who uses 150 gr. of powder?

[smokey]

I have a cva elkhorn and was wondering if those of you who also have an elkhorn or other rifles shoot 150 gr loads much, and how accurate your rifle shoots with that load. I have only used loose powder loads up to 100 gr, but am interested to try 150 gr of pyrodex pellets. Any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Smokey
 

[carpsniperg2]

i have the same muzzle as you as well as another i have spent years playing with diffrent loads and have shot 150grains, the best combo in both my guns are 120grains i have found that at the ranges i shoot there is not much difference between 150 and 120 and the fouling with 150 is a lot more. i don't shoot past 150 and the farthest i have ever shot a deer is 118yards. all you are going to gain is a little more knock down with the higer fps which might be better by a few hundred fps at most now with the new bullets we can use and the good lead ones i see no reason to shoot the 150. my cosuin shot 150 for a few years now he is just shooting 100 with pellets i shoot loose

[Sneaky]

I shot 150 grains out of my TC and could never get a good group, switched to 100 and they started grouping perfect. My girlfriends dad shoots 150 out of his CVA and his groups are perfect. just have to play around and see what your gun/bullets like.

[littlemac]

We did a hunt out of state and shot Triple 7 150gr in pellets.  We had 3, 50cal Omegas (209 primer) and they all grouped well.  

I could get a decent group at 200yds but had no intention of shooting that far unless absolute genetic freak could not be called closer.  As it turned out I got a good 5X5, took it at about 125 without a problem.

[rasbo]

110 for me loose.and I might drop down to 100.For me 50yrds is max.I do shoot a hundred at the range ,but 50 for hunting

[CP]

To properly burn 150 grains of powder you need a 209 primer, a hot 209 primer.  Since we are restricted to musket and percussion caps, excess powder only adds to the weight of the load and burns outside the muzzle adding to the smoke cloud.

I find that 100g is my max with most weight projectiles.  More than that and accuracy drops, the rifle fouls up more, the smoke clouds increases and the velocity increase is minimal.

[dawhunt]

I've never used over a 100 grains untill I started using triple 7,I shoot 95 gr's 777 which equals 115 gr's of pyro and I soot the Hornady 300 gr.  sst's at 50 yds had about a 1 " group,at 50 yds I was putiing two bullets in the same hole (I've got a witness !!) I put peep sites on and haven't had a chance to sight it in again yet.LOVE MY KNIGHT bighorn !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm having shoulder surgery this fri. and don't have a clue as to when I'll be able to site it in,I'm not even sure if I'll be able to hunt this yr. yet.

Question it says in the game law 64 or over can shoot a doe in 111 does anyone have knowledge or done this,is it a special tag or just your reg.lic.

There's actually 4-5 units this works in and seeing as how I'm def. past 64 way past I'm curious a buddy of mine called the game dept. they didn't seem to know either,kind of makes you wonder about our game dept. don't it.

Bob

[whacker1]

i only shoot 70 -80 grains right now, because in the past they didn't group well with more powder.

[bobcat]

Question it says in the game law 64 or over can shoot a doe in 111 does anyone have knowledge or done this,is it a special tag or just your reg.lic.

It's a general season so no special permit needed. It's for 65 and over, not 64. Includes most of Region 1 and is for whitetail only. The units north of Spokane it is only the last 4 days of the general season.

[dawhunt]

Thanks
Bob

[smokey]

Thanks much for your replies everyone. I'll have to try some 150 gr loads and see how she shoots. I'll let you know how it goes.

[buckhorn2]

I shoot 15o grains of 777 pellets and 348 powerbelts and it works for us.

[jdb]

man you guys must be shootin tougher elk than me. I shoot 85 grains of pyrodex and always get complete penatration.

[Whitelightning]

man you guys must be shootin tougher elk than me. I shoot 85 grains of pyrodex and always get complete penetration.

I am with Jdb I shoot 75-80 grains T7 and always have had complete penetration.

[jackelope]

90 grains loose 777 and 295 tipped pb's and they shoot lights out in my CVA Bolthunter pro.

[wastickslinger]

I tried 150 in my Elkhorn and it was a bit inconsistant. I backed it down to 120 (I buy the 30 grain pellets). Much better. 

[BillyG]

I tried 130gr. with a 250gr  Barnes TMZ last weekend and it kicked like a horse. Tight at 100yards. If you ever try the TMZ's, you also need Barns alignment tool. Averaged 2100fps.

[D_Dubya]

I use 2 60 grain pellets and a 348 powerbelt in my elkhorn and the groups are very consistent - holes cutting each other at 50 yards.  Out to 100 yards, I can't see well enough or hold it steady enough to do that, but groups are still well within the requirements for making good shots.  I have killed whitetail at 80 yards with that setup and make spine breaking high shoulder shots.

[ML_Hunter]

I tried 130gr. with a 250gr  Barnes TMZ last weekend and it kicked like a horse. Tight at 100yards. If you ever try the TMZ's, you also need Barns alignment tool. Averaged 2100fps.

I have noticed that the recoil with the TMZ seams to be a little heavier!  I shoot the 290 grain bullet with 120 grains of lose powder.  How dose the bullet load for your rifle?  Its a pain in the butt for me to get the bullet down the bore of my Black Diamond.

[carpsniperg2]

they are a bit tighter i shoot the 290tmz as well threw my black diamond xr and elk horn. and they can be a bit of a pain in the butt to seat when the bore is a bit dirty. i shoot 125 grains of loose as well

[teanawayslayer]

fouling is horrible if you only like to take one shot. It's fine

[DeerThug]

I use 120 grains.


When I was a kid I was taught the way to find the right amount of powder is to shoot after dark. As long as the flames and sparks are small and go straight out, then all or most of the powder is burning in the barrel where you want it to.  As you increase the powder the flames and sparks will start to fan out and go in a greater angle from the end of the barrel, indicating that some of the powder is burning after it leaves the barrel and does nothing for the energy of the shot.

Of course when I was a kid -safety was not in the picture, so if you try this shoot in a safe direction ---

Shoot straight - shoot often.

[carpsniperg2]

that is very true as well, have tested my guns that way as well i shoot 125grains

[Dan-o]

I shoot 150 grains, but am curious:

What is the velocity difference when you drop down to 100 grains?

I know there's no absolute answer (depends on other variables) but are we talking 100 fps or 500 fps or?

[carpsniperg2]

on any muzzle loader i would say the diffrence would be 100-300 feet max with a 50 grain drop but would have to look at the cards that come with bullets and see for sure.

[huntnnw]

most of these loads are not burning not in this state with percussion or musket caps, they are just blowing alot of unburnt powder out. Easy way to know the max powder is to come down in grains until you see the bullet begining to shoot lower. I shoot 90 gr of triple 7, its plenty. Most also dont know the big difference in velocity between triple 7, pryrodex and goex, its big. Another  is the all lead guys still, faster is not better when it comes to lead, you can over push the bullet and have pancake on impact or fragment, then kiss the animal good bye.

[Dan-o]

Thanks.   Sounds like I wouldn't be missing anything if I backed down to 100 grains.

Appreciate the input.

[50CalJim]

This year I'm going to be shooting the all lead 385 Hornadys for my Elk hunt so I've been experimenting with different loads. Started out with 140 gr of triple 7 & there was way to much unspent powder left over in the barrel plus my Bullets were flying everywhere. Finally I've settled on 100 gr of powder & my accuracy is great & I'm not wasting any powder.It seems like every Muzzleloader has a preference for what it likes you just gotta spend some time experimenting until you figure it out ,More is not always better with a Muzzleloader.

[carpsniperg2]

yes that is they key like with modern rifles find the load that works best. and to do so you have got to experiment

[Bulldog]

150grs of powder in a frontstuffer is a waste of good powder and recoils like a mo-fo.    110grs 777 tops for me...

[deadwoodbuck]

I have been running 2- 60 gr pyrodex pellets with the polymer tipped boattail through my knight 54 cal.  8 years 6 dear two elk...and the patterns on the paper ain't that bd either.  I'm satisfied with the results.

[Dan-o]

My independent testing has now proven that my rifle prefers 100 grains to 150.

My stubborn streak is now wrestling with the possibility of shooting a less-than-maximum load.

[nontypical176]

Right after I got my knight bighorn a coyote was standing down by my apple tree, about midnight.  I loaded up with 150 grains of 777 pellets and fired away.  Looked like the fourth of July coming out the end of my barrel, and thats all I could see.  Lots of powder wasted.  I now shoot 100 grains loose and its much better, but haven't had time to get it 100% dialed in. 

That coyote was lucky I wanted to try out my new gun, and didn't grab my 22-250 instead.  Yep, I'm an idiot.

[bridgeman]

Interesting to read the posts of other muzzy loading experiences. But like the "ol Mr. Wakeman describes, every ML and person shooting it is different. Its all about trial and error,You just have to try various loads and grain sizes to meet your owns ML performance expectations on where you place on the target...Its just what I've come to learn anyways...

[stumprat]

My independent testing has now proven that my rifle prefers 100 grains to 150.

My stubborn streak is now wrestling with the possibility of shooting a less-than-maximum load.

I wouldn't worry too much about shooting less than maximum loads. You are not hunting with 209 primers. Too much powder can hinder the performance using #11, and musket caps.

[yelp]

My independent testing has now proven that my rifle prefers 100 grains to 150.

My stubborn streak is now wrestling with the possibility of shooting a less-than-maximum load.

I wouldn't worry too much about shooting less than maximum loads. You are not hunting with 209 primers. Too much powder can hinder the performance using #11, and musket caps.

I agree...my gun best performs with a 90 to 100gr load.