As the title says, my muzzle loader experience is one of frustration, learning and safety. For the last 16-17months I have tried numerous times to get my new muzzle loader dialed in. While I believe there were multiple issues, I am confident in my muzzle loader now.
Initially, I felt I was not finding the proper load. While this "might" have been part of the issue, I do not think this was the main issue. However, that said, I am very happy with the load I ended up with. I am now shooting 100gr of Triple 7 pellets, with a 300gr TC Shockwave bullet. My muzzie is a TC Omega with a Nikon Omega BDC250 scope. All I can say is, shame on me for not taking such fine tools and making the most of them. However, we all learn sometime. Unfortunately, some of us are a little slow on the learning curve. lol
I have tried just about every combo of 200-300gr bullets and brands of bullets. Shockwaves, Hornady, Powerbelt, and a couple other brands were all tested and tried. I have attempted cleaning inbetween every shot, every 6-8 shots, and various cleaning methods in between shots. Sometimes I used bore cleaner, other times just a dry patch. I also had used a bore brush with dry patches only (which seemed to work the best in most cases.) In the end, it was a conversation with our very own CJD3 that tripped something in my pea brain and helped me put things together. He was mentioning scribing his ram rods on his muzzle loaders to ensure they are always seating the bullets in the proper place. While I had "meant" to do this more than once, I had never actually done it.
I feel obligated to post this mainly because it was a simple error on my part that caused all this. Not only this but it is an error which could have cost me my life. That said, be sure to scribe your ram rods and seat your bullets to the same position EVERY time. Had I been shooting a maxed out load of 150gr or been shooting a cheaper muzzle loader AND not been properly seating the bullet, the pressures could have very well ended up with some negative consequences for me.
I will not make any excuses other than I am fairly new to muzzle loader shooting and I have learned a lot in the process. Some might make fun of me (JD you can keep it to yourself lol), but I have no shame in posting it if it helps one person or saves one person an accident. It has been very fulfilling to figure out the problem I was having, and was even more fulfilling to see what this muzzle loader was capable of in my hands! I am just glad I have my hands and face to use to shoot it still and it never blew up in my face from the pressures I was asking of the gun by not properly seating the bullets!
I hope this saves someone some time, and hopefully saves someone a negative and dangerous experience.
Oh, and here is what it looked like after I got it dialed in. First three marked shots on the right were at 25yds. On the left were the three shots at 50yds. The one at the top in the middle was already on the target. I started at 25yds. Shot, went down 4 clicks. Shot second round and dropped it down 4 more clicks. Fired third round and moved back to 50 yds. Shot the first round and moved down 4 clicks. Shot rounds 2 and 3 and wrapped it up. Boogied home and still hunted until last shooting light. Didn't see any deer, but it felt pretty good to hold a muzzle loader I now have extreme confidence in!
Initially, I felt I was not finding the proper load. While this "might" have been part of the issue, I do not think this was the main issue. However, that said, I am very happy with the load I ended up with. I am now shooting 100gr of Triple 7 pellets, with a 300gr TC Shockwave bullet. My muzzie is a TC Omega with a Nikon Omega BDC250 scope. All I can say is, shame on me for not taking such fine tools and making the most of them. However, we all learn sometime. Unfortunately, some of us are a little slow on the learning curve. lol
I have tried just about every combo of 200-300gr bullets and brands of bullets. Shockwaves, Hornady, Powerbelt, and a couple other brands were all tested and tried. I have attempted cleaning inbetween every shot, every 6-8 shots, and various cleaning methods in between shots. Sometimes I used bore cleaner, other times just a dry patch. I also had used a bore brush with dry patches only (which seemed to work the best in most cases.) In the end, it was a conversation with our very own CJD3 that tripped something in my pea brain and helped me put things together. He was mentioning scribing his ram rods on his muzzle loaders to ensure they are always seating the bullets in the proper place. While I had "meant" to do this more than once, I had never actually done it.
I feel obligated to post this mainly because it was a simple error on my part that caused all this. Not only this but it is an error which could have cost me my life. That said, be sure to scribe your ram rods and seat your bullets to the same position EVERY time. Had I been shooting a maxed out load of 150gr or been shooting a cheaper muzzle loader AND not been properly seating the bullet, the pressures could have very well ended up with some negative consequences for me.
I will not make any excuses other than I am fairly new to muzzle loader shooting and I have learned a lot in the process. Some might make fun of me (JD you can keep it to yourself lol), but I have no shame in posting it if it helps one person or saves one person an accident. It has been very fulfilling to figure out the problem I was having, and was even more fulfilling to see what this muzzle loader was capable of in my hands! I am just glad I have my hands and face to use to shoot it still and it never blew up in my face from the pressures I was asking of the gun by not properly seating the bullets!
I hope this saves someone some time, and hopefully saves someone a negative and dangerous experience.
Oh, and here is what it looked like after I got it dialed in. First three marked shots on the right were at 25yds. On the left were the three shots at 50yds. The one at the top in the middle was already on the target. I started at 25yds. Shot, went down 4 clicks. Shot second round and dropped it down 4 more clicks. Fired third round and moved back to 50 yds. Shot the first round and moved down 4 clicks. Shot rounds 2 and 3 and wrapped it up. Boogied home and still hunted until last shooting light. Didn't see any deer, but it felt pretty good to hold a muzzle loader I now have extreme confidence in!
Attachments
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TC Omega dialed in Jan 7 2012.jpg
