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.

 

[Golddollar]

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

When I was hunting in PA using a flintlock the rear sight had to be an open sight, no peep sights permitted. When the flintlock season only allowed patched round balls I bought a specialized barrel with the slow twist. I got to the point I could hit a gallon paint can lid at 100 yards offhand. When conical bullets were legalized I went back to the Thompson Center factory barrel.

 

[Drm50]

The Inline systems killed value of traditional type ML. For several years you could by TC Hawkins and similar for $100. They weren’t collectible or as shooters weren’t as good as $100 inline. The introduction of bullets that didn’t need patched, powder pellets and #209 priming system made the new generation of MZ so any dipstick that had a modicum of motor skills could shoot one.
Now the tradition guns are making comeback.

 

[deadin]

I originally understood that the reason for a ML season was to give one the feeling of a connection to their ancestors.

The rifle pictured makes me feel closer to Gaston Glock than Davy Crockett....

 

[Eric300]

I originally understood that the reason for a ML season was to give one the feeling of a connection to their ancestors.

The rifle pictured makes me feel closer to Gaston Glock than Davy Crockett....

Yeah, kind of like archery hunting. Then compound bows came along and now crossbows. Gotta change with the times (if you choose to), I reckon. Variety is the spice of life....

 

[WardenRoss]

Got me to thinking about the Leatherstocking Tales (James Fenimore Cooper).

Condensed....

The distance between the stump and shooting-stand was one hundred measured yards; a foot more or a foot less being thought an invasion of the right of one of the parties. The negro affixed his own price to every bird, and the terms of the chance; but, when these were once established, he was obliged, by the strict principles of public justice that prevailed in the country, to admit any adventurer who might offer.

The turkey was already fastened at the "mark," hut its body was entirely hid by the surrounding snow, nothing being visible but its red swelling head and its long neck. If the bird was injured by any bullet that struck below the snow, it was to continue the property of its present owner; but if a feather was touched in a visible part, the animal became the prize of the successful adventurer.

Where is the man that can hit a turkeys head at a hundred yards? I was a fool for trying. You neednt make an uproar like a falling pine-tree about it. Show me the man who can do it.

The smoke, the report, and the momentary shock prevented most of the spectators from instantly knowing the result; but Elizabeth, when she saw her champion drop the end of his rifle in the snow and open his mouth in one of its silent laughs, and then proceed very coolly to recharge his piece, knew that he had been successful. The boys rushed to the mark, and lifted the turkey on high, lifeless, and with nothing but the remnant of a head. "Bring in the creatur," said Leather-Stocking, "and put it at the feet of the lady. I was her deputy in the matter, and the bird is her property."

Nathanial Bumppo (ie Leather-Stockings) year 1823

 

[Eric300]

The Inline systems killed value of traditional type ML. For several years you could by TC Hawkins and similar for $100. They weren’t collectible or as shooters weren’t as good as $100 inline. The introduction of bullets that didn’t need patched, powder pellets and #209 priming system made the new generation of MZ so any dipstick that had a modicum of motor skills could shoot one.
Now the tradition guns are making comeback.

Shooting one is one thing. Hitting your target is a whole other story. It still requires some degree of shooting/hunting skills.

With the same set-up that I have in my original post, I shot this buck at 178 yards. He went maybe 40 yards and dropped. I seriously doubt that shot could have been made using a conventional cap and ball smoke pole. Or, by someone with little shooting/hunting skills for the matter.

 

[6518John]

The rifle pictured makes me feel closer to Gaston Glock than Davy Crockett....

Davy would have kilt him a bar at one yer olt with that en! No waiting until three.

 

[deadin]

I seriously doubt that shot could have been made using a conventional cap and ball smoke pole

And a serious hunter on the fronteer probably wouldn't try a 160 yard shot, but would use skill (or patience) to get closer....

 

[KalamazooKid]

Since this has evolved into an inline vs traditional ML thread, I’d like to interject a couple points ……

In Michigan, you’re more than welcome to use your traditional ML thru ALL of the gun seasons. It’s not like you’re left out of anything.

The younger generation isn’t the least bit interested in traditional ML hunting (with very few exceptions). Here in Michigan, and I’m sure every other state, we’re very concerned with declining hunter numbers.

And finally, please reread paragraph two.

 

[Muley Gil]

Since this has evolved into an inline vs traditional ML thread, I’d like to interject a couple points ……

In Michigan, you’re more than welcome to use your traditional ML thru ALL of the gun seasons. It’s not like you’re left out of anything.

The younger generation isn’t the least bit interested in traditional ML hunting (with very few exceptions). Here in Michigan, and I’m sure every other state, we’re very concerned with declining hunter numbers.

And finally, please reread paragraph two.

Oh, I agree that you made a wonderful shot, both on the target and on that buck.

I just feel that traditional muzzleloaders should have their own season.