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Modern No. 209 Primer Ignition In-Line Rifle & Saboted Bullet Load Data
These load data charts will kick off with the loads and rifles we shoot most often here at North American Muzzleloader Hunting - and that would mean loads made up with Blackhorn 209 powder, shooting a Knight rifle...and more often than not, a Harvester Muzzleloading saboted bullet. Why? Because it is a combination that we've found to consistently work great together - more than any other combination we shoot. And we shoot a lot. By this time next year (in fall 2012), we anticipate having at least three, maybe four pages of modern saobted bullet loads published here, sharing the ballistics for a variety of powders, bullets and rifle models. But, for right now...let's get started with several Knight Rifles models, Blackhorn 209, and Harvester Muzzleloading bullets and sabots.
Note: In "our" load data, you will notice that in the rifle & load specifications, we also include a category for the "Working Bore". This is the actual length of the bore, from the muzzle to the face of the breech plug. There are now some rifle models sold as, say, "28-inch" barreled rifles...yet the "Working Bore" of those rifles is nearly the same as the "Working Bore" of other slightly shorter "26-inch or 27-inch" barreled rifle models. And that is due to the length of the breechplug. Rifle manufacturers tend to measure barrel length along the OUTSIDE of the barrel (including the full length of the portion of the barrel where the breech plug is installed). It is the length of the bore which plays the major role in the muzzle velocities produced.
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Note: In "our" load data, you will notice that in the rifle & load specifications, we also include a category for the "Working Bore". This is the actual length of the bore, from the muzzle to the face of the breech plug. There are now some rifle models sold as, say, "28-inch" barreled rifles...yet the "Working Bore" of those rifles is nearly the same as the "Working Bore" of other slightly shorter "26-inch or 27-inch" barreled rifle models. And that is due to the length of the breechplug. Rifle manufacturers tend to measure barrel length along the OUTSIDE of the barrel (including the full length of the portion of the barrel where the breech plug is installed). It is the length of the bore which plays the major role in the muzzle velocities produced.
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Knight Rifles .50 Caliber "Long Range Hunter" - Blackhorn 209 - And Harvester Muzzleloading "Scorpion PT Gold" Polymer Spire-Point...
Barrel Length: 27" Green Mountain
Working Bore: 26 1/2"
Rifling Twist: 1 turn-in-28"
Powder: Blachhorn 209 (Volume Measured)
Bullet: Harvester Muzzleloading Scorpion PT Gold
Bullet Weights Available: 240, 260 & 300 grains
Diameter: .451"
Sabot: Harvester Muzzleloading "Crush Rib Sabot"
Primer: CCI 209M
260-grain "Scorpion PT Gold" - .220 b.c.
Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy
90 gr. 1,904 f.p.s./2,090 f.p.e. 1,525 f.p.s./1,341 f.p.e. 1,321 f.p.s./1,003 f.p.e.
100 gr. 1,968 f.p.s./2,236 f.p.e. 1,604 f.p.s./1,482 f.p.e. 1,372 f.p.s./1,084 f.p.e.
110 gr. 2,039 f.p.s./2,401 f.p.e. 1,647 f.p.s./1,565 f.p.e. 1,429 f.p.s./1,178 f.p.e.
120 gr. 2,129 f.p.s./2,618 f.p.e. 1,778 f.p.s./1,825 f.p.e. 1,497 f.p.s./1,295 f.p.e.
Note: The buck in the photo here was taken in 2006, before Blackhorn 209 was developed. The deer was dropped at 191 yards with a pre-production run 260-grain Scorpion PT Gold and 110-grains of FFFg Triple Seven. Watch for Triple Seven load data and ballistics soon.
Working Bore: 26 1/2"
Rifling Twist: 1 turn-in-28"
Powder: Blachhorn 209 (Volume Measured)
Bullet: Harvester Muzzleloading Scorpion PT Gold
Bullet Weights Available: 240, 260 & 300 grains
Diameter: .451"
Sabot: Harvester Muzzleloading "Crush Rib Sabot"
Primer: CCI 209M
260-grain "Scorpion PT Gold" - .220 b.c.
Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy
90 gr. 1,904 f.p.s./2,090 f.p.e. 1,525 f.p.s./1,341 f.p.e. 1,321 f.p.s./1,003 f.p.e.
100 gr. 1,968 f.p.s./2,236 f.p.e. 1,604 f.p.s./1,482 f.p.e. 1,372 f.p.s./1,084 f.p.e.
110 gr. 2,039 f.p.s./2,401 f.p.e. 1,647 f.p.s./1,565 f.p.e. 1,429 f.p.s./1,178 f.p.e.
120 gr. 2,129 f.p.s./2,618 f.p.e. 1,778 f.p.s./1,825 f.p.e. 1,497 f.p.s./1,295 f.p.e.
Note: The buck in the photo here was taken in 2006, before Blackhorn 209 was developed. The deer was dropped at 191 yards with a pre-production run 260-grain Scorpion PT Gold and 110-grains of FFFg Triple Seven. Watch for Triple Seven load data and ballistics soon.
300-grain "Scorpion PT Gold" - .250 b.c.
Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy
90 gr. 1,823 f.p.s./2,211 f.p.e. 1,540 f.p.s./1,578 f.p.e. 1,331 f.p.s./1,178 f.p.e.
100 gr. 1,918 f.p.s./2,451 f.p.e. 1,633 f.p.s./1,776 f.p.e. 1,397 f.p.s./1,296 f.p.e.
110 gr. 1,967 f.p.s./2,577 f.p.s. 1,696 f.p.s./1,914 f.p.e. 1,439 f.p.s./1,377 f.p.e.
120 gr. 2,052 f.p.s./2,803 f.p.e. 1,736 f.p.s./2,007 f.p.s. 1,503 f.p.s./1,503 f.p.e.
Loads & Ballistics Data for the 240-grain "Scorpion PT Gold" will be added shortly, following some longer range shooting.
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Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy
90 gr. 1,823 f.p.s./2,211 f.p.e. 1,540 f.p.s./1,578 f.p.e. 1,331 f.p.s./1,178 f.p.e.
100 gr. 1,918 f.p.s./2,451 f.p.e. 1,633 f.p.s./1,776 f.p.e. 1,397 f.p.s./1,296 f.p.e.
110 gr. 1,967 f.p.s./2,577 f.p.s. 1,696 f.p.s./1,914 f.p.e. 1,439 f.p.s./1,377 f.p.e.
120 gr. 2,052 f.p.s./2,803 f.p.e. 1,736 f.p.s./2,007 f.p.s. 1,503 f.p.s./1,503 f.p.e.
Loads & Ballistics Data for the 240-grain "Scorpion PT Gold" will be added shortly, following some longer range shooting.
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Knight Rifles .50 Caliber "Mountaineer" - Blackhorn 209 - And Harvester Muzzleloading "Scorpion PT Gold"...
Note: The barrel of the new Knight "Mountaineer" is the same barrel found on the Knight "Long Range Hunter". When the former owners of Knight assembled several prototypes of this rifle, they sent one to North American Muzzleloader Hunting for testing. (The rifle was originally going to be dubbed the "Extreme Ultimate Slam" rifle.) The new owners of Knight Rifles opted to call it the "Mountaineer". It is the same rifle, built with a NON Full Plastic Jacket ignition system, with a bolt and breech plug for chambering a bare No. 209 primer for ignition.
This is a true "Magnum" muzzleloader, built for charges of Blackhorn 209 all the way up to 140-grains, and we've tested the rifle, with excellent accuracy, to 140 grains. The above loads for the "Long Range Hunter" shoot equally well out of this rifle...with the same velocities. For those of you wanting something with a bit more "ooomph", here are the hotter loads for this rifle.
260-grain "Scorpion PT Gold" - .220 b.c.
Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy
130 gr. 2,163 f.p.s./2,680 f.p.e. 1,838 f.p.s./1,950 f.p.e. 1,547 f.p.s./1,381 f.p.e.
140 gr. 2,189 f.p.s./2,766 f.p.e. 1,862 f.p.s./1,999 f.p.e. 1,595 f.p.s./1,471 f.p.e.
300-grain "Scorpion PT Gold" - .250 b.c.
Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy
130 gr. 2,091 f.p.s./2,913 f.p.e. 1,766 f.p.s./2,076 f.p.e. 1,531 f.p.s./1,559 f.p.e.
140 gr. 2,131 f.p.s./3,024 f.p.e. 1,798 f.p.s./2,152 f.p.e. 1,582 f.p.s./1,667 f.p.e.
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This is a true "Magnum" muzzleloader, built for charges of Blackhorn 209 all the way up to 140-grains, and we've tested the rifle, with excellent accuracy, to 140 grains. The above loads for the "Long Range Hunter" shoot equally well out of this rifle...with the same velocities. For those of you wanting something with a bit more "ooomph", here are the hotter loads for this rifle.
260-grain "Scorpion PT Gold" - .220 b.c.
Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy
130 gr. 2,163 f.p.s./2,680 f.p.e. 1,838 f.p.s./1,950 f.p.e. 1,547 f.p.s./1,381 f.p.e.
140 gr. 2,189 f.p.s./2,766 f.p.e. 1,862 f.p.s./1,999 f.p.e. 1,595 f.p.s./1,471 f.p.e.
300-grain "Scorpion PT Gold" - .250 b.c.
Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy
130 gr. 2,091 f.p.s./2,913 f.p.e. 1,766 f.p.s./2,076 f.p.e. 1,531 f.p.s./1,559 f.p.e.
140 gr. 2,131 f.p.s./3,024 f.p.e. 1,798 f.p.s./2,152 f.p.e. 1,582 f.p.s./1,667 f.p.e.
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Knight Rifles .50 DISC Extreme - Blackhorn 209 - And Barnes All-Copper Spit-Fire TMZ...
Rifle Barrel Length: 26" Green Mountain
Working Bore: 25 1/2"
Rifling Twist: 1 Turn-in-28 inches
Bullet: Barnes All-Copper Spit-Fire TMZ
(a.k.a. Knight Boat-Tail Series bullets)
Bullet Weights Available: 250 & 290 grains
Sabot: Produced by Muzzleload Magnum Products
Primer: CCI 209M
250-grain Spit-Fire TMZ - .210 b.c.
Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy
90 gr. 1,921 f.p.s./2,046 f.p.e. 1,534 f.p.s./1,303 f.p.e. 1,316 f.p.s./963 f.p.e.
100 gr. 1,984 f.p.s./2,182 f.p.e. 1,617 f.p.s./1,451 f.p.e. 1,364 f.p.s./1,033 f.p.e.
110 gr. 2,058 f.p.s./2,352 f.p.e. 1,673 f.p.s./1,550 f.p.e. 1,420 f.p.s./1,117 f.p.e.
120 gr. 2,137 f.p.s./2,535 f.p.e. 1,827 f.p.s./1,853 f.p.e. 1,486 f.p.s./1,225 f.p.e.
290-grain Spit-Fire TMZ - .241 b.c.
Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy
90 gr. 1,853 f.p.s./2,209 f.p.e. 1,566 f.p.s./1,577 f.p.e. 1,315 f.p.s./1,112 f.p.e.
100 gr. 1,947 f.p.s./2,442 f.p.e. 1,634 f.p.s./1,717 f.p.e. 1,377 f.p.s./1,219 f.p.e.
110 gr. 1,989 f.p.s./2,546 f.p.e. 1,703 f.p.s./1,862 f.p.e. 1,424 f.p.s./1,311 f.p.e.
120 gr. 2,084 f.p.s./2,796 f.p.e. 1,755 f.p.s./1,984 f.p.s. 1,474 f.p.s./1,396 f.p.e.
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Working Bore: 25 1/2"
Rifling Twist: 1 Turn-in-28 inches
Bullet: Barnes All-Copper Spit-Fire TMZ
(a.k.a. Knight Boat-Tail Series bullets)
Bullet Weights Available: 250 & 290 grains
Sabot: Produced by Muzzleload Magnum Products
Primer: CCI 209M
250-grain Spit-Fire TMZ - .210 b.c.
Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy
90 gr. 1,921 f.p.s./2,046 f.p.e. 1,534 f.p.s./1,303 f.p.e. 1,316 f.p.s./963 f.p.e.
100 gr. 1,984 f.p.s./2,182 f.p.e. 1,617 f.p.s./1,451 f.p.e. 1,364 f.p.s./1,033 f.p.e.
110 gr. 2,058 f.p.s./2,352 f.p.e. 1,673 f.p.s./1,550 f.p.e. 1,420 f.p.s./1,117 f.p.e.
120 gr. 2,137 f.p.s./2,535 f.p.e. 1,827 f.p.s./1,853 f.p.e. 1,486 f.p.s./1,225 f.p.e.
290-grain Spit-Fire TMZ - .241 b.c.
Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy
90 gr. 1,853 f.p.s./2,209 f.p.e. 1,566 f.p.s./1,577 f.p.e. 1,315 f.p.s./1,112 f.p.e.
100 gr. 1,947 f.p.s./2,442 f.p.e. 1,634 f.p.s./1,717 f.p.e. 1,377 f.p.s./1,219 f.p.e.
110 gr. 1,989 f.p.s./2,546 f.p.e. 1,703 f.p.s./1,862 f.p.e. 1,424 f.p.s./1,311 f.p.e.
120 gr. 2,084 f.p.s./2,796 f.p.e. 1,755 f.p.s./1,984 f.p.s. 1,474 f.p.s./1,396 f.p.e.
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New Levels Of Performance For Those Demanding More Knockdown Power...
Anyone thinking that all modern .50 caliber muzzleloaders are pretty much the same sure hasn't kept up with the times. All three of the latest No. 209 ignition rifles shown here are all pretty much capable of generating the velocities and energy levels shared on this page. If you still happen to hunt with one of the older model in-line ignition rifles, like the Knight MK-85 or the Thompson/Center ThunderHawk, loading and shooting the powders and saboted bullets available 15 to 20 years ago, you simply are not getting the kind of performance published here.
For a realistic look at the loads and ballistics data dating from the late 1980s and early 1990s, go to this page of vintage in-line rifle load data...
http://www.namlhunt.com/earlysabotml.html
Also, here is a look at a variety of modern loads made up with charges of loose grain Triple Seven - http://www.namlhunt.com/modernmldata2.html
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For a realistic look at the loads and ballistics data dating from the late 1980s and early 1990s, go to this page of vintage in-line rifle load data...
http://www.namlhunt.com/earlysabotml.html
Also, here is a look at a variety of modern loads made up with charges of loose grain Triple Seven - http://www.namlhunt.com/modernmldata2.html
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Coming Soon - A Page Devoted To Knight .52 DISC Extreme Loads & Data...
Here we'll share the loads that make Knight Rifle's relatively new .52 caliber models the real powerhouses of muzzleloader hunting today.
We should have this data published by 3/31/12
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Be Sure To Visit The Blackhorn 209 Website - www.blackhorn209.com
More At Harvester Muzzleloading Website - www.harvestermuzzleloading.com
CCI 209M - Our No. 1 Choice For Blackhorn 209 - www.cci-ammunition.com
