WV, the ballistic chart I had said the drop between 100 yards and 200 yards would be about 21/22", so that's what I was guessing at.

You're probably right Ed. The group might have been a little tighter using the crosshairs rather than an undefined point along the vertical axis of the crosshairs. But because I was using the midpoint between the lower crosshatch and the beginning of the thick part of the crosshair, I was able to pin it down fairly tight.

I hear you Ron. Had I more time for some additional shooting I probably would have made the adjustment. Maybe next time. But I would never be fooling around with the dial in a hunting situation. So I wanted to see how the BDC functioned.

I use the free ballistic calculator at Handloads.com. It's really close to the one you posted. The only quirk is it doesn't have a print option, so you have to do a screen capture and save it to a picture file.

With that load i'd keep my max distance at 150yds.

Why is that Pete? At 200 yards that bullet has over 1200 ft. lbs. of energy. That's a few hundred pounds more than a .54 caliber ball has at 25 yards when shot with 90 grains of powder.

I am impressed to say the least. 200 yards, that's a long shot with a muzzle loader. Very good shooting.

On a side note, I was reading the other night about the Civil War snipers shooting the .451 caliber lead conicals making similar and even further shots with open sights. One mentioned a Verner Tang Peep sight. It just amazed me. But again, their goal was not a bulls eye but a human being body. They just wanted to put lead in it.

I have some longer bullets for that caliber if you want to play more. Be more then glad to send you some.

I do appreciate the offer Cayugad. But I don't think I want to shoot anything heavier than those 465's. They have quite enough oomph at the butt end.

Just a personal thing. I don't use a BDC scope. So, i'd sight in that load for 125yds, and be able to hold dead on out to 150yds, and keep it in the elks kill zone.

That would be the max shot in my timber.

I hear ya` Pete.

Regarding that Powderhorn BDC scope. I haven't used it much and so far am not sure I'm a fan. For hunting, and when set on 10X, it's not nearly as fast as my favorite old Simmons 4X ProDiamond for getting on target. Besides, that long scope on the Renegade is not nearly as pleasing to my eye as is the little 4X.

I need to see how the BDC lines work at various ranges with the scope set on 4X or 6X before deciding, but I'll likely be taking the Powderhorn off the gun and putting the Simmons back on. You may see a "lightly used" Powderhorn scope posted in the classifieds section a few months from now.

I'm not a fan of BDC scopes. Too much clutter for me. I just want to put the crosshair in the kill zone, and pull the trigger. The faster on target the better. 1.5x-2x is perfect for me. If I can't smell the elk when I shoot. I'm too far away.

I'm sure BDC scopes are great for those who take long shots.

Wow!! Great shooting Semi!! Did you swab between shots or keep her fouled? My shots are maybe 100yds max. most being 50-75 give or take. Now I gotta try some of Ed's lead...