Black Powder Question

The new ones are easily effective out to 200 yards with the right bullet and magnum load.

Before someone starts smartin off about how much modern muzzle loaders have improved.

Snippers in the Civil War were documented to knock off officers at ranges well exceding 1000yds with muzzle loading rifles.  And guess what.  They used scopes and they had inline actions back then.

For me, with open sights, I won't shoot over 150 yards and that's pushing it. Last year I shot my doe at 125 yards. I know that doesn't mean squat for effective range of muzzleloaders overall, but that's my effective range.

Ball and patch here, must keep under 100 yds for anything I wish to kill. 

I think I need to work some more on developing a better load for accuracy.

Nanky Said:
For me, with open sights, I won't shoot over 150 yards and that's pushing it. Last year I shot my doe at 125 yards. I know that doesn't mean squat for effective range of muzzleloaders overall, but that's my effective range.

Yeah, the critter gets pretty small out past 150 with open sights.   I'd still take a poke out to 200 though.

I'd be curious as to what kind of groups people are getting with open sights at 200yrds. I have always heard a SCOPED highend muzzys max range is 200yrds. I shoot an inline open sights and cannot hit the broadside of a barn at 50yrds with the damn thing. Just saying.

I guess I did shoot a ram rod out of it one time. Could have something to do with its inaccuracy.  Although I don't remember it being all that accurate before then either.

Im calling BS on the 1000 yard shot with a muzzleloader. Even if they used a saboted 45 caliber round they would be lucky to have had a BC of .2. If you figure MV MIGHT have been 2000fps that would give you a drop of about 1500 inches (125 ft).

Timbuk-2 Said:
Before someone starts smartin off about how much modern muzzle loaders have improved.

Snippers in the Civil War were documented to knock off officers at ranges well exceding 1000yds with muzzle loading rifles.  And guess what.  They used scopes and they had inline actions back then.

Lycanthrope Said:
Im calling BS on the 1000 yard shot with a muzzleloader. Even if they used a saboted 45 caliber round they would be lucky to have had a BC of .2. If you figure MV MIGHT have been 2000fps that would give you a drop of about 1500 inches (125 ft).

Timbuk-2 Said:
Before someone starts smartin off about how much modern muzzle loaders have improved.

Snippers in the Civil War were documented to knock off officers at ranges well exceding 1000yds with muzzle loading rifles.  And guess what.  They used scopes and they had inline actions back then.

good little read for you. http://www.thehistorychannelclub.com/articles/articletype/articleview/articleid/54/civil-war-snipers

modern inlines will dump a deer at 400yds if you can use a scope and/or are a good enough shot to hit them

IntroC Said:
I'd be curious as to what kind of groups people are getting with open sights at 200yrds. I have always heard a SCOPED highend muzzys max range is 200yrds. I shoot an inline open sights and cannot hit the broadside of a barn at 50yrds with the damn thing. Just saying.

I guess I did shoot a ram rod out of it one time. Could have something to do with its inaccuracy.  Although I don't remember it being all that accurate before then either.

First couple shots out of my bone collector with open sights about the size of my fist @ 100 yards.  If she's dirty about the size of a pie plate. 

I shot 1 at 235 yards last year, but that was perfect lighting with no wind.  I won't hesitate out to 200 if I absolutely can't get closer, but prefer 150 or less with open sights.  I use a 200 grain T/C shockwave bullet/sabot and 2 50 grain Pyrodex pellets and winchester shotgun primer.  Extremely accurate and deadly combo out of my T/C black diamond or impact.

I don't take a shot over 100 yards.  In fact, I try to get them into good bow range (30 yards) before taking a shot.  It's not that my gun won't shoot over 100 yards, it's just more fun for me to get closer to the deer.

500 yarde muzzleloader

http://www.gunwerks.com/shooting-systems/lrm-500-muzzle-loader-long-range-system.aspx

http://www.parkerproductionsinc.com/index.html

BringingTheRain Said:
500 yarde muzzleloader

http://www.gunwerks.com/shooting-systems/lrm-500-muzzle-loader-long-range-system.aspx

http://www.parkerproductionsinc.com/index.html

Holy moly, 7 grand for that gunwerks!  You could buy a Thompson Center for every day of the 16 1/2 day season for that. 

Captain Ahab Said:

BringingTheRain Said:
500 yarde muzzleloader

http://www.gunwerks.com/shooting-systems/lrm-500-muzzle-loader-long-range-system.aspx

http://www.parkerproductionsinc.com/index.html

Holy moly, 7 grand for that gunwerks!  You could buy a Thompson Center for every day of the 16 1/2 day season for that. 

or two CVAs

Lycanthrope Said:
Im calling BS on the 1000 yard shot with a muzzleloader. Even if they used a saboted 45 caliber round they would be lucky to have had a BC of .2. If you figure MV MIGHT have been 2000fps that would give you a drop of about 1500 inches (125 ft).

Timbuk-2 Said:
Before someone starts smartin off about how much modern muzzle loaders have improved.

Snippers in the Civil War were documented to knock off officers at ranges well exceding 1000yds with muzzle loading rifles.  And guess what.  They used scopes and they had inline actions back then.

I gonna half to call BS as well. Them old timers back in them days were famous for their tall tales. A lot of the stories you hear about them old time trappers are also just that ...stories. They would meet at thier rendezvous twice a year spend there whole 6 month of earnings on a two week drunken hooker having binge. A lot of stories came from those druken story telling binges. Not muchg different than today really. I know I have heard some of the best stories around the fire with more than a little drinking. And we all know everytime the stories get bigger every time they are told.

 

IntroC Said:

Lycanthrope Said:
Im calling BS on the 1000 yard shot with a muzzleloader. Even if they used a saboted 45 caliber round they would be lucky to have had a BC of .2. If you figure MV MIGHT have been 2000fps that would give you a drop of about 1500 inches (125 ft).

Timbuk-2 Said:
Before someone starts smartin off about how much modern muzzle loaders have improved.

Snippers in the Civil War were documented to knock off officers at ranges well exceding 1000yds with muzzle loading rifles.  And guess what.  They used scopes and they had inline actions back then.

I gonna half to call BS as well. Them old timers back in them days were famous for their tall tales. A lot of the stories you hear about them old time trappers are also just that ...stories. They would meet at thier rendezvous twice a year spend there whole 6 month of earnings on a two week drunken hooker having binge. A lot of stories came from those druken story telling binges. Not muchg different than today really. I know I have heard some of the best stories around the fire with more than a little drinking. And we all know everytime the stories get bigger every time they are told.

I guess I'd wonder how they measured it first.

If yer thinkin' tales was tall back then, head into yer favorite gunshop Mon-Wed eve after opening weekend of deer season.  Brink neck waders.

Lycanthrope Said:
Im calling BS on the 1000 yard shot with a muzzleloader. Even if they used a saboted 45 caliber round they would be lucky to have had a BC of .2. If you figure MV MIGHT have been 2000fps that would give you a drop of about 1500 inches (125 ft).

Timbuk-2 Said:
Before someone starts smartin off about how much modern muzzle loaders have improved.

Snippers in the Civil War were documented to knock off officers at ranges well exceding 1000yds with muzzle loading rifles.  And guess what.  They used scopes and they had inline actions back then.

The funny thing is they say "documented" so it comes across as truth. I'd be curious to know were these spectacular shots have been documented.

I read that article sweeney posted about the general getting hit in the face from 800yrds away by a "sniper". Wonder how they know it was a sniper when a whole army was firing shots in their direction. My guess it was a stray bullet. Just saying. I don't believe alot of that old time mumbo jumbo.

Horsager Said:
 

IntroC Said:

Lycanthrope Said:
Im calling BS on the 1000 yard shot with a muzzleloader. Even if they used a saboted 45 caliber round they would be lucky to have had a BC of .2. If you figure MV MIGHT have been 2000fps that would give you a drop of about 1500 inches (125 ft).

Timbuk-2 Said:
Before someone starts smartin off about how much modern muzzle loaders have improved.

Snippers in the Civil War were documented to knock off officers at ranges well exceding 1000yds with muzzle loading rifles.  And guess what.  They used scopes and they had inline actions back then.

I gonna half to call BS as well. Them old timers back in them days were famous for their tall tales. A lot of the stories you hear about them old time trappers are also just that ...stories. They would meet at thier rendezvous twice a year spend there whole 6 month of earnings on a two week drunken hooker having binge. A lot of stories came from those druken story telling binges. Not muchg different than today really. I know I have heard some of the best stories around the fire with more than a little drinking. And we all know everytime the stories get bigger every time they are told.

I guess I'd wonder how they measured it first.

If yer thinkin' tales was tall back then, head into yer favorite gunshop Mon-Wed eve after opening weekend of deer season.  Brink neck waders.

You wouldn't even need to go as far as the gun shop, the breakroom at work has some whoppers being told.

Teddy Rooseveldt has a neat Teddyism paragraph about those long shots in his book On Hunting.  I laughed and laughed when I read it, the way Teddy talked back then - I'll look it up and quaote it if I can find it again.
No doubt though, those snipers were darned good shots for the day, even with their crude rifles and crude scopes and Minee balls.  There were excellent snipers on both sides in the Revolutionary war, too.   I have no doubt they lobbed one pretty close most of the time at those long ranges, and nailed the bad guy reasonably often, or at least got a piece of him sometimes.    But probably no consistent hitting as we know it today, especially over 400 yards in a man sized target, or buffalo. Lots written analyzing the truth about  long shots at buffalo.  Most were givve or take 150 yards, depending on who you believe.    I admit I have a tough time hitting a buffalo shaped target at 1000 yards with my big 50's!   Miracles sometimes happen! LOL

I just saw somewhere that some guy in ?Wisconsin? was going to clean his mjuzzle loader and it went off accidently with the muzzle pointed up, and the bullet hit an Amish girl a mile away and killed her.   No one realized it was him till the death appeared in the news a few days later and he and the family got to thinking.   What a fluke bad luck.    Shouldn't happen, but doo-doo  can happen.   Odds would be astronomical....News didn't say the type of muzzy or bullet.

As far as the shooter can shoot accurately.