5:30 AM - 82 degrees, muggy and foggy when I start tending the animals. Maybe I ought to go to work today, but then, any day at the range beats the best day at work.

The New Gun - Pre-ordered this in April, got it in late may. I took some time to get the scope (Redfield 2-7x33mm), rings (Leupold Rifleman) and base (Knight one piece).


Serial Number 50 -


The Load - Being a trad-gunner for the most part, I stick with a one powder does it all. I get confused with too many options. 90 gr. GOEX 2F, CCI #11, Barnes TM-EX 290 gr bullets. I swab with T/C #13 patch and a dry patch between shots.


The Range Trip - I unpack, and realize I left my possibles bag, flask and measure at home. I consider calling it a short day, but head in to the range store ( http://www.knobcreekrange.com/ ) and purchase a Butler creek GOEX spout and a Knight powder measure.

I barely get zeroed at 25 yards, when the lightning and thunder start, my target blows over, and minutes later, the water is ankle deep at the range. My target is unable to cope.


After the storm passes, I use what is left of my target stand, move it to 100 yards. Unfortunately, the grass is tall enough, I cannot see the center of the left most target.

I shoot dead center of the center target, and see nothing from the bench. I move up from my bench, and can see that the shot is low. I shoot again, and cut almost the same hole. I adjust 2.5" right, 3" up, and shoot the next to rounds into the right hand bull.


The thunder starts to rumble again, and I decide that cleaning guns in the garage at home seems a safer bet.

Can't wait for deer season with the new Knight! Hope the muggy weather is over for 2011

Congrats on the new gun! It looks like it is going to come around quite nicely!

I don't know where your at or how long your average shots are. but Flinthead who is a member on this forum, just bought a bighorn and posted pics shooting .75 gr pyrodex and a .460 No Excuse at 100 yds, with outstanding accuracy.if thats the barnes .290 gr TEZ, it needs to be pushed hard.not unusal to see loads of 100-110 of 777 or BH209 used to scoot it along.that is a long bullet compared to a lead jacketed .300 gr bullet. maybe try the .250 gr or another bullet.Ray

Nice rifle. Sometimes, no matter how much we want to get out an shoot it just might be better to stay home and sip coffee and wait for another day with more promising weather.
There's nothing worse than getting all set up and along comes the rain. Especially with a ML.

Looking good Palehorse. Quitting the range under those circumstances is the right thing to do. That gun wouldn't look as good with a lightning scorched stock.

Those Bighorn Rifles are good rifles. A person I talk to shoots 300 grain XTPs with 85 grains of Goex and claims his is super accurate with that load. I almost purchased a Bighorn a while back. But at the last second a different person threw $5.00 more dollars on it with seconds to spare.

Thanks for the comments all

builder459, you mentioned:
My shots run between 15 yards and 75 yards, with 40 yards being typical. It is the Barnes 290 T-EZ. Are you recommending more powder to get expansion?

that or switch to the MZ Barnes

The T-EZ's will work fine at that range. But you're really not getting the addeded benefit of the BC at that range. If they shoot well, by all means go for it. The Expanders might be a better choice for you though. They have a big ol' hollow point and will shoot real well at the distances you hunt. It's actually my favorite Barnes.

why not try the 250's