Target Muzzleloader

[WKD]

Ya All, The only thing I want is a barrel. No gun - Just the best octagon muzzleloader barrel maker in the country.

Not trying to push a gun, just offering specs on what I have found. I think you will get 10 opinions on whats best from 10 people...and most of them will be right.

 

[cannonball1]

I bought Shaver’s Super Grade Long Range Soule Tang sight For my TC Renegade Build, 32” 1:18 Twist .45 Cal Green Mountain Barrel with .452 Bore, i also went with his Front Sight that he built for his Ferris Creedmoor rifles, Adjustable Windage. Lee is a SUPER nice guy! I have spoke with him over the phone a few times. Out of curiosity, I asked him what his best 1,000 Yard Group was to Date? Lee told me that he Put 5 Shots in 8” inches at 1,000 Yards. Pretty darn AMAZING with Peep sights!! It is guy’s like him and Dave Gullo to mention a Few, that inspire me to do this stuff.

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Idaholewis, what groups are you getting with the Green Mountain barrels at long distances like 400 and 500 yards?

 

[Idaholewis]

Idaholewis, what groups are you getting with the Green Mountain barrels at long distances like 400 and 500 yards?

I wish i could tell ya, But i just haven’t been able to get out and do it with this 1:18 Twist that I purposely set up for it, And have only done it a couple of times in the past with my .45 Cal 1:30 Twist Green Mountain LRH Barrel, Back when i did it i was really happy with performance, I was shooting a Bullet from Buffalo Arms, A Cupped base .444 diameter, 400 Grain Paper Patch bullet, 70 Grains of Swiss 3F powder, and a .060 Vege Fiber OP Wad. After some trial and error with Target size, and Color, I was able to put 3 Shots in 7 inches at 500 yards. I found a good spot this Fall to shoot 500 Yards, I got everything setup and made 1 Sighter Shot which was high and Left, After checking the Target and making the Sight adjustments it started pouring the Rain on me! I had to pack up and Quit. Now Deer hunting season is running wide open and that particular spot is out of the Question (Guy’s all over in there) And the Last day of Deer season (Dec. 1st) the State will Lock that Gate for the Winter. I have that spot on Video, Frustrating to get all setup and then have to Quit over Rain


It is difficult to shoot long range here, this country is brushy, i have to find Old Logging cuts to get those kind of Distances and even that is tough, Most of what i find, i have to Pack my Targets in to set them up (Less than ideal!) I just recently got permission from a Land Owner that Owns a Section of Land With a private Lake, it is 825-850 yards to the back of the Lake. I can access my Target by 4wheeler around the Lake Trail. My plan is to Start shooting there this Winter.

 

[Idaholewis]

This Long Range Target shooting is a lot of fun to do, But not very practical, To me it’s all about having fun and seeing what i can do with my Sidelock Rifles. The Target in the Video above is an official 600 Yard Target (MR-1C) The Black Aiming bull is 36”

 

[Ranch 13]

While not on muzzleloaders I do have two rifles with Oregon barrels on them that shoot extremely well, and I can't see any reason why one of their barrels on a target muzzle loader wouldn't be just as good.
Great sights are just as important as the barrel, and when you start shooting beyond 300 yards your wind and mirage reading ability really come into play.
Have been comptemplating a long range muzzle loader build myself.

 

[cannonball1]

While not on muzzleloaders I do have two rifles with Oregon barrels on them that shoot extremely well, and I can't see any reason why one of their barrels on a target muzzle loader wouldn't be just as good.
Great sights are just as important as the barrel, and when you start shooting beyond 300 yards your wind and mirage reading ability really come into play.
Have been comptemplating a long range muzzle loader build myself.

This last muzzleloader I made was with two exchangeable Oregon Barrels with different twists. I will find the right combination of load, then again maybe it is my shooting, but I really think that may only account for an inch at 200 yards. The thing I noticed using a bore camera was the milling marks on the lands. That really doesn't mean much when your using the magnification they have. I lot of fine high powder rifles have milling marks in the bore, but I know there are competition barrels being made. I understand GMountain barrel is smoothing their barrels better now.

When you say you are shooting extremely well with your Oregon barrels. Are you punching paper and if so, how good of a group are you getting two to five hundred yards. Just curious.

 

[Ranch 13]

Yes punching paper and if you understand the classification system in NRA matches, my Oregon barrel rifles have moved me up to Expert, barely missing out of Master in midrange position, and had the wind gusts been a bit more manageable at the nationals when my relay shot 900 and 1000 this past fall, may have shot myself into Expert in long range. That's shooting paper patch with Olde Eynsford powder,, something most experts will tell you can't be done.. LOL

 

[cannonball1]

Ranch, Sounds as if you and your Oregon barrel are doing well. It makes me think either my shooting or my patch work needs improving. I am not familiar with the classification system. I guess my question,lets say, is this - How close would your 5 shot group be at 200 yards, at 300 yards?

 

[Ranch 13]

200 and 300 shot from prone off of cross sticks, iron sights we're talking 4-6 inches or less.

 

[Idaholewis]

Yes punching paper and if you understand the classification system in NRA matches, my Oregon barrel rifles have moved me up to Expert, barely missing out of Master in midrange position, and had the wind gusts been a bit more manageable at the nationals when my relay shot 900 and 1000 this past fall, may have shot myself into Expert in long range. That's shooting paper patch with Olde Eynsford powder,, something most experts will tell you can't be done.. LOL

Do you shoot with Dave Gullo? I see Dave on a fairly regular basis, He owns Buffalo Arms, i live about 40 minutes from them, i am in that place more than i should be! LOL! It’s my second Home

 

[Cowboy]

You might want to contact Idaho Ron. He’s a member here on the forum. His specialty is long range shooting. I also think he has several YouTube videos out there in reference to long range shooting. He might definitely give you some sound advice on picking a barrel. Hopefully he will chime in ?

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[Ranch 13]

Yes I know Dave, and John and Don, just shot with them at the BPTR nationals a month ago, and hopefully will shoot with them at the Phoenix super shoot in March.
Seems like about every time I call up there to Dave's , it cost me somewhere between 1 and 500$ LOL

 

[ResearchPress]

I have a section on my web site covering long range muzzle loading. If you browse around there’s also a lot of historical related information.

David

 

[Idaholewis]

You might want to contact Idaho Ron. He’s a member here on the forum. His specialty is long range shooting. I also think he has several YouTube videos out there in reference to long range shooting. He might definitely give you some sound advice on picking a barrel. Hopefully he will chime in ?

Respectfully, Cowboy

I know Ron very Well, Good guy and a personal Friend of mine. I wouldn’t say his specialty is Long Range though, Ron has Shot out to 300 yards Max distance, He mostly practices for hunting off of His Homemade shooting sticks at Closer, More Realistic hunting Scenarios.

 

[Cowboy]

I know Ron very Well, Good guy and a personal Friend of mine. I wouldn’t say his specialty is Long Range though, Ron has Shot out to 300 yards Max distance, He mostly practices for hunting off of His Homemade shooting sticks at Closer, More Realistic hunting Scenarios.

I then know not what I’m talking about? I stand corrected my friend.

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[cannonball1]

I am getting closer to ordering a muzzleloader barrel for a new gun. I have come up with this: A Green Mountain barrel BPCR which is a 45-70 barrel 18" twist. Honed but not lapped and with button riflings. Cut off at the breech and re-threaded for a Hawken slant breech. Their muzzleloader barrels are sq. cut rifling and the barrels are not honed. My questions are: Good way to go for the best long distance shooting bench muzzleloader? Do button riflings work well for a fast-twist muzzleloader? Any thoughts out there?

 

[crankshaft]

I think the slant breech is unobtainable?

 

[cannonball1]

You can get slant LH Hawken breeches most anywhere that sells ML supplies.

 

[cannonball1]

The barrel and left handed breech plug are here. Time to inlet the barrel, tang, and drill the ramrod hole. The barrel is a mirror finish with no milling marks, a 45 caliber with 1 in 18" twist. I am going to make a half stock southern rifle made in the mid 1800's by peter w craft. The pictures show a really gun made by this guy.

 

[Ranch 13]

Hope to see some pictures of that rifle when you get it done.