150-200 yard range?

[rasbo]

if I cant get within 50 yrds, time for a rifle,thats just me.

[Little Fish]

Thanks for the responses guys. And to clarify.....this is a curiosity question. I'm not trying to start a debate on the merits of long distance muzzle loader shooting.

With that said. There are a lot of guys shooting out to 150-200 yards with muzzleloaders with accurate and deadly results. I think it depends alot on what type of gun you're shooting, how much time you've invested at the range and how much time you've spent working up an accurate bullet/powder combination.

In my opinion a modern inline muzzleloader is pretty darn close to being a rifle. Although I don't plan on doing it, I suspect if my gun were scoped it wouldn't be difficult to shoot accurately out to 200 yards.

[Intruder]

In my opinion a modern inline muzzleloader is pretty darn close to being a rifle. Although I don't plan on doing it, I suspect if my gun were scoped it wouldn't be difficult to shoot accurately out to 200 yards.

Scoped.... piece a cake, especially w/ the more modern bullets and sabots.

[rasbo]

In my opinion a modern inline muzzleloader is pretty darn close to being a rifle. Although I don't plan on doing it, I suspect if my gun were scoped it wouldn't be difficult to shoot accurately out to 200 yards.

Scoped.... piece a cake, especially w/ the more modern bullets and sabots.

I agree with a scope they can do it,and if the mountainmen had em they woulda used them

[wastickslinger]

who needs a scope..I shoot like Quigley :chuckle

I agree, adding a scope to your inline makes the debate about a 200 yard shot go away. But if you live in WA you ought to sharpen your open sights shooting cause the gun will do it. Adding a scope does not increase your range on the gun obviously. It only makes it easier for the shooter to make the shot. With that said, your question has been answered, a 200 yard shot is makeable and ethical with the right load. Practice practice practice. Everyone will have their opinion on how far to shoot, the only real way to find out is to go shoot your gun all summer and you will know. 

[p-ohana]

I've never shot an animal with my muzzy yet. I'm new to using a ML. I have a 2in group at 100yds. I hope I have the discipline not to shoot anything over 100yds until I know for sure where my point of aim is to make a clean kill. A hunter can only practice at that range to be proficient and comfortable at longer ranges. I need more range time before I'll take that shot.

[Little Fish]

When all my hunting seasons are over and the house projects are done I think I'll spend some quality time at the range and see how I do at 150 yards using my existing Williams peep site. Maybe try the great plains 385 grain bullet with the same or greater powder load??? Gotta have some fun during the off season. 

[CP]

I’d be interested in seeing the range results of anyone shooting at these distances. 

I still have a scope on my Knight; if I can work in some range time I’ll see what it can do at 200 yards.

[mrgoodwrench]

I shoot a TC BlackDiamond XR, 50Cal.  295g lead Powerbelts and 150g triple seven pellets.  Williams peep, a couple inches high at 100, about a foot low at 200 and the gong does not move at 200, its accurate though, and killed my roosevelt at 123 yards in the timber this year, of course the bullet didn't go through him like my 300 win mag does.

After that I won't shoot an elk past 150, its not worth tracking a wounded animal with no blood from an exit hole.

[CP]

Well I gave this a try this weekend.  I got the biggest target I could find and hung it out at 200 yards.  With a scoped Knight Bighorn sited in at 100 yards I got the following results at 200:

120 gr Pyrodex with Knight 310gr all lead bullet in the Knight orange sabot:
5” group – 30”  down 4” right wind drift.

120 gr Pyrodex with 300 gr. Sierra JSP in the Knight orange sabot:
4” group – 24” down 2” right wind drift.

That’s pretty good accuracy but a lot of drop to deal with.  Less wind drift than I expected.  There was a light breeze blowing left to right, hard to say how fast.

[Little Fish]

Interesting results. Thanks for posting CP.

[MagKarl]

That is some very respectable shooting CP.  I bet most guys hunting modern couldn't hold groups like that with their scoped bolt guns at 200. 

[fishunt247]

I've shot the 295 gr Knight bullets with 110 grs of Triple 7 out of my knight for 4 years, and killed 2 deer and one big bull with that load (before it was powerbelts and pyrodex). I don't think its the load or the gun, but ability and sights. I have the Truglo Tritium sights, and past 125 yards it covers nearly the entire front half of a buck. Too much guesswork. I've had the same experience with other fiberoptic sights. My opinion, 125 with a solid rest is okay for me. I passed a shot at a 3pt at 147 yrds this year and ended up not getting the buck (blew the stalk after he bedded). Oh well, that is muzzeloading.