Long range muzzleloader

[madmardigan]

Anyone shooting 45 Arrowhead able to share what sort of velocity they are getting?

 

[Buckslyr]

Anyone shooting 45 Arrowhead able to share what sort of velocity they are getting?

2605fps with a Parker 310

 

[longrangelead]

The biggest hindrance to long range muzzies is the sighting system if you can't use a scope.

I joined RS back when I primarily hunted ML in a state that required all lead bullets, loose powder, cap ignition and open sights at the time, hence my handle.

I found peep sights to be the way. A Williams WGRS rear peep is OK, the target sights are even better. the target sight can be used to dial for distance like a scope.

The front sight needs a fine point of aim. I like the KNS crosshair sight, a Lyman globe or the Williams Western Precision globe.

After you have sights worked out. you need to find a load that is accurate. Start by weighing your charges on a good scale. I've found volume is frequently off by 10%(black powder/pyrodex)
weight and volume ARE NOT THE SAME. measure ten by volume, then weigh those and get an average to go forward.

Then find a bullet it likes that fits the regulations you have to meet.

Then shoot it and learn it's personality. How many shots can you go before cleaning the barrel etc.

My most accurate Muzzy was an Omega. w/140gr Pyrodex RS and a Hornady 225gr .452 FTX in a Black sabot, it would shoot 4" or less @ 250 yds. I never got to put it on paper beyond 250. The regulations changed and I got to hunt with the sabot combination 1 year. I killed an elk and a deer.
Then I moved to a state with no incentive to hunt with a muzzy for several years.

You could look up Gibbs rifles and paper patch bullets.

I'm about to build a Gibbs style rifle with the intent to have a primitive legal muzzy that will legitimately shoot well enough to hunt with out to 500yds.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

2605fps with a Parker 310

Is that with a shouldered barrel or a nut. I would think you’d be much faster than that with a shouldered rifle.

 

[ENCORE]

Shank size provides more information and tells the complete story.

Although not an Arrowhead build, but Arrowhead parts, I can send a 350gr XLD bullet at 3,200fps from my heavy varmint build.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

I don’t shoot an arrowhead, but I do have an early Hankins built savage rifle. This started out as a 308 CF rifle, not an MLII or ML. 24” barrel, believe it’s a pacnor. I’ve pushed a 275 to a little over 2800 fps. I’ve not messed with 300s enough to give a velocity. This past season I went to a 250 and slowed them way down, simply because I’m only shooting 200 yards at best. I don’t need the recoil, nor the performance. As encore stated, shank size dictates the load.

 

[Buckslyr]

Is that with a shouldered barrel or a nut. I would think you’d be much faster than that with a shouldered rifle.

Shouldered. That’s with a Blackhorn load. Smokeless will yield much higher numbers.