Muzzle Loader 100 yard Zero

[Eric300]

I had an open afternoon yesterday and the weather was perfect so just for S&G's I figured I'd check the zero on my TC Pro Hunter muzzle loader. Deer hunting season in Michigan is going to be here soon, and I haven't shot it since I dropped a doe last year with it.

It took me longer to set up my bench, target at 100 yds, spotting scope, and load up the rifle then it did to shoot. But it's well worth checking zero before shooting at live game. I always check zero on all my hunting firearms before taking them into the woods/field. It's the right thing to do if you consider yourself a sportsman.

All I want to confirm is the first shot out of a clean, cold barrel. I don't care much about 3 or 5 shot groups out of a muzzle loader. I want my first shot to hit where I'm aiming between 50 and 175 yards.

2 Triple 7 Magnum pellets - 250 gr. .45 cal. TC Shockwave Sabot/Bullet - T7 209 Primer.

 

[petepeterson]

Looks just like the one Davy Crockett used.

Nice shot. You're good to go!

 

[6518John]

Smoke poles have come a long way since Davey Crockett and Dan’l Boone’s days!

 

[Drm50]

I just sold my .50 TC Hawkin. I shot patched round balls and sighted dead 0 at 100yds. Most of our shoots are less than 100yds. I had no problem shooting 3” at 100yds off rest. Only non stock items were the sights.
Marble replacement front and rear. TC sights mighty coarse. I never was a Muzzle fan, just used one for Ohio Primitive Season.

 

[Golddollar]

Smoke poles have come a long way since Davey Crockett and Dan’l Boone’s days!

It's been insinuated that I was out in the woods with them back then. I still have a flintlock.

 

[Bald1]

With a .45 cal hole at 100 yds do you really need a spotting scope? Lol

 

[Eric300]

With a .45 cal hole at 100 yds do you really need a spotting scope? Lol

With my eyes, I'd need a 60x spotting scope for a .50 cal. hole at 100 yards!

 

[Drm50]

The big game in east were shot to extinction with muzzle loading flintlock
rifles, average under .40cal. Percussion didn’t get big start until 1840s.
There was no need for big calibers until west, with Grizzly, Buffalo and elk.

 

[s&wchad]

Looks good to me!

The State of Michigan recently changed the rules and now you can use any firearm legal in zone 3 during muzzleloader season. A lot of people are now using .350 Legend or .450 Bushmaster in Southern Michigan.

That killed the resale value of muzzleloaders and changed the game.

 

[lihpster]

It's been insinuated that I was out in the woods with them back then. I still have a flintlock.

I have about 8 or so.

 

[Muley Gil]

THIS is a muzzleloader!

 

[Eric300]

Looks good to me!

The State of Michigan recently changed the rules and now you can use any firearm legal in zone 3 during muzzleloader season. A lot of people are now using .350 Legend or .450 Bushmaster in Southern Michigan.

That killed the resale value of muzzleloaders and changed the game.

That is true! Pretty much killed the resale AND sales of muzzle loaders. I mostly bow hunt during the deer season. So, I look at my ML as a long-range bow, so to speak. No follow-up shot. One shot, one kill. Make you first shot count!

 

[Bald1]

Hi Tech muzzleloaders are the norm in several NY counties. It’s Shotgun, Handgun or Muzzleloader. My buddy who unfortunately hunts one of these zones is pretty good out to 200yds. But he says he’d never shoot at a deer that far. Problem is there’s no quick follow up shots.

 

[Muley Gil]

Hi Tech muzzleloaders are the norm in several NY counties. It’s Shotgun, Handgun or Muzzleloader. My buddy who unfortunately hunts one of these zones is pretty good out to 200yds. But he says he’d never shoot at a deer that far. Problem is there’s no quick follow up shots.

One shot makes you a better hunter.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Scope... pellets... sabot bullets...watertight ignition system.

To each their own, I guess.

I must admit, I did put a nice Williams aperture sight on my TC percussion rifle for use in the early Pennsylvania muzzle loader hunt.
But my flintlock remains true to the venue... black powder, patched round ball and period correct sights. The last season in Pa is a true trip back in time.

John "Timetripper"

 

[KalamazooKid]

Very nice Eric! I shot the TC Encore .50 Cal with 3 pellets and a 250 grain projectile for about 20 years with spectacular results. Zero misses and zero lost deer (of about 25-30). The white out after the shot and flames very visible at dusk are some of my best hunting memories.

The longest shot I took was 193 yards and of course, I couldn't see where the deer went because of the smoke. But I did tell my wife (with me at the time) that I gotta believe the deer didn't go 5 feet. Sure enough, during the recovery after dark, the deer didn't go 3 feet.

Kinda sadly, I'm now on the 450 Bushmaster bandwagon but I miss that ML sometimes - except the endless cleaning .....

 

[dave1918a2]

I think a muzzle loader season should be named the 'Primative' rifle season. Flintlock, side hammer, or under hammer. Percussion caps only. Priming powder for flintlock. NO INLINES, NO SCOPES.
Black powder or the equivalent only. No pellets. Just My 2 cents. I do hunt with a flintlock.

 

[KalamazooKid]

I think a muzzle loader season should be named the 'Primative' rifle season. Flintlock, side hammer, or under hammer. Percussion caps only. Priming powder for flintlock. NO INLINES, NO SCOPES.
Black powder or the equivalent only. No pellets. Just My 2 cents. I do hunt with a flintlock.

Haha, as mentioned, Michigan doesn't even require you to use a ML during the ML season any more! They just want the herd thinned.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

I think a muzzle loader season should be named the 'Primative' rifle season. Flintlock, side hammer, or under hammer. Percussion caps only. Priming powder for flintlock. NO INLINES, NO SCOPES.
Black powder or the equivalent only. No pellets. Just My 2 cents. I do hunt with a flintlock.

That's pretty much how the late season is in Pennsylvania. But flintlock only, which pretty much requires black powder. Scopes are out but I see that now peep sights are allowed. Originally it was restricted to patched round balls but conical bullets are now OK as well. Both of my charcoal burners barrels are cut for round balls, so that is what I use. And black powder really is as easy to clean up as the other substitutes so I don't bother with them anymore.

John

 

[Dr Charlie]

Not legal in Oregon unless used in reuglar rifle season. No scope not pellet powder no closed ignition. Having said that congradulations and a darned good shot.