- Joined
- Jul 15, 2019
- Messages
- 133
- Reaction score
- 38
I spent countless hours the past 5-6 weeks reading ML articles, watching ML videos, and reading everything I could get my hands on in modernmuzzleloader.com. I finally packed my range bag yesterday and took the Accura to the range. I wasn't sure what to expect and I kept my expectations rather low. My excuse for a poor performance would be that yesterday was the first time in over 50 years of shooting and hunting that I ever pulled the trigger on a ML. Of all the good stuff I've read on this site - even going way back in previous years - I couldn't shake the disturbing vibrations from other new ML shooters that it seemed difficult to get a pie-plate group from their rifles. I actually prepared myself for the worse. For those of you that recently wished me luck and told me to have fun with my new hobby, to say that I had a blast is an understatement. I am officially "hooked."
I have critiqued myself so much since yesterday that my next trip will look nothing like the first. Although yesterday was the worst I'll ever do on the range with a ML, I was actually ecstatic about the whole experience. The one thing that helped me accomplish my first-day goal was reading and heading what you guys have posted in these forums. I know it helped a lot reminding myself that whatever routine I do, do it the same exact way every time. And I did, even the "boo-boo" stuff. There's something different and rewarding about the discussions that go on in these forums. I've been taking notes, cutting and pasting, and making my own how-to guide. Got a long ways to go.
I did have some bumps and dips with a few issues. To avoid making this post read like a book I chose to make a few smaller posts in the hopes that I can get some more expert feedback. I hope to have those posts written by the end of today. The threads I hope to post today are related to my experiences with BH 209, my bullet sabot combos, and general cleaning/maintenance while on the range. If you have time I'd be grateful to you for reading one or more and offer some feedback.
As for my pie plate worries, the combination of the Accura, the Leopold VX-Freedom, and the load I was using, I was dumbfounded by the accuracy of the ML. I fired about 20 rounds using CCI 209M, Barnes 250 gr. T-EZ, 70-100 gr. BH 209, just to get on paper on a 25 yd target and get used to the ML. I fired the last batch of rounds at 50 yds., using Hornady 250 gr. SST, 100 gr. BH 209. My goal was to get POI about 2" at 50 yrs with a respectable group. The last 8 rounds were <1" MOA. I need to iron out some quirks before I fire again next week but I was cautiously delighted with the outcome. I'm excited about going beyond yesterday's performance and have faith that the Accura will just keep getting better. I was never sure what to think about all the advertised hype of the rifle when I bought it, but I saw it with my own eyes. It is a slick, smooth-shooting, son-of-a-gun. I am grateful to the members in these forums that I had the pleasure of learning from. Got a long ways to go but it'll be a fun trip.
I have critiqued myself so much since yesterday that my next trip will look nothing like the first. Although yesterday was the worst I'll ever do on the range with a ML, I was actually ecstatic about the whole experience. The one thing that helped me accomplish my first-day goal was reading and heading what you guys have posted in these forums. I know it helped a lot reminding myself that whatever routine I do, do it the same exact way every time. And I did, even the "boo-boo" stuff. There's something different and rewarding about the discussions that go on in these forums. I've been taking notes, cutting and pasting, and making my own how-to guide. Got a long ways to go.
I did have some bumps and dips with a few issues. To avoid making this post read like a book I chose to make a few smaller posts in the hopes that I can get some more expert feedback. I hope to have those posts written by the end of today. The threads I hope to post today are related to my experiences with BH 209, my bullet sabot combos, and general cleaning/maintenance while on the range. If you have time I'd be grateful to you for reading one or more and offer some feedback.
As for my pie plate worries, the combination of the Accura, the Leopold VX-Freedom, and the load I was using, I was dumbfounded by the accuracy of the ML. I fired about 20 rounds using CCI 209M, Barnes 250 gr. T-EZ, 70-100 gr. BH 209, just to get on paper on a 25 yd target and get used to the ML. I fired the last batch of rounds at 50 yds., using Hornady 250 gr. SST, 100 gr. BH 209. My goal was to get POI about 2" at 50 yrs with a respectable group. The last 8 rounds were <1" MOA. I need to iron out some quirks before I fire again next week but I was cautiously delighted with the outcome. I'm excited about going beyond yesterday's performance and have faith that the Accura will just keep getting better. I was never sure what to think about all the advertised hype of the rifle when I bought it, but I saw it with my own eyes. It is a slick, smooth-shooting, son-of-a-gun. I am grateful to the members in these forums that I had the pleasure of learning from. Got a long ways to go but it'll be a fun trip.