Post by: longstevo on October 04, 2011, 06:50:19 PM
I know with today's modern equipment we can stretch the range out to incredible ranges, but still...I'm not comfortable with shooting at more than 100 yards. I fire a Knight Wolverine with 295 grain powerbelts with 100 grains of 777. Pretty basic modern load.
I always hear about guys shooting bucks up to 250 or 300 yards with their muzzleloaders, and I'm not the guy who throws up the BS flag, but seriously? If thats the case, I need to buy a new muzzleloader.
Post by: ICEMAN on October 04, 2011, 06:59:56 PM
Post by: bullcanyon on October 04, 2011, 07:01:28 PM
Post by: lokidog on October 04, 2011, 07:03:38 PM
Post by: Eli346 on October 04, 2011, 07:05:22 PM
I shoot the knight Bighorn and my buddy shoots the Knight Wolverine like yours. We use the same loads and feel good at 100 yds. We've shot at 150 (paper) and been in the ballpark but that's under perfect conditions; rest, plenty of time, and no pressure. I'm not saying I wouldn't do 150 but it would have to be the buck of a lifetime. Elk are a different story as the target is so much bigger. These open sights suck for a blind *censored* that's right eye dominant in my bad eye. I wish they would allow scopes up to 4 power and no more just for the better sight picture and surer shot but that's Washington.
Post by: Sabotloader on October 04, 2011, 07:05:33 PM
Despite the chances of this topic turning into a flame war, I'll start it anways. What is the maximum range you guys are comfortable shooting at game with your blackpowder rifles?
I know with today's modern equipment we can stretch the range out to incredible ranges, but still...I'm not comfortable with shooting at more than 100 yards. I fire a Knight Wolverine with 295 grain powerbelts with 100 grains of 777. Pretty basic modern load.
I am pretty comfortable shooting to 150 with the Williams FP sight that I am using and if everything were perfect... I could stretch that to 175.
Quote
I always hear about guys shooting bucks up to 250 or 300 yards with their muzzleloaders, and I'm not the guy who throws up the BS flag, but seriously? If thats the case, I need to buy a new muzzleloader.
I do have a self imposed range of 200 yards with a scope and even them the conditions would have to be right.... But there are guys in the midwest shooting 400 yards wtih a regular ML.. not even a smokeless...
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on October 04, 2011, 07:47:28 PM
Post by: JKEEN33 on October 04, 2011, 08:19:38 PM
Post by: huntnnw on October 04, 2011, 08:37:15 PM
Post by: bobcat on October 04, 2011, 09:35:52 PM
Post by: SkookumHntr on October 04, 2011, 09:43:17 PM
Post by: marty on October 04, 2011, 09:50:31 PM
Post by: wastickslinger on October 04, 2011, 10:00:54 PM
Post by: actionshooter on October 04, 2011, 10:14:34 PM
Post by: Machias on October 05, 2011, 06:16:55 AM
Post by: Rooster1981 on October 05, 2011, 07:20:41 AM
I shoot a traditonal hawkins stlye cabelas 54. cal I shoot 430 grn maxi balls with 100 grns of american pioneer ffg.
I can hit taget priety good free hand at 120 yards but I cant hit a deer past 100 yards free hand. I dont count shooting from a rest cuss it never seems I ever find a tree or something to lean on. I havent shot an elk yet with the muzzie so no comment on that yet :dunno:
Post by: TheHunt on October 05, 2011, 08:32:28 AM
BTW, I have never killed anything with my muzzlestuffer. My son has killed a deer (Fork-n-horn or Forked horn) and I have lent it out for friends to use and it has killed five elk.
Post by: Machias on October 05, 2011, 08:51:52 AM
I have lent it out for friends to use and it has killed five elk.
Can I borrow your rifle! :chuckle:
Post by: Mike450r on October 05, 2011, 08:52:41 AM
Post by: longstevo on October 05, 2011, 06:02:37 PM
All the game I've shot with the musket was all less than one hundred yards. I've stretched out further and have missed cleanly, although I've also missed some shots up close as well.
Post by: jbender on October 06, 2011, 03:09:55 PM
I fully understand peoples hesitation about shooting longer distances with a muzzle loader but I believe they are the same as modern firearms as in most of good shooting is practice practice practice and knowing your firearm and its limitations.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Post by: vandeman17 on October 06, 2011, 03:17:03 PM
Post by: jackmaster on October 06, 2011, 03:21:49 PM
Post by: TopOfTheFoodChain on October 06, 2011, 04:08:27 PM
I have shot my muzzle loader a lot at all distances out to 200 yards and feel very comfortable with the distances of 200 or less. Having shot my deer this year at 198 yards I can tell you I would have only taken that shot with a great rest or proned out as I happended to have been. I was suprised at how well I could see my target on the deer vs what I see when I shoot a paper target. Again, I had a great rest and all the time in the world. I never would have taken a shot like that if conditions weren't perfect. I am shooting a Traditions Vortek NW Magnum Edition with fiber optic open sights launching a 295 grain hollowpoint Power Belt bullet. The deer never took a step, he dropped in his tracks and was done.
I fully understand peoples hesitation about shooting longer distances with a muzzle loader but I believe they are the same as modern firearms as in most of good shooting is practice practice practice and knowing your firearm and its limitations.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Here we go again.....
I am comfortable to 300 on deer(but always try to get closer). My deer this year was only at 82 though. My buddy Kris dropped his at 270 yards last week. Daughter took her second deer(first buck) this year at 150. Don't remember for sure but I think Septemberfan's was about 150 last week.
Post by: dscubame on October 06, 2011, 08:50:56 PM
Guys be nice to each other or suffer the consequences.
Not called for almighty one.
Post by: ICEMAN on October 06, 2011, 09:25:22 PM
Guys be nice to each other or suffer the consequences.
Not called for almighty one.
Yeah, you may be right for now.... seen these get pretty ugly in the past.
Post by: Miles on October 07, 2011, 03:04:09 AM
Post by: buck man on October 07, 2011, 06:30:51 AM
Post by: HntnFsh on October 07, 2011, 09:42:30 AM
Post by: Elkslayer on October 07, 2011, 12:19:53 PM
Be careful with the 295 grain ( green) power belt bullets they fragment really bad. I do use power belts but only their premium silver bullets . They hold together and penetrate much better. :twocents: good luck..
:yeah: Shot a spike elk last year at 25yds with that bullet. Entry hole the size of a baseball and bullet fragments everywhere. Might be ok on deer, but I will never use them again! :twocents:
Post by: dscubame on October 07, 2011, 01:18:49 PM
Guys be nice to each other or suffer the consequences.
Not called for almighty one.
Yeah, you may be right for now.... seen these get pretty ugly in the past.
I give it page 5 and you'll have to shut her down. But ya so far so good.
As far as comfortable range is concerned I am one who was brought up hunting and shooting open sights by the last of the open sight generation. Most of my peers if not all had optics from day one and I am confident that still is true for majority. Good to those fathers who insist they tootilidge their siblings open sights until they are out of the house as it makes a very good shooter in the long haul.
150 yds max and due to the simple fact that the target becomes to small and that would be elk and pushing my comfort level, 100 yards on deer and pushing it also. Not saying it cannot be done it is just not cool to not have a precise hit for a precise quick kill.
Now with proper equipment and training you can witness black powder (not muzzleloader) shooters hit 500 to 1,000 yard open sight at competiton. Ever watch the trajectory of that bullet? It lobs 20 feet I swear! And takes many seconds to hear the hit on iron.
Post by: lokidog on October 07, 2011, 06:23:35 PM
450 yards max.
Muzzleloader?? Hmmmm..... :chuckle:
Post by: longstevo on October 08, 2011, 10:16:31 AM
Guys be nice to each other or suffer the consequences.
Not called for almighty one.
Yeah, you may be right for now.... seen these get pretty ugly in the past.
I give it page 5 and you'll have to shut her down. But ya so far so good.
Yeah, didn't mean to start a flame war. I was just wondering how my comfort level stacked up with other hunters. Sounds like I need to start practicing more. There's no way I'd be personally comfortable with a shot past 150.
Post by: WestPlains_Drifter on October 08, 2011, 06:01:29 PM
Post by: jechicdr on October 08, 2011, 06:51:05 PM
Post by: Kowsrule30 on October 09, 2011, 10:30:33 AM
Post by: scudmaster on October 09, 2011, 11:38:44 AM
100...conditions were right and a great rest 150
:yeah: Same for me