Figured I'd pass on some of the info from ballistic testing I've done over the past few weeks. I wanted to give my western legal muzzleloader a full system op test, so it got the nod for a late season Whitetail hunt. It's a CVA Optima with EABCO peep and stock front fiber optic sight shooting 250 grain Thors, currently over a modest charge of 85 grains by volume Triple Seven. Chronograph shows MV around 1650. Here is the result of the olde water jug test.
Excellent expansion, although I'll probably add a few grains if I take it out west for elk. In any case, it's quite adequate for whitetail in VA. Shot a doe at about 25 yards, and this was the blood trail.
And, the recovered bullet, found about 4" into the divot in the ground. This is why I have gone to shooting all copper. The shot was quartering, and hit a rib. You can definitely tell that it started tumbling when it hit the bone, but the bullet still passed through completely and caused a pretty devastating wound cavity. Weight retention was over 98% (minus the little plastic tip). Anyway, hope this helps anyone considering bullet choices!
Excellent expansion, although I'll probably add a few grains if I take it out west for elk. In any case, it's quite adequate for whitetail in VA. Shot a doe at about 25 yards, and this was the blood trail.
And, the recovered bullet, found about 4" into the divot in the ground. This is why I have gone to shooting all copper. The shot was quartering, and hit a rib. You can definitely tell that it started tumbling when it hit the bone, but the bullet still passed through completely and caused a pretty devastating wound cavity. Weight retention was over 98% (minus the little plastic tip). Anyway, hope this helps anyone considering bullet choices!