.50cal round ball drop

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

For those of you shooting a .50cal ( .490" ) round ball and say 100gr Goex 2fg, what kind of drop do you expect at 150 yards when sighted dead on at 100 yards?

 

[George]

I don't shoot a .50, but, as an approximation without more info on your setup, it will be in the range of 10 inches low.

Spence

 

[BrownBear]

It's close to 3 times that at 150 with 90 grains of 2f from a 32" barrel sighted in at 75 yards, so I bet you're pretty darned close. I'd have guessed more like 15-20" low, but only shooting could find the right number somewhere between our guesses.

 

[Zonie]

Using the Lyman BLACK POWDER HANDBOOK & LOADING MANUAL, 2nd ed. data the muzzle velocity of your .490 diameter ball, patched with a .015 thick patch over 100 grains of Goex 2Fg powder when shot from a 28", 1:48 twist barrel would be about 1730 fps.

With the gun sighted in for 100 yards, according to my computer roundball exterior ballistics calculator, the ball will hit the target 14.6 inches below the point of aim at 150 yards.

"I don't know, Fred. Looked to me like the shot went clean under that deer.

Boy! They sure can run fast!!" :rotf:

 

[coloradoclyde]

I'm surprised that someone with your computer expertise doesn't know how to use a ballistic computer....

And, of course you know that even with the information that you provided...The differences between individual guns and things like, barrel length and sight height are influencing factors... :hmm: ...Right?

Because, even if all things are equal a gun with a 20 inch barrel will shoot differently at 150 yard than one with a 35 inch barrel....same goes for different sight heights....

But then you knew that right?.....

And. I didn't even take into account a guy in Tallahassee shooting in the summer versus a guy shooting in Denver in the winter.... :grin:

 

[nhmoose]

I do know my old buff/lb rifle it was 63 clicks up from the 100 yard 100 grain load and add 20 grains of 2f till 120 was reached centered he groups at 200.

No computer, no charts just real range time at FT TY shoots.

No clue for 150 but put up a big backer and shoot at the 150 yards and your actual results will tell you the real drop, will take just 5 shots. Wind is on you totally.

 

[hanshi]

I'm surprised that someone with your computer expertise doesn't know how to use a ballistic computer....

And, of course you know that even with the information that you provided...The differences between individual guns and things like, barrel length and sight height are influencing factors... :hmm: ...Right?

Because, even if all things are equal a gun with a 20 inch barrel will shoot differently at 150 yard than one with a 35 inch barrel....same goes for different sight heights....

But then you knew that right?.....

And. I didn't even take into account a guy in Tallahassee shooting in the summer versus a guy shooting in Denver in the winter.... :grin:

You are correct, colorado clyde; all those things affect poi and drop. The higher the sights above the bore line, the "flatter" the ball appears to shoot. Very good catch cc.

 

[MountainRanger]

... Or on a Tuesday whilst wearing argyle socks after having one of those ultra liberal and expensive coffees at that place I ain't gonna mention while shooting out of a certified made in China plastic box that was filled with presents from folks who don't know diddley about black powder but who are enthusiastic, if ignorant but you go ahead and shoot and score a 50-3X on your first target and have a great day in spite of it all.

That's what it's all about when you get right down to it, isn't it? And that is without regard to the bullet drop 'cause you got that Crack! Of a well-loaded ball and got that wonderful smell of smoke back in your face.

Life is gud!

 

[coloradoclyde]

It perplexes me when people forget that muzzleloaders are suppose to be simpler weapons.....And yet they go out of their way to make them as complicated as possible.

 

[bubba.50]

^^^what he said^^^

never saw the logic in takin' a 100 yard or so weapon & tryin' to make a miler out of it.

 

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

150 is very doable. I don't live in the eastern forests where 50 yards is a long shot.

Worse, my brother in law hunts new mexico :haha:

 

[coloradoclyde]

I think you're still missing the point...
How do guys bow hunt in your area ?
Do they try to make their arrows go 150 yards?

Trying to make your bullet go farther....That's shooting.

Trying to get closer to the animal...That's hunting!

Embrace your weapons limitations and you can start improving your own. :v

 

[Billnpatti]

I assume that since you are on this forum, you are shooting a traditional muzzleloading rifle and not one of those modern scoped abominations. Those devices are not discussed here.

You didn't say if you were planning to shoot at an animal at distances greater than 100 yards or if you were just punching paper but for hunting purposes when an animal is involved as the target, a traditional muzzleloading rifle is a 100 yard weapon. The reason is quite simple, a round ball, because of its shape, looses momentum very quickly after 100 yards regardless of the amount of powder you put in the bore. As it looses momentum it looses energy and as it looses energy, it looses killing power. All taken together, after about 100 yards, the probability of wounding rather than killing an animal greatly increases. :td: :nono: Any ethical hunter with a traditional muzzleloader will limit his shots at animals to 100 yards or less.

On the other hand, if you are shooting paper and no animal's life is at stake, the sky is the limit at which you can attempt to hit a target. For those purposes, just use a good round ball ballistics calculator along with a chronograph to find out where your ball will be at these long ranges and have fun. Attempting to hit a paper or metallic target at long ranges with a traditional muzzleloader can be a lot of fun. Here is a round ball ballistics calculator: http://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/ctml_experiments/rbballistics/rbballistics.html If you don't want to download it into your computor, you don't have to. Just scroll down to the bottom where it says "CLICK HERE to open a web application without having to download anything!" :thumbsup:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Hunting or shooting, doesn't really matter.
I'm sure at the end of the day in the local bar with the buddies....It's all about the bragging rights.. :shake:

 

[tenngun]

That brings to mind pat mc mannus stories. Deer get bigger at the bar, and lots smarter, ranges get greater or less depending on the story.
Ml should be thought of as archery on steroids, get close. Lots easier in the eastern woods, but i've made meat in New Mexico Colorado Utah and Wyoming. One shot at 107 paces, most less then fifty.

 

[Billnpatti]

Yeah, I know what you mean, Clyde. I don't know why but every time I tell a hunting story the facts in the matter seem to change just a bit. Now, I want to make one thing clear and that is that I never lie when telling a hunting or fishing story but I have been known to stretch the truth a time or two until it was no longer recognizable. :haha:

 

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

those may be your limitations but not mine. I practice often out to 150 but normally with a 54 or 58cal.

The 50cal ballistics was just something I needed to compare with another bullet I am shooting.

And yes, its a traditional rifle.

 

[bubba.50]

150 is very doable. I don't live in the eastern forests where 50 yards is a long shot.

Worse, my brother in law hunts new mexico :haha:

so, I guess in Colorado y'all use the new Benjamin Air Bow to make 200yd "archery" shots?

 

[Katahdin]

If you know how to hunt you get close or depend on shooting..I hunt BP and Archery,, few 150 yd shots in archery,40 yds my limit,don't care what you are shooting, so hunt close is the answer for me..deer at 150 yds is a very small target,even for Daniel and remember : First lier in deer camp,,, don't stand a chance...
It isn't lying,it is a realignment of the facts to make the reliving of the event more exciting.

 

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

i dont do archery, it sucks :haha:

My longest muzzy shot was 140 on an elk with a .54cal and patched ball. You just have to beable to see good and know your limits.