Information for New Muzzleloader Shooters

D

dwinor

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LAST EDITED ON Sep-02-14 AT 11:39AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Sep-02-14 AT 11:37?AM (MST)

Use the information you need, forget the rest. Rifle Manufactures, and models are at the bottom of this page.

POWDER:

I would check your manual and see what the mfg. recommends for any gun you select FF or FFF, you can call the Manufacture and ask them before you buy a gun.

Here is an explanation of different powders http://www.chuckhawks.com/blackpowder_roundup_2010.htm One I would recommend, Western Powders Blackhorn 209: http://www.blackhorn209.com I have shot them all and BH 209 is the best. The powder is so potent that the Mfg. only recommends 120 grains as a maximum load, even if the gun you purchase is designed to shoot 150 grains of other substitutes. Some older guns are not designed to shoot BH 209 or 150 grains of other substitutes. Here is the link to Western powders BH 209 article by Randy Wakeman I don't agree with everything he says but it will give you a good Idea of BH 209. http://www.chuckhawks.com/most_blackhorn_209.htm. One thing, If you decide to get a CVA and shoot BH 209, You need to buy a BH 209 breech plug from CVA http://www.cva.com/CVA-store.php or a western Powders BH 209 breech plug for CVA guns. You can also get information on various bullet Velocities and with powder charges of 100, 110 and 120 grains of Blackhorn 209 powder. When you get to this site click on go to Blackhorn 209 site. https://www.westernpowders.com/ The Accura V2 CVA BH 209 plug takes a 1/8? drill bit to clean the carbon out of the flash channel (area under the primer) OEM CVA Breech Plug takes .116 or #32 drill bit, other models may vary drill bit size. The western powders breech plug for CVA comes with the proper drill bit. My T/C Pro Hunter came factory ready for BH 209 or any other powder, it takes a 1/8? drill bit (SIZE COMPLEMENTS OF ENCORE) to clean the flash channel, and other T/C Models may take a different drill bit size. Here is a link for tools to clean the flash channel and the flash hole in a breech plug. http://www.plugcleaner.com/ you adjust the collar in the kit to keep the drill bit off the flash hole. They do not have a 1/8? collar in the current Kit. If the kit does not have your drill bit size call 440-238-6050 or e-mail them at [email protected] if you just want to use a drill bit wrap electrical tape around the shank until you can grip firmly the bit, then twist it in the flash channel using only finger pressure, about every 6 shots. Be careful as too much pressure could damage the flash hole.
Randy says to use an electric drill every 100 shots! I would not do this, you would probably damage the flash hole in the breech plug, and also if you cleaned the flash channel between every 100 shots, you would probably need an electric drill, lol. If there is any doubt as to the size of a drill bit to clean the Breech Plug on the gun you select, Call the manufacturer of the gun, you can do this before you make the purchase.

BULLETS: One bullet to try would be the Hornady .44 Cal 300 grain XTP with the Harvester green crush rib sabot, or the Hornady 250 grain SST/ML with the Thompson Center superglide sabot to initially sight in your gun, I use 100 grains of BH 209 with these 2 bullet combinations and accuracy is very very good, you could start at 90 grains and work your way up to 120 grains of BH 209 powder, use the load with the best group. Those bullets are both adequate to hunt deer. I'd keep the Hornady XTP in at 100 yards or closer, the SST/ML you could probably stretch it out a bit depending on your group. The reason I would recommend these bullets to sight in with is because they are relatively cheap, you could sight your gun in and get experience without shooting expensive bullets. Then you can select something like the TEZ and I don't think it would take you as long to sight it in the Barnes TEZ. As you sight your rifle in roughly adjust your scope or sights to the center of the target, all you want to do is find which bullet and charge combination is the most accurate. After you find your bullet and powder combination that is the most accurate in your gun, then it is time to start adjusting sights. I personally use the Barnes Spitfire TEZ 250 grain bullet, it is an all copper bullet and it is a flat base bullet and comes with a blue sabot. You can buy Barnes bullets in bulk and use MMP Sabots, here is a link to buy various bulk Barnes and other bullets & sabots. http://www.smokelessmz.com/bullets.html here is a link to choose sabots for Barnes Bullets. file:///H:/Best%20Accuracy%20For%20Your%20Muzzleloader%20%20%20Barnes%20Bullets.htm you can check the Blackhorn site above for bullet and velocity information using Blackhorn 209. Here is a link from Barnes with Bullet and Velocity information including numerous Powders except Blackhorn 209. It has various Black Powder Substitutes listed, and gives bullet types and velocities for numerous Barnes bullets, with powder charges varying from 90 to 150 grains of black powder substitutes (Not Blackhorn 209). http://www.barnesbullets.com/images/MuzzleloaderData.pdf The TEZ is very very accurate and expand at low velocities and at high velocities. I use 110 grains of BH 209 with this bullet, it groups well at 100 yards and will stretch out to 200 yards, farther than that depending on the shooter. Again if you start shooting the TEZ vary your charges until you find what your gun likes with the powder you select, start at 90 grains and work up to 120 grains of BH 209 (or you may wish to use another substitute). I would not use a powerbelt bullet, I do not think they are for beginners. Too much powder and they may disintegrate, too little and they will pencil through deer. The platinum powerbelt bullets are for magnum loads of 100 grains or more of powder. Many people swear by the powerbelts. I would not use T/C Maxie bullets, they have absolutely no expansion and will pencil through a deer. I used a 430 grain Maxie bullet to hunt deer, and killed many deer with the Maxie, with a .54 Renegade and 100 grains of Pyrodex powder it would knock your teeth out. Sabots may be obtained from Harvester https://www.harvestermuzzleloading.com/ Or MMP: http://mmpsabots.com/ here is a good supplier for Bullets and a lot of things. http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/Dept/Muzzleloaders/Projectiles?CurrentPage=1

RIFLES: I am partial to CVA guns, I just like them. I have an Accura V2 that works great for me. There are a number of Mfg.?s listed below. The only gun I could not recommend is the T/C Pro Hunter. Mine shoots great, I have had no issues, not hunting /or on the range. But I have read posts that indicate a problem with accuracy from some and no help from T/C. Many people modify the gun using aftermarket parts and also to include cutting off the end of the barrel known as the QLA. If one has problems they can cure all known issues with just $35.00 worth of parts (info. Provided by Encore), if one can do the work themselves. Not including cutting off the QLA if needed. If you can't do the work yourself it will probably cost you for a gun shop to do it for you, modifications would probably void your warranty with Thompson center. A beginner has no business buying a T/C Pro Hunter, The beginner has too much to learn and does not need to try to trouble shoot a gun being inaccurate, other than cleaning procedures, Bullet selection, powder selection or grains of powder to use.
http://www.cva.com/ Very good fast customer service, I think the best value for the money, accurate to. I own the Accura V2, CVA gives you 17 days to shoot it, if it is not the best gun you have ever shot CVA will refund your money.
http://www.knightrifles.com/ scroll to the bottom of the page to access all of the options. I have heard their customer service is lacking and that it can be hard to get a hold of them when needed, depending on what time of year it is. I have also heard their guns are accurate and kind of pricey, and harder to clean than a break action gun. I have never owned one of the knight muzzleloaders.
https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/category/Muzzleloaders I have never owned a Traditions muzzleloader, and have never heard anything about customer service. Once I read a review about one of their guns, there were a couple of minor negative comments, and as I remember the gun was accurate.
https://www.tcarms.com/firearms/ Scroll down to see muzzleloaders. Except for the Pro Hunter I have not heard much negative about the T/C line of guns. I think their customer service sucks. They are pricey.

I would consider looking around for prices if you find a muzzleloader you are interested in. The manufacture sites tend to be on the high dollar side. Here is one site that I hear is pretty good to deal with and has good deals on rifles: http://www.muzzle-loaders.com/muzzleloader-rifles.php When you find the rifle you want google it by Mfg. and model name, you will get many retail sites that you can compare pricing and reviews. Google a specific brand and/or type and/or caliber of bullet, you can compare prices and possibley find the bullet in bulk.
 
One thing I would add is to check local regs. Big thing here in nv is that BH 209 is not legal. Scopes are not legal either during the ml only hunt.
 
Thank you very much for posting this. I went to the Barnes link you posted and did not see the TEZ bullet listed there. Is it there listed under a different name or do you know of a table that does have its info on it. You have been very helpful.

Much thanks,

Ben
 

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