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muzzle loader questions...Long

T

THEBAD

Member
I have been working on some new loads for a knight muzzle loader to utilize during Iowas awsome late muzzle lader season and came across the following observations and questions ?

1.) When using muzzle loader style powder measures , it appears that the measurements are based on volume rather than weight.

I say that because..

I set a standard type muzzle loader powder measure to 100 grains. I used three different types of black powder in it and weighed all three charges on modern type powder measuring equipment and found that none were close to the 100 grains or even the same weight , actual weights varied from 75.3 grains up to 88.4 grains

I also found that the same powder, using the same setting on the muzzle loader powder measure, didn't measure consistently or accurately. It was almost always + or - 1 full grain off.

By using a conventional scale to get the exact weight of each powder load, would that increase accurately, if so by how much ? would it be enough to warrant weighing out exactly ever load ?

I also tested two types of muzzle loader style powder measures as well and they did not perform equally either . Meaning that they didn't register the same when both were set to 100 grains and actual weighed on a conventional powder scale. They varied by as much as 10 full grains.

By actually setting a true 100 grains of black powder into a muzzle loader do you risk over charging it if factory specs say that 100 grains is max ?

Has anybody else ever tested any of these things before ?

I was also wondering if anybody would be willing to share any of the favorite powder / bullet combinations that they shoot, as well as the type of rifle you shoot them out of.

I currently am working on a combination for a KNIGHT LK-93 (wolverine) 50 caliber and was shooting 90 grains of triple 7 with a 245 grain PowerBelt bullet using a number 11cci cap.

Thanks for any info...
 
That's too much information for me to comprehend
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I never give it that much thought
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I have messed around a little, found a good combination for my 50 cal. MK-85 of 100 grains pyrodex RS (by measure) and 250 grain Barnes MZ bullets and plan to stick to it.
 
Black powder substitutes are allways to be measured by volume. Powder measures are generally marked in grains using real black powder. If you go by weight with most substitutes you can overload. Be safe, Jay
 
But don't most references to grains mean (weight) and not volume ?

Otherwise when reading manufactures recommendations they would say something weird like set your powder measure to 100 cubic mm of powder. Or are they just mis-using the grains terminology
 
You are making this too damn complicated. Load the powder by using the writing on the side of your maesuring device. Don't worry about splitting hairs. Shoot the gun and have fun! I've seen people weighing each load with a scale, and trust me, 99.9% of all shooters wouldn't be able to see any difference at all. Unless you are shooting a heavy bench gun, 25 lbs. or so from a machine rest it isn't going to make 1 bit of difference. Sure, you would notice a change of 25 grains or more but not the thousand"s you are worried about.
 
I am with ShovelBuck on this one, don't stress yourself so much on this. Experiment and settle on a good load for your situation.

I have a Knight MK-85, which I love. I shoot a 90 grain black powder charge. I found that I get essentially the same down range performance with the 90 grain charge as 100 grain and much less fouling of the action. So this keeps my groups more consistent in the event I can't clean between each shot.

I also use the Barnes Red Hot bullets, although I can't recall right now what the size is. I think I can honestly say that I have never missed with this gun, having shot about 8-10 deer with it now.
 
I hate to say it, but READ THE MANUAL before you are hurt! All black powder subs say on their labels/paperwork (also your rifles manual will too) to load by volume, not weight. This was even one selling point of pydroex that a X pound container would be able to load X more shots!

Be safe.

One thing though, if you really do want the most accuracy, I think it would help to do part of what you said and weigh the 100 grains (by volume) and use that weight to get your loads. Don't forget about the most imporntant thing for accuracy though, the bullets! Check out http://www.prbullet.com/ for some of the best out there.

Jamie
 
i'm with shovelbuck too!!! i have an older t/c newenglander that i ended up using 100 grains in all the time just cause it was easiest to remember. then i experimented around and found a bullet that was consistant with that charge. with my knight disc i went the easy route with pellets. more money, but alot faster if a second shot is needed
 
2 pellets (100 grains) and a 200 grain Barnes Red Hot Bullet out of my .50 Knight Disc rifle. This combo produces fantastic results from my rifle......................but every rifle is different........experiment with different charges, bullet weights and bullet manufacturers. I am heading to the range to work up a load for a Barnes 180 grain bullet.
Keep it simple, and have fun (and do it safely)!
 
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