cayugad

I decided to shoot my CVA Staghorn a little more. I had mounted a Simmons 4x Pro Diamond Scope on it and only had a chance to shoot it once. So I knew the scope was close, but wanted it sighted in at 50 yards.

So I decided to start with some 295 grain Powerbelts. I had some bad luck with them the last time, but then, this rifle never liked them a lot. It likes the 245 grain. BUT the 295 were on the end of the season sale. So I decided to cut the charge back to 70 grains and see if they behaved better (as was suggested).

I was aiming at the lower right corner bulls eye and touched off.



When I saw where it hit (#1) I was shocked. So I looked over the scope mounts. They were all in place, or at least looked to be. All seemed solid. So I swabbed the barrel and shot again (#2). I could see hitting high, but this was kind of spooky. So I swabbed and loaded 70 grains of powder and shot #3. Now I was stumped. This was only 50 yards. I mean come on!!!

My first thought of course was.. my brand new Simmons 4X Pro Diamond scope is junk. I was actually a little angry. So I had it on Warne QD rings and took it off. To prove to myself it was the scope, I shot open sights at 50 yards with the same load. A, B, & C. On C it was my fault it hit high as a chipmunk suddenly crossed the range path and I know I thought about it... the O indicated to me open sights.

I then checked the bases on the rifle. They were tight. I checked the rings and they also were tight. So I put the scope back on the rifle. I figured if it was shot, it would show up with the rifle's pet load of 90 grains of Pyrodex RS and 250 grain Shockwaves.

I decided since today was a bust, I would shoot for the large center target to really show me how bad the scope was. I loaded 90 grains of RS and the shockwave on a clean barrel and fired. Top of the bull where it is supposed to be... I swabbed, loaded and shot again. Top of the bull where it is supposed to be. That big hole in the center is five hits. So for the heck of it I did not swab on the last shot, and it hit just a little out of the hole, but again.. nothing to get concerned about.

I then swabbed the barrel clean and loaded 70 grains of Graf's and Son's 2f black powder and another powerbelt and shot for the lower corner bull again. #4 indicated where that hit. Not real bad, but I felt could have been better. So I took the scope off again and shot the last of my powerbelts with open sights, D & E.. Now I was stumped. Why would that scope not hold true on powerbelts.

I then put the scope back on and got some Hornady XTP Mag Express that came with their own sabots. I loaded 70 grains of Pyrodex RS and shot a three shot group at the lower left corner bull. Not too bad. I was swabbing between shots. So I kicked the charge up to 90 grains again and shot three more at the same bull with the same projectile (last of that box) Again, not bad...

Swabbed the barrel clean and broke out some 300 grain .430 Hornady XTP/HPs and some green crushed rib sabots. Using 90 grains I shot for the upper right bull and was pleased with that. For kicks, I shot the last one on an unswabbed barrel. It made a difference.

I then swabbed the gun clean and loaded .452 300 grain XTP's with some MMP hph-24 sabots and shot for the left top bull. Again, more then pleased with that.

So I sat there and thought, the scope is on. But why will it not shoot the 295 grain powerbelts with a scope, but with open sights.. its not bad at all..

I will let you figure this one out...

Underclocked

I don't see where you shot the same load again after reinstalling the scope so I would say your problem was one of three things: 1: the rings were not seated in the bases properly for the first shots (most likely), 2: the rifle was "settling" back into the stock... probably after removal of the barreled actionfor cleaning (least likely), or 3: you failed to see that chipmunk jumping up and down on your barrel for those first shots.

cayugad

#1... that was my very first thought. But like I said, I did check them very close and they were all the way into the bases, so it appeared. That is why I was kind of shocked at how it was SPRAYING the powerbelts.

#2...I never considered that possibility, but I really made no adjustment to the stock to make it start grouping with the other loads. But that is something to keep in mind should it ever happen again.

#3... Is the one I suspect to. When he crossed that trail, my first thought was to put a .50 caliber bullet down range at him. He was not even armed. [&o]

sjsfire

You should have let one fly..... Here's what a 300gr Barnes Expander with a50gr Pyrodex pellet doesto our local varmint population.

cayugad

that's pretty cool, you can shoot and gut them at the same time.

bronko22000

Dave - That is a mystery to me to. But it would have been nice to see what the 295s would have done after reinstalling the scope. Maybe next time you can shoot something else, like the pet load first, then the PBs.
Or just say the heck with it and stick with your pet load - they look pretty good to me. Pretty darn good.

Semisane

It's obvious to me that you encountereda previously unknown law of muzzle loading - I just don't know what it is.

Gotbuck

Cayugad, see if this helps. Ii do not have that gun but these guys have loads and are using the same bullets. Just by chance when you use the scope is it mounted high or low? I have my guns set up for high mounts with the ability to use open if needed.I have forgot about adjusting my cheek placement on the stock and have noticed big diffrences.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=221512

cayugad

I always use medium rings, and no see through mounts.. I am going to test this rifle with some 245 grain and see if it behaves.. If it does, I will conclude that either I had the mounts just a little bit off, some strange force was working against me that day.

arcticap

I think that the 295 grain PB'sare inconsistent in that rifle andthe ones that held POAjust happened to be shot with open sights. It's not the scope or the shooter, some of those PB's just like to fly around looseall over the place and you'll never know which ones.