First a little background. This might get wordy so I appreciate you reading through:
After weighing the straight wall cartridge laws that came into effect several years ago in Ohio and comparing the ballistics of all available options, I decided to go with an inline muzzleloader as my do-all deer rifle. I could not see spending the same money twice to have a set up for both muzzleloader and gun seasons when there was no significant advantage posed by going this route. I spent quite a bit of time reading this site, as well as Toby Bridges’ site, and purchased a TC Impact SB topped with a vortex 3-9x40 several weeks ago.
I attempted to sight in the gun at 100 yards and could produce no better than 6-8” 3-shot groups. For reference, I shot my Tikka .308 during the same range session while cooling the TC’s barrel and consistently produced my usual 1 MOA groups with that rifle.
My load was as follows:
100gr (volume) of Blackhorn 209, 300gr Hornady SST in the supplied Sabot, and CCI MZL 209 primers.
I now realize the primers used were not appropriate for the powder I selected. In fact, I feel fortunate to not have had a hangfire. I have not been able to source any magnum 209 primers, but did get my hands on a box of STS and a box of W209. Should I continue experimenting with Blackhorn using the standard primers I acquired?
For my next range session, I have purchased both black and red crush rib sabots. I bought a jug of FFG Triple 7 in case the primers I have on hand are no good for Blackhorn 209.
I also have 50 300gr Deep Curls, several packages of 300gr Shockwaves in the supplied sabots, as well as 300gr Hornady XTPs. The red crush ribs are nearly impossible to load with any of the above bullets, and the black crush ribs seem to load way too easy. What sabots would you recommend I order that would give me a fit somewhere in between? The ones supplied with the Hornady XTP and Shockwave bullets seem to have the right fit. Can you tell me what they are?
After weighing the straight wall cartridge laws that came into effect several years ago in Ohio and comparing the ballistics of all available options, I decided to go with an inline muzzleloader as my do-all deer rifle. I could not see spending the same money twice to have a set up for both muzzleloader and gun seasons when there was no significant advantage posed by going this route. I spent quite a bit of time reading this site, as well as Toby Bridges’ site, and purchased a TC Impact SB topped with a vortex 3-9x40 several weeks ago.
I attempted to sight in the gun at 100 yards and could produce no better than 6-8” 3-shot groups. For reference, I shot my Tikka .308 during the same range session while cooling the TC’s barrel and consistently produced my usual 1 MOA groups with that rifle.
My load was as follows:
100gr (volume) of Blackhorn 209, 300gr Hornady SST in the supplied Sabot, and CCI MZL 209 primers.
I now realize the primers used were not appropriate for the powder I selected. In fact, I feel fortunate to not have had a hangfire. I have not been able to source any magnum 209 primers, but did get my hands on a box of STS and a box of W209. Should I continue experimenting with Blackhorn using the standard primers I acquired?
For my next range session, I have purchased both black and red crush rib sabots. I bought a jug of FFG Triple 7 in case the primers I have on hand are no good for Blackhorn 209.
I also have 50 300gr Deep Curls, several packages of 300gr Shockwaves in the supplied sabots, as well as 300gr Hornady XTPs. The red crush ribs are nearly impossible to load with any of the above bullets, and the black crush ribs seem to load way too easy. What sabots would you recommend I order that would give me a fit somewhere in between? The ones supplied with the Hornady XTP and Shockwave bullets seem to have the right fit. Can you tell me what they are?
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