Most Reliable Muzzleloader?

[quigleysharps4570]

most any muzzle loader is reliable if you learn how to manage it.

I figure if us ole boys that still hunt with flinters and caplocks can sit thru a day of rain/snow and get them to shoot...these fella's taking them new in-lines to the woods sure should be able to.

 

[Wobblyshot1]

most any muzzle loader is reliable if you learn how to manage it.

I figure if us ole boys that still hunt with flinters and caplocks can sit thru a day of rain/snow and get them to shoot...these fella's taking them new in-lines to the woods sure should be able to.

LOL...we don't get much snow in Tennessee but I've hunted with my flintlock in the rain....and guess what....it's always fired when I dropped the hammer. Learning how to protect your muzzle loader from adverse conditions is part of the management process I was taking about. We have one advantage, quigley, we're using real black powder. Overall, in my opinion, superior to any of the substitutes.

 

[quigleysharps4570]

We have one advantage, quigley, we're using real black powder. Overall, in my opinion, superior to any of the substitutes.

Yes it is. If these folks would quit using the replica powders alot of their problems would go away. They can't argue that real blackpowder won't shoot in them because I know better...have a CVA Optima here at the house that was given to me. Made it a loaner and sighted it in with 80 grs. of 2f Goex and a Lightfield Alpha Gold 300. It's dropped a pile of deer with no problems.

 

[quigleysharps4570]

Had a friend give me a can of Pyrodex a few years back. Eventually burnt it up in the driveway. Have 2 boxes of pellets that was given to me along with that Optima...they still sit in the closet. Can't turn down free stuff, but then I'm just stuck with it. My friend that gave me that Optima also ended up giving me one of those T/C Thunderhawks...draws dust too. It's diet will be real black if it ever comes out though.

 

[quigleysharps4570]

This one is stainless with the black plastic stock.

 

[TheLBLman]

Wes-

No sub can compare to smokeless.

You should know better.

Speedwise, you may have a point with a limited amount of 5744.

Bump the smokeless up by 700 fps (which you cannot do with BH209) and we're playing in another time zone.

Bump it up again to 3 K, and you are near lightspeed.

Smokeless subs, while nice, cannot compete performance-wise.

EWC,

Not disagreeing with you about what you posted, but the question started out as to what's the "most reliable", not what's producing the fastest velocity. IMO, AA5744 and/or BH209 are the "most reliable" in guns designed to use them. Some have pointed out the reliability of real black powder, which was not an option under my consideration.

We may all be focused more or less on different things valued most. For you, it may be velocity. For others, it's accuracy. For me, it's reliability (in a muzzleloader). Sure, a Savage smokeless with any powder you listed is very reliable. Just even more reliable with AA5744.

In terms of velocity, absolutely, no sub can compare to smokeless. That's why we're both shooting smokeless, and modern firearms use cartridges loaded with smokeless powders. But in terms of muzzleloader "reliability", the BH209 is possibly more reliable than some smokeless powders you may be using in a muzzleloader.

One of these days, when I get one of those round tuits, I may do some wet powder testing in my Savage. What I have in mind is pointing the muzzle up, then pouring various amounts of water into the bore, allowing it to get to the powder. Would just like to know how much can get in the bore before it doesn't shoot. This is an issue to me because seems there's always a few days each year I'm muzzleloader hunting in the rain. This might be less an issue if I were more into shooting than hunting.

 

[ewc]

Wes-

Mine ALWAYS go boom.

N110/Varget with a 195gr barnes (sabotless)

Pouring rain or shine.

Tape your bore with electrical tape. Rain or shine, ALL my rifles get taped. Keeps mud, rain, snow, etc. out of my barrels. I have extra pieces of tape stuck to ALL my stocks.

Works.

Killed 5 tape deer this year. (If anyone is worried about shooting thru tape). Exact same POI as non-taped.

I use orange tape. Blue tape scares deer...

 

[ewc]

Wes-

I am a velocity fluffy kittens, but accuracy is my main goal.

My .40 is a gem, holding 1/4-1/2 moa to 200. MOA to 300 and 400 (bullets fault).

From a 3K start...

 

[TheLBLman]

N110/Varget with a 195gr barnes (sabotless)

Not sure I'd want that light a bullet, but for those who didn't note, believe we're talking a .40 caliber bullet here?

Do you go sabotless with other combinations? Anything between the powder and the bullet?

Tape your bore with electrical tape. Rain or shine, ALL my rifles get taped. Keeps mud, rain, snow, etc. out of my barrels.

(If anyone is worried about shooting thru tape). Exact same POI as non-taped.

I commonly use Gorilla Duct Tape (black) and/or a neoprene sock.
Would have been afraid to try shooting throught electrical tape, but since you have, it's sounding like a good way to go.

Any particular "trick" to how you tape the muzzle?

 

[TheLBLman]

My .40 is a gem, holding 1/4-1/2 moa to 200. MOA to 300 and 400 (bullets fault).

AWESOME ACCURACY!

Will it break a large deer's shoulder (with that light bullet) at 300 yards?

By the way, even though I'm shooting a .50 cal rifle, I am shooting a saboted .40 cal bullet (260 grains). While I might prefer a different .40 cal bullet than these Precisions, so far, they've been what groups best, and I believe the weight is adequate to get the job done. Maybe I need to experiment with some different .40 cal bullets.

 

[ewc]

Not sure I'd want that light a bullet, but for those who didn't note, believe we're talking a .40 caliber bullet here?

Do you go sabotless with other combinations? Anything between the powder and the bullet?

Yes, .40 caliber sabotless. I have only kept one 195 gr Barnes in a deer. It went thru 3' of deer, back-to-front. Deer DRT. The 195 barnes is my favorite MZ bullet by far. I use (2) .40 wool wads over my powder and under my bullet.

Any particular "trick" to how you tape the muzzle?

Not really. I use three pieces of electrical tape around 2.5" long. Make a "plus" sign with two of them over the end of the bore. Take the third piece and go around the barrel - securing pieces one and two. You may have to use and extra piece of tape over the bore as your barrel is .50 vs my .40. Keep extra tape stuck to your stock.

 

[ewc]

Will it break a large deer's shoulder (with that light bullet) at 300 yards?

I have no doubt it will, but no proof yet. I have only punched paper past 200 with that bullet. Furthest kill has been right around 200 yards. According to my shooter app on Droid, I will have 1,604 foot pounds of energy @ 300 yards.

I did kill a deer at 326 yards with my .50 Savage a few years back. I was shooting 43 gr of SR-4759 and the Hornady 250 gr SST @ 2,305 fps. That bullet (not nearly as strong) punched thru both shoulders. So I suspect I'm good with the 195gr Barnes.

By the way, even though I'm shooting a .50 cal rifle, I am shooting a saboted .40 cal bullet (260 grains). While I might prefer a different .40 cal bullet than these Precisions, so far, they've been what groups best, and I believe the weight is adequate to get the job done. Maybe I need to experiment with some different .40 cal bullets.

I suspect that the only reason you are having success with the .40 caliber PR's is that you are not pushing them hard. I could not get them to shoot out of my .50. I was usung the orange sabot that PR supplied. I do have some special sabots that RB (on Doug's Board) made me for .40 bullets in a .50 bore. I never tried them as I got to building my .40 shortly after he sent them to me. You are welcome to them. I never tried the 195 Barnes in them.

Let me know. I have about 150 of the .40/50 sabots and 100 of the orange .458/50 sabots.

 

[308BAR]

Get the rifle you like and maintain it properly and consistently and it will be reliable. I've been shooting a Doc White inline for over 15 years with not a problem. I shoot two 50 grain pellets in front of a regular #11 cap (which is supposed to be a no no). Each time after cleaning i'll shoot 1 tamped pellet out of it, load and go hunting. No misfires no delays.