how far
10-12-2009, 10:14 AM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Kerrville, Tx. USA
Posts: 2,722
I am going to bet that you shot over him. You definately need to practice out to the range you will be shooting.
AND there may be a slightly different impact point shooting from sticks vs. sandbags. My gun shoots higher off of sticks than at the range, so I get it close with the bags, then finish off of sticks.
AND there may be a slightly different impact point shooting from sticks vs. sandbags. My gun shoots higher off of sticks than at the range, so I get it close with the bags, then finish off of sticks.
10-12-2009, 11:16 AM
#12
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,425
With my inline I like to keep shots inside 150 yards...
My load is similiar to yours...90grs of FFF Goex or Pyrodex R-S with a 250 T/C Shockwave...
I sight in 2 1/2 high at 100 and I'm about 3 inches low at 150...
I'd also add a laser rangefinder into the equation...
My load is similiar to yours...90grs of FFF Goex or Pyrodex R-S with a 250 T/C Shockwave...
I sight in 2 1/2 high at 100 and I'm about 3 inches low at 150...
I'd also add a laser rangefinder into the equation...
10-12-2009, 11:42 AM
#13
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: West NE
Posts: 1,455
If your rifle is approved (more than likely) for 150gr black powder/pyrodex, then you can use 150gr of T7 PELLETS. If you use LOOSE T7 you will have to reduce your load to be in the "safe" range-about 135gr and under.
Anyways, I shoot 130gr pyrodex RS w/ 250gr T/C Shockwave. I would trust this rifle and load to over 200yds in a no- or low-wind situation. I have twice already. Believe me, a ML is still packing PLENTY of power to perform on deer at that range with a load like that.
This deer was taken at about 190yds. Easy kill for the Omega. Notice the amount of blood, the deer dropped where it stood.
Anyways, I shoot 130gr pyrodex RS w/ 250gr T/C Shockwave. I would trust this rifle and load to over 200yds in a no- or low-wind situation. I have twice already. Believe me, a ML is still packing PLENTY of power to perform on deer at that range with a load like that.
This deer was taken at about 190yds. Easy kill for the Omega. Notice the amount of blood, the deer dropped where it stood.
10-12-2009, 12:37 PM
#14
Fork Horn
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dark Side of the Moon
Posts: 406
As stated previsouly, range for an ethical kill is up to the individual person's skill & judgement. For me 150 yards at a relaxed whitetail with a good solid rest using 2 pellets 777 with a 250 grain shockwave. But if the deer is relaxed, I usually can get a little closer.
You stated you purchased your muzzleloader recently. If it is modern gun, then you it should be able to up the charge to 150 grains. However, you accuracy might actually suffer and cause a higher % of misses at long range. Muzzleloaders seem to have a sweet spot of powder, bullet, primer, etc... Most people seem to get the best accuracy when using less then the max rated charge. Only way to tell is to hit the range.
You stated you purchased your muzzleloader recently. If it is modern gun, then you it should be able to up the charge to 150 grains. However, you accuracy might actually suffer and cause a higher % of misses at long range. Muzzleloaders seem to have a sweet spot of powder, bullet, primer, etc... Most people seem to get the best accuracy when using less then the max rated charge. Only way to tell is to hit the range.
10-12-2009, 01:48 PM
#16
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: West NE
Posts: 1,455
Haha, Falcon, quite true. I took that doe on public land just south of Scottsbluff, NE. Spotted her at about 700yds and was able to crawl through enough cacti to get a shot (ouch). She took quite a tumble down the side of that bluff. So she didn't "exactly" drop where she stood 
My profile pic is another ML kill of mine.
--just remembered. My friends dad shot a doe off that same public property last rifle season that field dressed at 170lbs! "Godzilla Doe" we nicknamed it
My profile pic is another ML kill of mine.--just remembered. My friends dad shot a doe off that same public property last rifle season that field dressed at 170lbs! "Godzilla Doe" we nicknamed it
Last edited by Big Z; 10-12-2009 at 01:52 PM.
10-12-2009, 01:49 PM
#17
Typical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location:
Posts: 647
Can you put 150 gr. of powder in your gun. I'd check the owners manual but I would guess that the answer is yes. The thing is though, and most people in this room will tell you that unless you just need to up your self esteem, there really isn't that much of an advantage to going witha 150 gr. charge. I'd stick with the charge ya got.
On the topic of range, I would play out senario shots for what my average, shortage, and longest makeable shots are gonna be. I have one mL that I use for deep cover and I've got it so that at 50 yds its 1" high. My other ML is 2" at 100 and then does pretty good out to 150yd. Truth be told though, I've never taken a deer with a ML past 100 yds. My suggestion is practice up and try different distances.
On the topic of range, I would play out senario shots for what my average, shortage, and longest makeable shots are gonna be. I have one mL that I use for deep cover and I've got it so that at 50 yds its 1" high. My other ML is 2" at 100 and then does pretty good out to 150yd. Truth be told though, I've never taken a deer with a ML past 100 yds. My suggestion is practice up and try different distances.
10-12-2009, 01:58 PM
#18
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location:
Posts: 1,408
Odds are the gun is not the limiting factor, but you are. No knock on you, just that the ballistics of modern muzzleloaders have taken their effective range past the effective range of most shooters.
NOTE: What I am about to share is not something I am telling you that you should do, you probably shouldn't. A good shooting buddy was over looking at my target I kept from shooting a ML 500 yards and noting that I was probably one of half a dozen people in the COUNTRY who do that.
I had a Traditions gun of similar quality and setup to yours. I took deer to 300 yards. I carried a drop chart with wind drift for 25yd increments out past that range.
I now shoot a TC Omega specifically accurized and set up for long range. I have taken deer to 338 yds, pretty close to the max range I trust the bullet I use to open, and targets to 500 yds with a different load.
If you can't shoot MOA off the bench at X range (1 inch per 100 yds out to whatever range, so 3 inches for 300 yds) you shouldn't be considering it. If you can't shoot 1.5 MOA groups from field position or under 5-6in group no matter what the range, you should stick to closer shots. And this is under the worst wind conditions where you would take the shot.
When I shot 338 yds to take a deer, there was zero wind. I have passed on closer shots with more wind. I have also army-crawled 1/4 mile to turn a 350yd shot into a 20 yd shot, I take long shots when it is necessary but convert to close shots when possible.
I have never missed a deer over 125 yards that I used a laser rangefinder on. I had NEVER missed one over 125 yards until I got stupid last year and took a shot at one that had me pinned down without access to my rangefinder and missed. Years past I have screwed up my share of closer shots, I attribute that to never taking a long shot without a ton of thought and preparation but taking things for granted on some shorter "easy" shots.
NOTE: What I am about to share is not something I am telling you that you should do, you probably shouldn't. A good shooting buddy was over looking at my target I kept from shooting a ML 500 yards and noting that I was probably one of half a dozen people in the COUNTRY who do that.
I had a Traditions gun of similar quality and setup to yours. I took deer to 300 yards. I carried a drop chart with wind drift for 25yd increments out past that range.
I now shoot a TC Omega specifically accurized and set up for long range. I have taken deer to 338 yds, pretty close to the max range I trust the bullet I use to open, and targets to 500 yds with a different load.
If you can't shoot MOA off the bench at X range (1 inch per 100 yds out to whatever range, so 3 inches for 300 yds) you shouldn't be considering it. If you can't shoot 1.5 MOA groups from field position or under 5-6in group no matter what the range, you should stick to closer shots. And this is under the worst wind conditions where you would take the shot.
When I shot 338 yds to take a deer, there was zero wind. I have passed on closer shots with more wind. I have also army-crawled 1/4 mile to turn a 350yd shot into a 20 yd shot, I take long shots when it is necessary but convert to close shots when possible.
I have never missed a deer over 125 yards that I used a laser rangefinder on. I had NEVER missed one over 125 yards until I got stupid last year and took a shot at one that had me pinned down without access to my rangefinder and missed. Years past I have screwed up my share of closer shots, I attribute that to never taking a long shot without a ton of thought and preparation but taking things for granted on some shorter "easy" shots.
Last edited by spaniel; 10-12-2009 at 02:02 PM.
10-12-2009, 07:10 PM
#19
Typical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Lake Saint Louis MO
Posts: 723
Will you be hunting thick brush or open fields? I hunt thick bruch were you can only see about 30 yards in front of you so I really don't get carried away with the 150 grain powder charges. I shoot Traditions Lightning Bolts with great success with (2) 50 grain pellets and a Remington Kleenbore 209 primer with a Shockwave 250 grain. I do have a clear patch of opening into a field that I killed a doe at 110 yards with the same load. All you can do is do your time on the range and that gun will take care of you. 100 grains is plenty for whitetails even out to 200 yards but a lot depends on wind, powder amount and bullet weights. If you need to hit at 200 yards, use a light bullet weight around 200 grains loaded with 100 grains of loose or pellets and put that scope on 9 and practice at 200 yards. You should be able to dial it in for that range. If I had an area with that oportunity on a big deer and prcaticed with that load I would take the shot, pending the wind and whether or not I knew my backdrop.
