When do you get your rifle ready for the field? The day before deer season opens, a week before or months before. The answer is months before.
I overhead a conversation between two gentlemen the other day that brings up a topic that all hunters have faced. One man was telling the other about how his muzzle loader wasn't worth the metal to make it. I didn't want to eavesdrop on the conversation, but I couldn't help myself. Turns out I'm glad I did. He was at his wits end about this muzzle loader and how he couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with it.
I couldn't help myself again. I asked, “What type bullet weight are you shooting and with what powder charge?”
After him telling me, I suggested trying different brands of powder and bullets until he finds one that fits the gun he is using.
“That could get into a lot of time and money,” he claimed.
“Well would you rather miss the biggest buck you have ever seen due to bad shot placement?” I asked.
I explained to him of the three muzzle loaders that I have. I had to sit down and spends hours finding the right load and bullet weight that each gun would take.
I have an old saying about working up the right load for all rifles. It would be good if I could hit a volleyball at two hundred yards. That would make me happy, and I could harvest deer.
But what if I really wanted to hit a softball at that distance? That would be even better.
But what if I really got greedy and wanted to hit a golf ball? Could I really do it?
The answer is yes.
But can I do this the day before season?
The answer is maybe. But why wait till the last minute?
Every gun will be different, and all factory loads will shoot different in each gun, so sitting down months before is a must. For instance, one of my muzzle loaders, after hours of testing, will shoot bullets at one hundred yards within a two-inch circle. But until I tried several different loads, I wasn't getting a tighter group than about four inches. Two is better than four, so I settled on a Barnes 250 grain bullet, and 110 grains of black powder.
A two inch group or less with a muzzle loader will work every time. But after this deer season, I was going to get back into reloading for myself. I started looking on the internet reading different forums about the gun I use and what is working best. From my past experiences I knew that Barnes Triple Shock 150 grain was my bullet of choice. I've tried other brands, but none have preformed like Barnes.
The powder I chose was Magnum Ramshot by the Western Powder Company. My rifle, a Remington 300 ultra-mag, would be put to the test. Based on statistics from articles that I had read, this was the hottest powder on the market today and should easily be perfect for my gun. Turns out it was better than expected.
I prefer cooler weather when shooting my gun, because that is the type of weather I'll be hunting in. It gives the barrel of your gun time to cool off between a shot, which is a must for accuracy.
Last week the temperatures were right and within a couple of hours of testing, I had my gun shooting better than before with factory loads. I had a three shot group touching each hole at one hundred yards. This is what every hunter needs to do before going into the field. Check to see if this is the right load for their gun.
Remember, every gun is different, and the day before season isn't the time to start. It takes time to prepare every gun, and now is the time to get ready for the upcoming season. It's something the whole family can enjoy.
(Steve “Beau Enaro” Wilson writes a periodic outdoors column for the Malvern Daily Record.)
Copyright © 2006 Malvern Daily Record
I overhead a conversation between two gentlemen the other day that brings up a topic that all hunters have faced. One man was telling the other about how his muzzle loader wasn't worth the metal to make it. I didn't want to eavesdrop on the conversation, but I couldn't help myself. Turns out I'm glad I did. He was at his wits end about this muzzle loader and how he couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with it.
I couldn't help myself again. I asked, “What type bullet weight are you shooting and with what powder charge?”
After him telling me, I suggested trying different brands of powder and bullets until he finds one that fits the gun he is using.
“That could get into a lot of time and money,” he claimed.
“Well would you rather miss the biggest buck you have ever seen due to bad shot placement?” I asked.
I explained to him of the three muzzle loaders that I have. I had to sit down and spends hours finding the right load and bullet weight that each gun would take.
I have an old saying about working up the right load for all rifles. It would be good if I could hit a volleyball at two hundred yards. That would make me happy, and I could harvest deer.
But what if I really wanted to hit a softball at that distance? That would be even better.
But what if I really got greedy and wanted to hit a golf ball? Could I really do it?
The answer is yes.
But can I do this the day before season?
The answer is maybe. But why wait till the last minute?
Every gun will be different, and all factory loads will shoot different in each gun, so sitting down months before is a must. For instance, one of my muzzle loaders, after hours of testing, will shoot bullets at one hundred yards within a two-inch circle. But until I tried several different loads, I wasn't getting a tighter group than about four inches. Two is better than four, so I settled on a Barnes 250 grain bullet, and 110 grains of black powder.
A two inch group or less with a muzzle loader will work every time. But after this deer season, I was going to get back into reloading for myself. I started looking on the internet reading different forums about the gun I use and what is working best. From my past experiences I knew that Barnes Triple Shock 150 grain was my bullet of choice. I've tried other brands, but none have preformed like Barnes.
The powder I chose was Magnum Ramshot by the Western Powder Company. My rifle, a Remington 300 ultra-mag, would be put to the test. Based on statistics from articles that I had read, this was the hottest powder on the market today and should easily be perfect for my gun. Turns out it was better than expected.
I prefer cooler weather when shooting my gun, because that is the type of weather I'll be hunting in. It gives the barrel of your gun time to cool off between a shot, which is a must for accuracy.
Last week the temperatures were right and within a couple of hours of testing, I had my gun shooting better than before with factory loads. I had a three shot group touching each hole at one hundred yards. This is what every hunter needs to do before going into the field. Check to see if this is the right load for their gun.
Remember, every gun is different, and the day before season isn't the time to start. It takes time to prepare every gun, and now is the time to get ready for the upcoming season. It's something the whole family can enjoy.
(Steve “Beau Enaro” Wilson writes a periodic outdoors column for the Malvern Daily Record.)
Copyright © 2006 Malvern Daily Record