Sighting in problems

[Turtleky]

I have a traditions 50 cal. I'm shooting 185g Sabots. I'm shooting all over the paper. I cannot get a tight group outside of 30 yards or so. I'm useing 100g of pyrodex rs is this to much? Any suggestions from anyone would be appreciated.

[RDL270]

Lot's of varibles.......whats the twist in the barrel on this gun? If its 1 in 60, patched round ball.... if its faster you can shot the sabots or conicals. Are you running a cleaning patch down it after every shot or so? did you let it cool down any? Remember your first shot at a deer will be with a cold barrel. Have your tried stepping it down to about 80 grains? Used any other type of sabots? Gotta play with them and do your homework.

[Turtleky]

The twist is 1 in 32. I'm going to try stepping down the powder next time I go. I'm learning as I go. This is my first muzzleloader experience. Its killing me. I have to learn to shot this thing.

[Big58cal]

The twist sounds good for a sabbot, or a patched round ball. If you get down to about a 1:24" twist, it's best to shoot sabbots.

Try the powder thing I suggested. If that doesn't work, try a little heavier bullet. The 185 gr. may be a little light.

A muzzleloader is a lot like a .22 rimfire in that you've got to shoot it and find the load that it likes. I've shot some cartriges out of a .22 and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Switch loads, and the thing can drive tacks!

[Rob]

You might also try only 80 gr of Pyrodex ( 1-50 gr & 1-30 gr pellet). The bullet you are shooting isn't very big for a MZ so you may not need so much propellant.

It's hard to dance with the devil on your back...

[Turtleky]

Thanks guys. After shooting it Tuesday afternoon, I completely broke it down and cleaned it up real good. I went ahead and put the scope back on it and took it to a shop and got it bore sighted last night. I have about 60 rounds left and a fresh bottle of powder. I plan to shoot it this afternoon. I will take all your recomendations to heart and let you know how it works out. Thanks again, this has been a real learning experience for me so far.

[frontiersman]

well ill tell ya i was having the same problem with a pistol the other day. was shooting 100 yrds iron sights and one with a scope 44 cal. with 300 gr well it waas all over the paper. you couldnt get 3 consistant shot within 4 inches. well went in the shop and got some 320gr and shot it and it was money. but that bullet was alot longer bullet than the 300gr. the length bullet had alot to do with that pistol. now it may not be that way with a long barrel. but that heavier bullet would help too. but i have notice that there are certain loads some guns just cant shoot. you get the right combination and ive seen it where you couldnt get no better. that strange but true.

[kyhuntsman]

I would try a heavier sabot. I have never had much success with light weight sabots myself.

I prefer 270+ grain sabots with 100 gr of pyrodex or powder. I ahve some 285 gr Knight sabots that shoot very well out of my T/C Encore 209x50.

Before the T/C, i had a cheap CVA that shot like a dream. It also loved the heavier sabots.

Matt

[Turtleky]

Well I got the gun grouping good at 50 yards now. I ran out of daylight and wasn't able to try 100 yards. Its a shooting about a 1.5 inch group of 3 shoots about 1.5 inches high at 50 yards. This is with a 185 grain sabot, 80g pyrodex, and shooting from a vise. Is this setup going to be enough knockdown for a deer at 100 yards and where would you guys expect me to be hitting at 100 yards, considering I'm 1.5 inches high at 50?

[RDL270]

I'd say you oughta be about dead on......... no pun intended.

[Rob]

You will certainly be in the kill zone.


It's hard to dance with the devil on your back...

[Big58cal]

Glad to hear that you've got it shooting! You realize that we'll want to see the end result of all of "our" work after this weekend!!!

[Turtleky]

Bigcal I just hope I have to oppurtunity to show you something. I never did get a good answer on wether or not my 80g of pyrodex with a 185g sabot is enough power to kill a deer at 100 yards?

[RDL270]

The only thing I can tell you is get a deer, walk off a hundred yards and try it. If it drops, then it is, if it doesn't, you may have missed or then again maybe you didn't, so I guess this test won't really work.............
I would say what you are shooting will work fine. Take a milk jug full of water, put food coloring in it, its better special effects and shoot if from 100 yards or a telephone book from the Louisville area preferably (thicker) and see what it does. I think it would put your mind to rest.

[Valley Station]

85 G pushing 185 grain Sabot at 100 yards , 2 ribbs behind shoalder, will kill deer 10 times out of 10 shots.[8D]

[Turtleky]

OK, I guess I'm satisfied, I just have very little experience with this muzzleloader stuff. I may try the phone book thing today, just to see what happens. I plan on shooting a little. I heard someone mention that on another post and was thinking about trying it. Thanks for all the help guys.