Variables In Muzzleloader Ballistics & Performance
If you've searched any at all for load information for the muzzle-loaded rifle or rifles you shoot and hunt with, chances are you may be a bit confused by the conflicting ballistics data published by the various muzzleloading rifle makers, bullet manufacturers and powder suppliers. The data provided by these companies can vary as much as 200 f.p.s. for rifles of the same caliber, with a similar barrel length, and loaded with the same weight bullet and amount of the same powder.
So...what gives?
There are a lot of variables that can and will affect the performance of any muzzle-loaded rifle on any given day of the year. From day to day, how these factors contribute to or detract from the velocities achieved or accuracy produced can be nearly unnoticeable. However, from one seasonal change to the next, and especailly from one year to the next, these changes in performance can be pretty dramatic. No muzzleloading expert has ever really identified every little thing that can have either a positive or negative impact on how well, or how poorly, a muzzleloading rifle shoots.
Here, we will take a good look at some of the most common variables, and identify those which the shooter can do something about, and those that simply must be accepted.
So...what gives?
There are a lot of variables that can and will affect the performance of any muzzle-loaded rifle on any given day of the year. From day to day, how these factors contribute to or detract from the velocities achieved or accuracy produced can be nearly unnoticeable. However, from one seasonal change to the next, and especailly from one year to the next, these changes in performance can be pretty dramatic. No muzzleloading expert has ever really identified every little thing that can have either a positive or negative impact on how well, or how poorly, a muzzleloading rifle shoots.
Here, we will take a good look at some of the most common variables, and identify those which the shooter can do something about, and those that simply must be accepted.
How Temperature Change Can Affect Velocity & Accuracy...
Severe temperature change is likely the leading factor that affects the performance of today's widely used modern in-line ignition rifles loaded with a plastic saboted bullet. Simply put, with the load being exactly the same, these rifles and bullets ARE NOT going to produce the same velocities or degree of accuracy in the heat of summer as they do during cooler fall or winter weather. When the temperatures soar into the 90s, it is not uncommon for a modern .50 caliber in-line rifle and load to lose as much as 60 to 100 f.p.s. with the same combination that shot just that much faster during a December or January late muzzleloader hunt. Likewise, the same rifle and load that regularly shot inside of 1 1/2 inches at a hundred yards during cooler weather may get a little wild during hot weather, and in severe cases the shooter my find it impossible to keep hundred yard groups inside of 4...5...6...or more inches. During a summer shooting session, as seen here, don't expect your rifle and load to shoot the same as it did during last fall/winter hunting season.
When it gets this hot, two things happen. First, the polymer materials used to produce today's sabots are adversely affected by high heat. The plastic sabot simply gets softer and less resilient. In worse cases, when loaded into a barrel that is not allowed to cool between shots during hot weather, the sabot can actually fail, and exit the muzzle in bits and pieces or stretched plastic strands. When this happens, you'll do good to keep hits on a 4'x4' target board at just 50 yards.
Secondly, even when the sabot has the integrity to hold together and somewhat contain the pressure of the burning powder charge, point of rifle impact will very commonly change due to the fact that the load has lost considerable velocity. If the rifle was sighted in with a saboted bullet back when temperatures were in the 40s or 50s, or cooler, when the thermometer is showing temperatures in the 80s or 90s, velocity can be reduced as much as 5- to 10-percent. Again, being softer and less resilient in hot weather, the sabot cannot grip the bore as tightly as it does during cooler weather. And this slight loss of compression means the powder charge does not burn as efficiently.
When it gets this hot, two things happen. First, the polymer materials used to produce today's sabots are adversely affected by high heat. The plastic sabot simply gets softer and less resilient. In worse cases, when loaded into a barrel that is not allowed to cool between shots during hot weather, the sabot can actually fail, and exit the muzzle in bits and pieces or stretched plastic strands. When this happens, you'll do good to keep hits on a 4'x4' target board at just 50 yards.
Secondly, even when the sabot has the integrity to hold together and somewhat contain the pressure of the burning powder charge, point of rifle impact will very commonly change due to the fact that the load has lost considerable velocity. If the rifle was sighted in with a saboted bullet back when temperatures were in the 40s or 50s, or cooler, when the thermometer is showing temperatures in the 80s or 90s, velocity can be reduced as much as 5- to 10-percent. Again, being softer and less resilient in hot weather, the sabot cannot grip the bore as tightly as it does during cooler weather. And this slight loss of compression means the powder charge does not burn as efficiently.
Compression Of The Powder Charge Insures More Spontaneous Ignition...
Many of you who are now shooting with Blackhorn 209 may have also found out, the hard way, that this new muzzleloader propellant also needs an adequate amount of compression to insure spontaneous ignition. When a sabot fits loosely, the delayed fire makes shooting a No. 209 primer ignition in-line rifle with loads of Blackhorn 209 a lot more like shooting a flintlock. As temperatures rise above 70 or 80 degrees, and the barrel becomes hot from shooting, the sabot cannot grip the bore tight enough to insure that the rifle fires at the exact same milisecond each time. While powdes like Triple Seven or Pyrodex may seem to be firing more spontaneously, the extremely slight variance in ignition does affect accuracy. When ignition is truly spontaneous, groups like that at the right are often the reward.
If the rifle was transported to the range in an air-conditioned vehicle, chances are the first two or three shots may be extremely close to where it was printing last fall or winter. Then as the barrel begins to heat, point of impact down range begins to change. Commonly, as the velocity decreases, the point of impact at 100 yards begins to rise. This can also confuse shooters who may have accepted the fact that the rifle is shooting slower, and expect the bullet to drop lower on the target. And this will happen out at longer ranges. However, the slower the bullet travels down the bore, the more rise there is with the muzzle before the bullet exits. And this generally means a rise in the point of impact, especially when shooting off of a bench rest, with the forearm of the rifle resting on a sandbag.
Many hunters from the East, Midwest and Southeast who are headed to the West for an early muzzleloader season often find they have to do some shooting in late August or early September - during hot weather. Faced with shooting a saboted bullet in hot weather, for whatever reason, to beat the heat do your shooting at daybreak. And allow he barrel to cool 5 to 10 minutes between shots. If the sun has already popped up, give the muzzleloader its cool down time in the shade. You may find that an entire morning of shooting may only permit a dozen or so shots, but you'll find that the rifle performs more like the deadly accurate muzzleloader you remember from last fall...instead of throwing a pattern that looks as if it was shot with a shotgun and a load of "00" buckshot!
If the rifle was transported to the range in an air-conditioned vehicle, chances are the first two or three shots may be extremely close to where it was printing last fall or winter. Then as the barrel begins to heat, point of impact down range begins to change. Commonly, as the velocity decreases, the point of impact at 100 yards begins to rise. This can also confuse shooters who may have accepted the fact that the rifle is shooting slower, and expect the bullet to drop lower on the target. And this will happen out at longer ranges. However, the slower the bullet travels down the bore, the more rise there is with the muzzle before the bullet exits. And this generally means a rise in the point of impact, especially when shooting off of a bench rest, with the forearm of the rifle resting on a sandbag.
Many hunters from the East, Midwest and Southeast who are headed to the West for an early muzzleloader season often find they have to do some shooting in late August or early September - during hot weather. Faced with shooting a saboted bullet in hot weather, for whatever reason, to beat the heat do your shooting at daybreak. And allow he barrel to cool 5 to 10 minutes between shots. If the sun has already popped up, give the muzzleloader its cool down time in the shade. You may find that an entire morning of shooting may only permit a dozen or so shots, but you'll find that the rifle performs more like the deadly accurate muzzleloader you remember from last fall...instead of throwing a pattern that looks as if it was shot with a shotgun and a load of "00" buckshot!
Humidity Can Also Be A Big Factor In Muzzleloader Performance...
The relative humidity can reach 100-percent saturation and not rain...however, when it does rain you can rest assured that the humidity level is also at 100-percent.
Either way when there is that amount of moisture in the air, it most definitely affects the performance of any muzzle-loaded rifle, whether it is a traditionally styled muzzleloader stuffed with a patched round ball or bore-sized conical bullet...or a modern in-line rifle loaded with a plastic-saboted bullet. And while the percent of humidity does not tend to affect the latter as much as hot temperatures, air that's heavy with moisture can slow things down slightly.
The fact is, the powders used to load a muzzleloading gun have to be, at one time or another, exposed to the air. And most of these powders, burnt or not, are hygroscopic and will pull moisture from the air. (There's a reason why shooters of the past, who had only muzzleloaders for self-protection and for hunting, commonly hung their black powder horns and flasks relatively close to the hearth!) And when the humidity level is right at 100-percent, raining or not, the powder you're loading and shooting has some degree of dampness to it. This will affect its burning rate and how it performs.
When loading and shooting in damp weather, rain or high humidity, try to avoid leaving powder canisters open for any longer than absolutely necessary. If you use a powder flask or horn to carry your powder, you may want to coat all seams with some type of sealer. And when you measure a charge of powder, get it into the barrel as quickly as possible, and get the projectile seated over it before interrupting the load sequence.
Even when all precautions are taken, shooting in wet weather (100-percent humidity) can rob a rifle's performance of 30 to 40 f.p.s. Rapidly changing humidity levels can also affect point of impact. When travelling from one climatic zone to another, always take a few shots to insure that the rifles still shoots "on" well enough for the hunt.
Either way when there is that amount of moisture in the air, it most definitely affects the performance of any muzzle-loaded rifle, whether it is a traditionally styled muzzleloader stuffed with a patched round ball or bore-sized conical bullet...or a modern in-line rifle loaded with a plastic-saboted bullet. And while the percent of humidity does not tend to affect the latter as much as hot temperatures, air that's heavy with moisture can slow things down slightly.
The fact is, the powders used to load a muzzleloading gun have to be, at one time or another, exposed to the air. And most of these powders, burnt or not, are hygroscopic and will pull moisture from the air. (There's a reason why shooters of the past, who had only muzzleloaders for self-protection and for hunting, commonly hung their black powder horns and flasks relatively close to the hearth!) And when the humidity level is right at 100-percent, raining or not, the powder you're loading and shooting has some degree of dampness to it. This will affect its burning rate and how it performs.
When loading and shooting in damp weather, rain or high humidity, try to avoid leaving powder canisters open for any longer than absolutely necessary. If you use a powder flask or horn to carry your powder, you may want to coat all seams with some type of sealer. And when you measure a charge of powder, get it into the barrel as quickly as possible, and get the projectile seated over it before interrupting the load sequence.
Even when all precautions are taken, shooting in wet weather (100-percent humidity) can rob a rifle's performance of 30 to 40 f.p.s. Rapidly changing humidity levels can also affect point of impact. When travelling from one climatic zone to another, always take a few shots to insure that the rifles still shoots "on" well enough for the hunt.
Fouling Makes Loading Diffcult & Affects Internal Ballistics...
One advantage of shooting and hunting where the humidity level is high is that the fouling in the bore from a shot tends to remain softer than in a much drier climate. Thanks to the more than zealous advertising and promotion of a few powder and bullet makers who now push loading and shooting their products without taking the time to wipe the bore between shots, the number of muzzleloading shooters and hunters who now don't has really skyrocketed. However, if you check with most rifle makers, you'll find that for best accuracy, the majority still recommend taking a few seconds to wipe the bore betweeen shots.
(Note: The ONLY modern black powder substitute that North American Muzzleloader Hunting has found that permits the reloading of more than 3 shots without wiping the bore has been Blackhorn 209. In fact, the 100-yard target shown here has 50 shots passing through one 1.6 inch hole - shot during a 4 1/2-hour range session with Blackhorn 209 and the 300-grain Scorpion PT Gold...without once wiping the bore of the Knight .50 caliber Long Range Hunter used for the test.)
With some powders, namely black powder and Pyrodex, wiping the bore is pretty much a necessity - or after the thrid shot, you just may not even get the projectile to seat on top of the powder. Unfortunately, getting the projectile seated "close" to the same spot for every shot is not an option if you're looking to achieve absolute best acuracy. If the projectile is seated 3...4...or more inches off the powder charge, it could create a dangerous situation, possibly even resulting in a blown or split barrel.
(Note: The ONLY modern black powder substitute that North American Muzzleloader Hunting has found that permits the reloading of more than 3 shots without wiping the bore has been Blackhorn 209. In fact, the 100-yard target shown here has 50 shots passing through one 1.6 inch hole - shot during a 4 1/2-hour range session with Blackhorn 209 and the 300-grain Scorpion PT Gold...without once wiping the bore of the Knight .50 caliber Long Range Hunter used for the test.)
With some powders, namely black powder and Pyrodex, wiping the bore is pretty much a necessity - or after the thrid shot, you just may not even get the projectile to seat on top of the powder. Unfortunately, getting the projectile seated "close" to the same spot for every shot is not an option if you're looking to achieve absolute best acuracy. If the projectile is seated 3...4...or more inches off the powder charge, it could create a dangerous situation, possibly even resulting in a blown or split barrel.
Triple Seven "Crud Ring" Makes It Impossible To Properly Seat The Projectile!
Hodgdon Powder Company's relatively new Triple Seven is a great black powder substitute. This powder is basically a non-corrosive sulfur-free muzzleloader propellant that is actually fairly clean burning. However, it does have one not so good trait.
Triple Seven is a sugar carbon based powder, and with many of the standard No. 209 shotshell primers, the added flame tends to create a crusty ring in the bore - just about where the projectile seats over the powder charge. This problem is more evident when using the "magnum" No. 209 shot-shell primers. And when a shooter does not take the time to run a lightly dampened patch down the bore between shots (followed by a dry one), this ring will quickly build. And after just two or three shots, it becomes impossible to seat the bullet solidly on top of the powder charge. Accuracy can really suffer.
New No. 209 primers, such as the Winchester "Triple Seven" primers have been developed to produce a larger volume of fire without delivering excessive heat and pressure. This greatly reduces the build up of what shooters have not so fondly dubbed the "Crud Ring". Still, accuracy minded in-line rifle shooters continue to find that they obtain the highest degree of accuracy when time is taken to run a damp patch down the bore between shots.
Triple Seven is a sugar carbon based powder, and with many of the standard No. 209 shotshell primers, the added flame tends to create a crusty ring in the bore - just about where the projectile seats over the powder charge. This problem is more evident when using the "magnum" No. 209 shot-shell primers. And when a shooter does not take the time to run a lightly dampened patch down the bore between shots (followed by a dry one), this ring will quickly build. And after just two or three shots, it becomes impossible to seat the bullet solidly on top of the powder charge. Accuracy can really suffer.
New No. 209 primers, such as the Winchester "Triple Seven" primers have been developed to produce a larger volume of fire without delivering excessive heat and pressure. This greatly reduces the build up of what shooters have not so fondly dubbed the "Crud Ring". Still, accuracy minded in-line rifle shooters continue to find that they obtain the highest degree of accuracy when time is taken to run a damp patch down the bore between shots.
Consistent Projectile Seating Pressure Gives Consistent Velocities...
Ask a dozen different veteran muzzleloading shooters about how much pressure is needed on the ramrod to seat the projectile in order to get best accuracy, and you are likely to get about as many answers. But it is a good bet that most who strive for the best accuracy with the their rifle and load will share that somewhere between 40 and 50 pounds of pressure is a must. And the truth is, most do not have a clue how much pressure they're really exerting on that ramrod when seating a projectile over the powder charge.
For years, I shot regularly with a small groups of very accuracy minded muzzleloading shooters, and to check just how much pressure each was applying on the ramord, I once carried a bathroom scale to the range with me. I had each shooter drop in their powder charge, start their bullet, then push it down until it just made contact with the powder charge. The butt of the rifle was then placed on the scale, and the weight of the rifle recorded. Each shooter then finished seating the projectile, and the weight used recorded. The average seating pressure was between 70 and 80 pounds.
During another visit to the range, again with the old bathroom scale, I purposely loaded my .50 caliber in-line and saboted bullets with varying seating pressure. One was loaded with 40 pounds, another was loaded with 50 pounds of pressure, and another with 70 pounds of pressure. The hundred yard group punched measured right at 3 1/2 inches across. Then, I took the same rifle, same powder charge, and same saboted bullet - and very carefully loaded it with the same 70 pounds of seating pressure for each and every shot. The group shot measured right at 1 1/2 inches. I did the same thing with all shots seated with 40 pounds...and produced a similarly sized group. Then I did it again with all three shots seated with 50 pound of pressure, and punched another similar sized group. While each group shot was very acceptable, I found that with each change of pressure...the group would print an inch or so from the center of the other groups. (Generally they overlapped.) The key is to use as close to the same amount of seating pressure as humanly possible for each and every shot - whether at the range or when hunting.
Now, hunters can't go around packing a bathroom scale every time they head for the deer woods. But we can develop a feel for the amount of pressure exerted on the ramrod when loading. I've found that it takes 30 or so pounds of pressure on the ramrod to push one of Harvester Muzzleloading's 300-grain Scorpion PT Gold bullets and "Crush Rib Sabot" combos down the bore. When it makes solid contact with the powder, I give it an extra "nudge" that takes seating pressure to about 70 pounds.
For years, I shot regularly with a small groups of very accuracy minded muzzleloading shooters, and to check just how much pressure each was applying on the ramord, I once carried a bathroom scale to the range with me. I had each shooter drop in their powder charge, start their bullet, then push it down until it just made contact with the powder charge. The butt of the rifle was then placed on the scale, and the weight of the rifle recorded. Each shooter then finished seating the projectile, and the weight used recorded. The average seating pressure was between 70 and 80 pounds.
During another visit to the range, again with the old bathroom scale, I purposely loaded my .50 caliber in-line and saboted bullets with varying seating pressure. One was loaded with 40 pounds, another was loaded with 50 pounds of pressure, and another with 70 pounds of pressure. The hundred yard group punched measured right at 3 1/2 inches across. Then, I took the same rifle, same powder charge, and same saboted bullet - and very carefully loaded it with the same 70 pounds of seating pressure for each and every shot. The group shot measured right at 1 1/2 inches. I did the same thing with all shots seated with 40 pounds...and produced a similarly sized group. Then I did it again with all three shots seated with 50 pound of pressure, and punched another similar sized group. While each group shot was very acceptable, I found that with each change of pressure...the group would print an inch or so from the center of the other groups. (Generally they overlapped.) The key is to use as close to the same amount of seating pressure as humanly possible for each and every shot - whether at the range or when hunting.
Now, hunters can't go around packing a bathroom scale every time they head for the deer woods. But we can develop a feel for the amount of pressure exerted on the ramrod when loading. I've found that it takes 30 or so pounds of pressure on the ramrod to push one of Harvester Muzzleloading's 300-grain Scorpion PT Gold bullets and "Crush Rib Sabot" combos down the bore. When it makes solid contact with the powder, I give it an extra "nudge" that takes seating pressure to about 70 pounds.
Fresh Powder & Consistent Charges Produce Great Accuracy & Performance...
Unlike wine, muzzleloader propellants do not get better with age. Once the factory seal is broken on a canister, most modern black powder substitutes begin to deteriorate - and quicker than most shooters realize. If opened powder is simply stored in an unheated garage, older substitutes like Pyrodex can lose 10- to 15-percent of its "oomph" in just six months. So, start every season with a new can of powder, and if you must store it for any length of time, say three or so months, store it in a controlled climate - air conditioned in hot weather and heated in cold weather. To try using powder saved from the previous year can prove to be nothing more than a frustrating waste of time and good bullets.
Black powder can be very forgving when it comes to loading. Charges that vary as much as 2 to 3 grains will still, generally, print the ball or bullet inside of fairly acceptable groups. And the reason is the very mild pressure levels produced by black powder charges. Most round ball loads for .50 and .54 caliber rifles rarely top 12,000 p.s.i., while heftier charges of black powder behind 300 to 500 grain bore-sized conical lead bullets are commonly well under 16,000 p.s.i. When loading 80...90...or 100 grains of FFg or FFFg black powder, charges varying a few grains have very little effect on the amount of pressure produced.
On the other hand, modern black powder substitutes like Triple Seven produce considerably more pressure, and velocity. The widely used 100-grain charges of FFFg Triple Seven behind a saboted 240- to 300-grain bullet can push pressure levels well into the lower 20,000 p.s.i. range. Powder charges that vary as much as 3 grains can cause pressure fluctuations of 500 or more p.s.i. When internal ballistics vary this much from shot to shot, a shooter will never tap the accuracy potential of the rifle and load. To produce tight 1 1/2-inch hundred yard groups with any degree of repeatability requires loading with very precise powder charges. Many serious shooters have now even turned to weighing each and every charge on a scale, and carry them to the range or into the field in sealed tubes.
The fact is, more modern in-line rifle shooters very likely now load with the compressed pellet charges than with loads made up of loose grain powder. The convenience of simply dropping in a two- or three-pellet charge seems to really appeal to the muzzleloading hunter who, at most only shoots 30 to 50 shots a year. And if these pellets are all a shooter ever loads with, he or she may never truly know how well their rifle shoots!
Any shooter with access to an electronic scale is encouraged to take a band new container of pellets (Triple Seven Pellets, Pyrodex Pellets, American Pioneer Powder "Stix") and carefully weigh each and every one. They'll quickly find that there can be anywhere from 2 to 3 grains weight variation from one pellet to another. This means that when the muzzleloading hunter is dropping in two of the so-called "50-grain" pellets, that charge can vary as much as 4 to 6 grains. And when loading with the now popular three-pellet 150-grain hunting charges, the powder charge propelling the bullet down the bore and to the target can vary as much as 6 to 9 grains.
Black powder can be very forgving when it comes to loading. Charges that vary as much as 2 to 3 grains will still, generally, print the ball or bullet inside of fairly acceptable groups. And the reason is the very mild pressure levels produced by black powder charges. Most round ball loads for .50 and .54 caliber rifles rarely top 12,000 p.s.i., while heftier charges of black powder behind 300 to 500 grain bore-sized conical lead bullets are commonly well under 16,000 p.s.i. When loading 80...90...or 100 grains of FFg or FFFg black powder, charges varying a few grains have very little effect on the amount of pressure produced.
On the other hand, modern black powder substitutes like Triple Seven produce considerably more pressure, and velocity. The widely used 100-grain charges of FFFg Triple Seven behind a saboted 240- to 300-grain bullet can push pressure levels well into the lower 20,000 p.s.i. range. Powder charges that vary as much as 3 grains can cause pressure fluctuations of 500 or more p.s.i. When internal ballistics vary this much from shot to shot, a shooter will never tap the accuracy potential of the rifle and load. To produce tight 1 1/2-inch hundred yard groups with any degree of repeatability requires loading with very precise powder charges. Many serious shooters have now even turned to weighing each and every charge on a scale, and carry them to the range or into the field in sealed tubes.
The fact is, more modern in-line rifle shooters very likely now load with the compressed pellet charges than with loads made up of loose grain powder. The convenience of simply dropping in a two- or three-pellet charge seems to really appeal to the muzzleloading hunter who, at most only shoots 30 to 50 shots a year. And if these pellets are all a shooter ever loads with, he or she may never truly know how well their rifle shoots!
Any shooter with access to an electronic scale is encouraged to take a band new container of pellets (Triple Seven Pellets, Pyrodex Pellets, American Pioneer Powder "Stix") and carefully weigh each and every one. They'll quickly find that there can be anywhere from 2 to 3 grains weight variation from one pellet to another. This means that when the muzzleloading hunter is dropping in two of the so-called "50-grain" pellets, that charge can vary as much as 4 to 6 grains. And when loading with the now popular three-pellet 150-grain hunting charges, the powder charge propelling the bullet down the bore and to the target can vary as much as 6 to 9 grains.
A Few Other Things That Can Affect Ballistics & Accuracy...
Even the rate of rifling twist found in a muzzle-loaded rifle barrel can and will affect the velocity of the load shot. However, the difference in muzzle velocity between a one turn-in-24 inches bore and a one turn-in-28 inches bore...or even a one turn-in-66 inches bore for that matter...is not enough to be of any real significance if all feature the same barrel length of the same caliber, are loaded with the same amount of the same powder, and shooting a projectile of the same weight. However, in the accuracy department, matching the type of projectile shot with the proper rate of rifling twist is key to obtaining optimum performance.
(Photo - Country music super star Craig Morgan with a buck taken with his .50 caliber Traditions Vortek rifle.)
Every change from shot to shot, season to season, location to location is a variable that can affect one way or another the performance of any muzzle-loaded rifle. Even a few thousand feet of elevation change can cause a rifle to print just a bit higher or lower, depending on whether the hunter went up or down. Fortunately, many of these variables can either be controlled or compensated for by the muzzleloading rifleman...provided the shooter knows there is or will be a slight difference.
The consistency of loading, using the same exact measure of the same powder, loading with the same seating pressure, and even using the same brand of primer for ignition has its rewards. And with a muzzle-loaded rifle, it's generally better accuracy and repeatable performance. - Toby Bridges, North American Muzzleloader Hunting
Published 10-25-11
(Photo - Country music super star Craig Morgan with a buck taken with his .50 caliber Traditions Vortek rifle.)
Every change from shot to shot, season to season, location to location is a variable that can affect one way or another the performance of any muzzle-loaded rifle. Even a few thousand feet of elevation change can cause a rifle to print just a bit higher or lower, depending on whether the hunter went up or down. Fortunately, many of these variables can either be controlled or compensated for by the muzzleloading rifleman...provided the shooter knows there is or will be a slight difference.
The consistency of loading, using the same exact measure of the same powder, loading with the same seating pressure, and even using the same brand of primer for ignition has its rewards. And with a muzzle-loaded rifle, it's generally better accuracy and repeatable performance. - Toby Bridges, North American Muzzleloader Hunting
Published 10-25-11
Be Sure To Visit The Blackhorn 209 Website - www.blackhorn209.com
Check Out Harvester Muzzleloading at www.harvestermuzzleloading.com
For A Great Muzzleloader Scope Deal - http://www.namlhunt.com/specialoffer.html
Fusion Muzleloading Primers - www.fusionammo.com
