Picked up a used Knight DISC Elite in .50 cal over Labor Day at a gun show. I've shot muzzleloaders for over 20 years but have only dabbled with a few inlines.
I really only intend to use this rifle as a better long-range whitetail option in Michigan's shotgun zone than a slug gun. I have a nice Browning A-bolt but I'm tired of paying $12-20/box for 5 shells. I figure with an inline I can afford to experiment a lot more to find a combo that will do a little better than 3" @ 100, which is the best I've done with the A-Bolt and 2 3/4" Hornady 300gr SSTs.
I really became intrigued with the idea of an inline when I read about BH 209 on this very forum. I like the non-corrosive properties of the powder and the idea that it can go without cleaning during the hunting season.
I've probably got about 50 shots through this rifle so far. All with 100gr BH209. My best results are about 1 1/2" @100yds with a 250gr SST in either either the supplied red, 3-petal "low-drag" or a short, black MMP sabot and Remington STS 209s(in the red FPJ).
You can see from my bench above that I can probably improve accuracy just by shooting from a solid platform but I'm too lazy to drag a picnic table across the farm.
Shooting around the weeds and through the corn might not be the most conducive to shooting great groups either but it certainly better hunting practice.
My only real concern at this point is some of the hang-fires I've experienced. Even worse than a traditional hang-fire IMO. More like a real slow burn of the powder with not recoil. First time it happened I pulled the bolt to make sure the bullet was out!
Since then I've read(probably on this forum) that BH 209 is sensitive to loading pressure. After I read that, I made this nifty palm-saver from a failed longbow I tried to build a few years back. I also robbed the T/C replacement ramrod from my Renegade and bought a T/C loading tip/jag designed to fit spire points like the SST. With this improvised range-rod I can put some serious pressure(also consistant) on each load.
I also tried some CCI 209M primers but my groups seemed to open up to nearly 3" with 100gr BH 209, 250 SST, and MMP short-black sabots. I've went back to the Remington standard 209s and have had no ignition problems with firm loading pressure.
Here is a pic with the 209M in the two groups on the right and Rem STS the two groups on the left. I called a flyer on the low shot far left that's why the 4-shot group.
I've done all my shooting with the red FPJs and standard plug but I have a non-FPJ plug on order from Mid-South.
I have no plans to give up the enjoyment I get from hefting my Lyman GPR during the December muzzy season here in MI. I truly love shooting traditional muzzleloaders and have resisted inlines for a long time. I finally realized that if I was going to shoot sabots I might as well use a platform that didn't tie me to a manufacturers offering but rather gave me the option to tinker a little and not go completely broke in the process.
I really only intend to use this rifle as a better long-range whitetail option in Michigan's shotgun zone than a slug gun. I have a nice Browning A-bolt but I'm tired of paying $12-20/box for 5 shells. I figure with an inline I can afford to experiment a lot more to find a combo that will do a little better than 3" @ 100, which is the best I've done with the A-Bolt and 2 3/4" Hornady 300gr SSTs.
I really became intrigued with the idea of an inline when I read about BH 209 on this very forum. I like the non-corrosive properties of the powder and the idea that it can go without cleaning during the hunting season.
I've probably got about 50 shots through this rifle so far. All with 100gr BH209. My best results are about 1 1/2" @100yds with a 250gr SST in either either the supplied red, 3-petal "low-drag" or a short, black MMP sabot and Remington STS 209s(in the red FPJ).
You can see from my bench above that I can probably improve accuracy just by shooting from a solid platform but I'm too lazy to drag a picnic table across the farm.
Shooting around the weeds and through the corn might not be the most conducive to shooting great groups either but it certainly better hunting practice.
My only real concern at this point is some of the hang-fires I've experienced. Even worse than a traditional hang-fire IMO. More like a real slow burn of the powder with not recoil. First time it happened I pulled the bolt to make sure the bullet was out!
Since then I've read(probably on this forum) that BH 209 is sensitive to loading pressure. After I read that, I made this nifty palm-saver from a failed longbow I tried to build a few years back. I also robbed the T/C replacement ramrod from my Renegade and bought a T/C loading tip/jag designed to fit spire points like the SST. With this improvised range-rod I can put some serious pressure(also consistant) on each load.
I also tried some CCI 209M primers but my groups seemed to open up to nearly 3" with 100gr BH 209, 250 SST, and MMP short-black sabots. I've went back to the Remington standard 209s and have had no ignition problems with firm loading pressure.
Here is a pic with the 209M in the two groups on the right and Rem STS the two groups on the left. I called a flyer on the low shot far left that's why the 4-shot group.
I've done all my shooting with the red FPJs and standard plug but I have a non-FPJ plug on order from Mid-South.
I have no plans to give up the enjoyment I get from hefting my Lyman GPR during the December muzzy season here in MI. I truly love shooting traditional muzzleloaders and have resisted inlines for a long time. I finally realized that if I was going to shoot sabots I might as well use a platform that didn't tie me to a manufacturers offering but rather gave me the option to tinker a little and not go completely broke in the process.
