Apex 45-70 Conversion

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I finally had a chance to shoot my 2nd 45-70 conversion to a 45 cal. smokeless muzzleloader. BeStill, thank you, you do awesome work!
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I had Bestill recrown the barrel
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The old crown was hideous
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I think my scope went bad. 100 yds, 3 shot group, 250 gr Barnes 250 gr TEZ with a heavy knurl, 6 gr N110 duplex with 50 gr IMR4198, Veggie wad, Fed. LRMP in a brass module.
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The 2nd group, 3 shots, same charge except with a wool wad
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3rd group, same powder charge, veggie wad with a 285 gr BCB bullet, I think 2 and 3 are the same hole, if not, then the shot went WAY off! I think the scope is not holding zero. When I shot it as a 45-70, I noticed the same thing but wasn't sure if it was my handloads or something else. I pulled the scope off tonight and put another one on. Hopefully, next week I'll get a chance to shoot it again. If it's not the scope, it could be forearm pressure, the shooter's holding pressure, loading pressure, load work, the scope base, a rotten trigger puller, or, or...:D
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Always liked the look of the Apex. BeStill’s crown job has to be one of the best looking recrown jobs I’ve seen.

The grouping sure is strange! You had two shots in a perfect group and then one almost the same distance away each time. I think your right on the scope going goofy. There is no way forearm pressure or any of the other things you mentioned would have consistently pulled one shot out of the group like that.
 
Your groups are pretty much the same as what I have experienced shooting copper monolithic bullets sabotless, especially with the more moderate powder loads of a break action. You might get them sized to shoot pretty well but an occasional flyer is not uncommon. I have better luck with them in a bolt action and heavier powder loads. Try a thin jacketed, soft core bullet like a Parker BE or any of the Fury bullets and you will probably be shooting bug holes.
 
I never saw a bad scope being that consistent.
 
At 100 yds. I wouldn't be upset with those groups, unless you want to put them all in one hole....
Did you try more than three shots to see if they stay in the group? Maybe your Apex likes a dirty bore. The new crown looks great!!
 
Try doing a 3 shot group cleaning the gun before every shot. ( including the first one). I have a TC Encore that will group an inch @ 100 yds if I clean the barrel before each shot and about 3 inches if I don't. Some guns just shoot different from a cold clean barrel. Sight in for the first shot, it's likely the only one you'll get anyway!
 

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