my gun in it shoots all over the place, i shot it yesterday and it was about 2 feet to the right, the gun as been in the cabinet all year, i clean it and put it away till the next year. But anyway's i usually spend a couple trips to the range and about $50 worth of bullets and powder before i finally get it sighted in. I generally do this off a bench with sandbags. Yesterday i got one bullet to go about an inch from dead center (down and to the right) so i adjusted my scope where i wanted it and then i couldnt figure out where the bullets are going. I've used this same set up for the last couple of years. Checked my scope rings and bases all was tight. The funny thing is though that once i get it sighted in i'm good for hunting season. The gun shoots incredibly well but for some reason it was way off this time and not shooting the groups i've become accustomed to. Any idea's on what the problem could be? I've thought about scope issues which i've had before, but the bushnell i've got on it now never has any problems. Any body else go through this same ordeal? I appreciate any thoughts on the subject.

Sean

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

If your gun shoots all over the place,either the gun doesnt like the load or you are not shooting well, or a combination of both.

I can't explain erratic shots one day and good groups the next. The gun should always group, maybe not at the intended POI.

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

Sounds like the scope or even the pellets going bad if they are old.

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

Two questions bornhunter.

1. Do you do any shooting between the end of the season and your sight-in session for the next season?

2. Yesterday, when it was 2 feet to the right, how many shots did you take before you adjusted the scope?

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

Right, that's what i thought, but i'm shooting off sand bags, and i KNOW i'm not jerking, the gun has a good crisp trigger, so i know it's not me. But if this scope has finally gone bad then that'll make the third one i've had go bad on this gun. 2 Simmons and a bushnell (current scope). The pellets were bought last year and kept in a dry box. I mean this is the same load i've used the last 2 years and harvested 7 deer. Last year i ended up using the 4-wheeler and a box of shot for a rest and had it dialed in. But i spent about 3 shooting sessions getting it dialed in. So, assuming it's not the scope or my shooting skills, any other idea's as to what it could be?

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

1) shooting with the muzzleloader? or shooting in general. I've spent a lot of time at the range this past year. My shooting skills have done nothing but improved.

2) I shot 3 shots to figure out where the slugs were going cleaning the barrel between shots.

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

The reason I asked question #2 is that if you were "chasing the bull" by adjusting the scope after each shot, you don't really know how the gun is shooting. You need to shoot at least three shots (5 is better) before making any adjustments to the scope. And you should be shooting those at 50 yards or less. Then you know how (or if) the gun is grouping its shots. If you shot three or five shots without adjusting the scope and the group was more than six inches or so, then it's either a sight problem or a shooter problem.

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

Oops, our last two posts overlapped. I posted mine before I saw your answer.

Did you adjust the scope between those shots, or were all three with the same scope setting? If they were with the same setting, what size was the group?

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

i adjusted it after the 3 shots, it was a 2 -3" group which is bigger than it should have been, but i adjusted the scope then got one close to where i wanted it then i started loosing bullets in the target, still have no idea where they were hitting.

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

Yep, sounds like the scope went KAFLOOEY. (That's a technical term I learned from my granddaughter.)

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

I'd dump the pellets and try some loose powder, that would be a lot cheaper to try out first before replacing the scope. Try some Pyrodex P and start out with 70gr with those 245's.

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

I had the same problem with my optima pro. Exactly as you describe-I never could figure it out either. You might want to try another bullet sabot combination. I just nrver could explain why mine did that either

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

If the rings and mount are tight it is a scope problem.

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

i was like that untill i discovered the problem. it was the 777 pellets. i gave them away and started using pyrodex with no complaints. for some reason my rifle shoots pyrodex alot better than 777. i could not get consistant groups with the 777, with pyrodex i am cutting holes at 100 yards.

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

Thanks, for your thoughts and information. You've, just reassured what i pretty much figured on just didnt want it to be true. Guess i'm gonna have to order a new scope, gonna get a sightron s1 3-9x40 to put on that thing! Then we'll see what happens.

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

I have a brand new Sightron S1 3-9x40mm here at the house. The old one fogged up on me and they replaced the scope with a new one. If you really want an Sightron, shoot me an IM or email. I purchased a different scope while I was waiting for this one..

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

bornhunter04

Have not followed this thread but at you mention of buying a new scope might check this deal out. I bought one and put it on my White - I really like it - great optics

Down side - if you are recoil attentive the eye relief might not be enough for you. For me the relief as measures is about 3 and 3/4"

http://www.hpmuzzleloading.com/SpecialOpportunity.html

Second - not sure what you might have to pay for a S1 but you can get a Bushnell Elite 3200 3x9x40 dual X with Rain Guard lenses for around $170... Outstanding scope

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

Are you definately, positively sure its the scope? Why don't you try shooting a group at 50 yds with the open sights. It its shooting tight then I would suspect the scope. But if its erratic with the open sights too then its either the gun or the load. If you determine its the load, then try some Pyrodex RS (loose) or some good old FFg.
When I had my Optima, it shot great with the Pyrodex pellets and the 245 PB.

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

That's kind of a head scratcher.... It COULD be the scope, but personally I'd try and rule out some other possibilities before I went out and bought a new scope.

First of all, I'd ditch the pellets, or try Pyrodex pellets instead of 777. I always got erratic accuracy & flyers with 777 pellets- I switched to 777 loose and problem was solved. Some people have reported that Pyrodex pellets shoot more consistently than 777 pellets.

Next, I'd get a couple different types of bullets and try shooting groups to see if you find what your gun consistently likes. If you want to stick with PB's, try some different weights, maybe the Platinums. If sabots are legal, you might want to try a tried and proven bullet that generally shoots well in most guns- like the 250 grain Shockwave/SST's.

RE: muzzleloader problem
 

Couple of things to consider. Your rifle is an in line right? With a tighter twist, say 26 or 28? Power belts are a full up bullet (no sabot just a plastic end on it). Try a sabotted round in it. I use a 360 grain Keith nose sabot for my 54 cal Thunderhawk (Google Precision Rifle). I use it for both Elk and Deer with a peep site (no scopes allowed on ML in Washington state). It is as accurate a load as I have every shot and has never failed me. The twist on my rifle is 38 and Powerbelts do not work well in it. Another quirky thing I learned. If your rifle has a floating barrel, be sure to rest the stock grip on the sand bag not the barrel alone. That one drove me crazy until a really experienced black powder guy helped me out with it. I use 110 grains of 777.

Steve