Recap of my second muzzleloader season....need help!!!

[recon321]

First off let me say I will be muzzleloader hunting until im no longer able to hunt anymore!! Saw more big bucks during the late season than i did in 10 of bow hunting. Now, first thing im sighted in about 3 inches high at 100 yards, and i shot over every buck i shot at. I think being a bowhunter for so long i need to practice my range estimation and yes i have a rangefinder but all but one buck was running. Now my major beef is after every shot my primer seemed to be welded to the nipple and i had issues getting them off, which can be frustrating when you have a buck standing in front of you!! I went out and bought new nipples and had the same problem, im shootind a traditions 50 cal 100 gr pyrodex 295 gr powerbelt bullets #11 primers.  just wanted to ask first, how you guys sight your gun in,and has anyone had the same primer issue?

[JColony]

I'm dead on at 100 yds, don't feel the need to be high as I'm likely not gonna shoot anything much deeper than that.  As for the nipples, thats a new one to me.  I prefer the musketcaps and have not had an issue with them yet.   

[400out]

I don't have  aanswer for you on the nipple problem but as for the sighting in if your going to sight in that high it better be stuck in your head at all times! and spend the off season shooting ALOT! that will help you out I'm sure of it  Good luck

[longstevo]

Not sure about the New Traditions blackpowder.  I hunt with a Knight Wolverine, and the primer striker is kind of a spike, and even after multiple shots and primers, the spike punctures through and fires pretty reliably.  I like it better than my Thompson Center for that reason.

[bobcat]

First, if you're going to be hunting with a muzzleloader, you need to get your terminology right- it's a cap, not a primer. I have not had an issue with the cap being stuck to the nipple after firing, and I've used three different muzzleloaders. Often I have had debris from the cap on or in the nipple, but not the entire cap "welded" to the nipple. The only thing I would suggest is to try using less powder and/or a different powder.

Also you might try to pick your shots a little more carefully. Just think of a muzzleloader as extending your bow range slightly. I wouldn't take shots at running deer unless they're well under 50 yards.

[nailbender]

First, if you're going to be hunting with a muzzleloader, you need to get your terminology right- it's a cap, not a primer. I have not had an issue with the cap being stuck to the nipple after firing, and I've used three different muzzleloaders. Often I have had debris from the cap on or in the nipple, but not the entire cap "welded" to the nipple. The only thing I would suggest is to try using less powder and/or a different powder.

Also you might try to pick your shots a little more carefully. Just think of a muzzleloader as extending your bow range slightly. I wouldn't take shots at running deer unless they're well under 50 yards.

  gezz... Give the guy a break!  Primmer / cap.   Tomatoe / tomato.  Maybe the deer that were running was within feet not yards. I didn't see the guy mention a word of distance.

[400out]

 

[bobcat]

First, if you're going to be hunting with a muzzleloader, you need to get your terminology right- it's a cap, not a primer. I have not had an issue with the cap being stuck to the nipple after firing, and I've used three different muzzleloaders. Often I have had debris from the cap on or in the nipple, but not the entire cap "welded" to the nipple. The only thing I would suggest is to try using less powder and/or a different powder.

Also you might try to pick your shots a little more carefully. Just think of a muzzleloader as extending your bow range slightly. I wouldn't take shots at running deer unless they're well under 50 yards.

  gezz... Give the guy a break!  Primmer / cap.   Tomatoe / tomato.  Maybe the deer that were running was within feet not yards. I didn't see the guy mention a word of distance.

Well he said he "needed to practice his range estimation" so that made me think all the shots he took were at a distance and not up close. If you're taking long shots with a muzzleloader, everything needs to be perfect. It also sounds as if he attempted shots at several bucks, all of which were running except one. I don't know, just came across as irresponsible shooting to me, and I could see that happening with someone who's new to muzzleloaders, especially with all the talk you hear about shooting deer at 150 to 200 yards with a muzzleloader.

My perception of his post very well could be wrong and if so, I'm sure he will let me know, and that's fine. As far as the terms primer and cap, to me they're not interchangeable. I will always correct someone if they call it a primer, because it's not.

[BENCHLEG]

muzzloader sucks. they misfire   do not try it you will not like it.

[jrebel]

Kinda agree with Bobcat on this one.  Slow down and don't take shots at running deer unless they are really close.  These are open / iron sights you are using and not aligning the front post with the back sight (buckhorn or peep) the excact same every time will throw your accuracy in the toilet.  Thus, if you are taking quick off hand shots at moving animals it is probably the reason you are missing. 

To answer your question.... I use 110 grains loose pyrodex, musket caps, and 325 grain shock waves and I am sighted in dead on at 100 yards.  I use a williams peep with front red glow post.  I place point of impact at 100 yards on top of the post.  Point of impact at 150 is in center of post and at 185 is at bottom of post.  I will not shoot over 100 yards unless I have a good broadside shot with great rest..usually my by or tri-pod. 

Good luck to you and just remember open sights are difficult for most to get use to when taking quick shots.  You need to practice a lot and get shouldering your firearm and sight picture down to muscle memory.  Otherwise you will not be consistantly accurate.  Next time you are at the range practice quick off hand shots at close range and then move back to longer ranges to find out what your effective range is for quick off hand shots. 

[top pin1]

Dont forget that shooting a muzzle loader of the delay.

If you shooting at  running animal and you have a 1/4 second longer delay for it to go off where are you going to have to aim to hit it? Remeber that its not like a rifle and goes off the mili second you pull the trigger.

I wouldnt shoot at a running animal unless it was a follow up shot.

Top

[scudmaster]

Here are my thoughts:

For moving targets, Muzzleloaders are slow and have the delay of the ignition system, I would think there might be a good chance you missed behind, not over.  The lead at 50 yards would be 12-18 inches for a person at fast walking speed.   For a deer probably a three foot lead with a muzzeloader.

As for shooting high there are two thoughts on that.  Next time you are at the range, very carefully try and fire your cold/clean bore shot and see where it goes it may be a few inches high.

If it is overly high, you may need to use 777 or other non-corrosive powder and fire a fouling shot before loading your hunting load.  Another issue to consider especially if you have a notch rear sight in lower light, under stress, and as shooters vision deteriorates with age, they tend to raise the front sight higher in the sight picture to see it better, leading to unintentional high rounds.  A rear peep sight can help with that. 

For the cap issue, you can try a musket nipple, as the caps fit looser and give you more flame. Let us know if you figure it out.

Scud

[recon321]

thanks guys for all the advice. the running shots were under fifty yards, think i got excited and aimed center mass, shot over. Running through thick stuff kinda hard to take your time, but i get it. the best shot i had was standing broadside at 127 yds on my trigger sticks, aimed top of shoulder blade, shot over. Ive been hunting for a long time and have shot alot of deer, all bowhunting both wheels and tradition stuff,had a blast this year i will figure it out! And as far as primer or cap...what ever

[Camo]

Might try changing out the nipple, I have been shooting Knight Red Hots for some time and they seem to work really well for me, except..... this year I went to the RWS caps and I have had a difficult time getting them to "stick" properly. But with other primers they have been flawless on all accounts.

As for shooting over the top, I am 3" high @ 100 also, that is pretty much the top of the curve. Might hit 3.25" in the arc somewhere, but that's as high as it shoots. Puts me dead on at 150 which is the extreme distance for me assuming a perfect shot opportunity. But that is all dependant on load and bullet weight.

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

You can also try putting the cap on the nipple and sliding the bolt to the cap and give it a good push to seat the cap on the nipple. Then when you shoot the cap should split down one side and when you reset the bolt the should fall out.