SpecialReport

Recently, in response to the lobbying efforts of the NORTH AMERICAN MUZZLELOADER HUNTING ASSOCIATION to get a muzzleloader season started in Montana, we heard from a very disgruntled bowhunter who vowed to fight against such a season from ever being established. Among his several very misguided claims about muzzleloading were his remarks regarding the performance of today's more modern in-line rifles and loads. According to him, the guns are just too efficient to warrant having their own season. He stated, "As far as the new muzzleloaders are concerned they are more accurate, powerful, and long ranging (200+ yards) than most modern rifles, in fact they are rifles."

Well, I for one have gotten just a little tired of hearing such claims, especially when these hunters are spouting off such to game department officials, who don't know any better, in an effort to prevent other hunters from getting a muzzleloader season (as in Montana). If our newer rifles and loads are going to be continually compared to center-fire rifles, it's time to establish that they are far from it. Based on the accepted minimum energy levels needed for big game (listed at right), the following rifle and load charts take a look at the real world ballistics and maximum effective ranges of some of today's more popular center-fire rifles/cartridges...the same for modern in-line ignition muzzleloading rifles and loads...along with the same for traditional flint/percussion ignition rifles and loads.

Young hunter with his first buck - taken with a modern in-line rifle and saboted bullet.

Minimum Energy Needed For Big Game

Deer, Antelope, Caribou

and Black Bear..................800 ft. lbs.

Elk, Large Bears, Shiras

Moose.............................1,200 ft. lbs.

Large Moose, Bison........1,500 ft. lbs.

Modern Center-Fire Rifles

.270 Winchester - 130 Gr. "Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertip" (b.c. .433)

Muzzle Vel./Energy 100 Yd Vel/Energy 200 Yd Vel/Energy 300 Yd Vel/Energy 400 Yd Vel/Energy 500 Yd Vel/Energy

7mm Remington Mag. - 140 Gr. "Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertip" (b.c. .461)

Muzzle Vel./Energy 100 Yd Vel/Energy 200 Yd Vel/Energy 300 Yd Vel/Energy 400 Yd Vel/Energy 500 Yd Vel/Energy

.30/06 Government - 168 Gr. "Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertip" (b.c. .475)

Muzzle Vel./Energy 100 Yd Vel/Energy 200 Yd Vel/Energy 300 Yd Vel/Energy 400 Yd Vel/Energy 500 Yd Vel/Energy

.300 Winchester Magnum - 180 Gr. "Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertip" (b.c. .507)

Muzzle Vel./Energy 100 Yd Vel/Energy 200 Yd Vel/Energy 300 Yd Vel/Energy 400 Yd Vel/Energy 500 Yd Vel/Energy

3050 fps/2685 fpe 2828 fps/2309 fpe 2618 fps/1978 fpe 2416 fps/1685 fpe 2224 fps/1428 fpe 2040 fps/1202 fpe

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 650 yards, for elk 500 yards, for moose appx. 375 yards

3100 fps/2988 fpe 2889 fps/2595 fpe 2687 fps/2245 fpe 2494 fps/1934 fpe 2310 fps/1659 fpe 2133 fps/1414 fpe

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 900 yards, for elk appx. 700 yards, for moose appx. 475 yards

2790 fps/2903 fpe 2599 fps/2520 fpe 2416 fps/2177 fpe 2240 fps/1872 fpe 2072 fps/1601 fpe 1911 fps/1362 fpe

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 700 yards, for elk appx. 550 yards, for moose appx. 450 yards

2950 fps/3478 fpe 2764 fps/3054 fpe 2586 fps/2673 fpe 2415 fps/2331 fpe 2250 fps/2023 fpe 2092 fps/1749 fpe

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 1,000 yards, for elk appx. 775 yards, for moose appx. 550 yards

Winchester Ammunition Ballistics

Modern .50 Caliber In-Line Ignition Rifles & Loads

Knight DISC Extreme - 250 Gr. Knight Ultimate Slam Saboted Bullet (b.c. .210)

Muzzle Vel./Energy 100 Yd Vel/Energy 200 Yd Vel/Energy 300 Yd Vel/Energy 400 Yd Vel/Energy 500 Yd Vel/Energy

100 Gr. Blackhorn 209

1991 fps/2037 fpe 1647 fps/1505 fpe 1349 fps/1008 fpe 1150 fps/732 fpe N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 240 yards, for elk 175 yards, for moose 100 yards.

100 Gr. FFFg Triple Seven

1947 fps/2104 fpe 1599 fps/1419 fpe 1317 fps/959 fpe 1124 fps/700 fpe N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 230 yards, for elk 150 yards, for moose 90 yards.

100 Gr. Triple Seven Pellets

1726 fps/1652 fps 1415 fps/1110 fpe 1172 fps/762 fpe N/A N/A N/A

Max Effective Range for deer, appx. 175 yards, for elk 90 yards, for moose 30 yards.

Knight DISC Extreme - 300 Gr. Hornady XTP JHP Saboted Bullet (b.c. .181)

Muzzle Vel./Energy 100 Yd Vel/Energy 200 Yd Vel/Energy 300 Yd Vel/Energy 400 Yd Vel/Energy 500 Yd Vel/Energy

100 Gr. Blackhorn 209

1908 fps/2424 fpe 1529 fps/1554 fpe 1260 fps/1056 fpe 1042 fps/723 fpe N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 240 yards, for elk 175 yards, for moose 120 yards.

100 Gr. FFFg Triple Seven

1896 fps/2391 fpe 1515 fps/1530 fpe 1234 fps/1014 fpe 1018 fps/690 fpe N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 230 yards, for elk 150 yards, for moose 100 yards.

100 Gr. Triple Seven Pellets

1625 fps/1758 fps 1,310 fps/1143 fpe 1,105 fps/810 fpe N/A N/A N/A

Max Effective Range for deer, appx. 205 yards, for elk 95 yards, for moose 40 yards.

Knight DISC Extreme - 300 Gr. Harvester Scorpion PT Gold Saboted Bullet (b.c. .240)

Muzzle Vel./Energy 100 Yd Vel/Energy 200 Yd Vel/Energy 300 Yd Vel/Energy 400 Yd Vel/Energy 500 Yd Vel/Energy

100 Gr. Blackhorn 209

1908 fps/2424 fpe 1587 fps/1677 fpe 1381 fps/1268 fpe 1136 fps/858 fpe N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 310 yards, for elk 225 yards, for moose 140 yards.

100 Gr. FFFg Triple Seven

1896 fps/2391 fpe 1565 fps/1629 fpe 1357 fps/1224 fpe 1107 fps/813 fpe N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 305 yards, for elk 215 yards, for moose 125 yards.

100 Gr. Triple Seven Pellets

1625 fps/1758 fps 1333 fps/1182 fpe 1148 fps/873 fpe N/A N/A N/A

Max Effective Range for deer, appx. 225 yards, for elk 98 yards, for moose 45 yards.

Data Compiled by the NORTH AMERICAN MUZZLELOADER HUNTING ASSOCIATION

Traditional Flint & Percussion Ignition Rifles & Loads

Green Mountain .50 Sharpshooter Barrel - 440 Gr. Parker TH Conical (b.c. .160)

Muzzle Vel./Energy 100 Yd Vel/Energy 200 Yd Vel/Energy 300 Yd Vel/Energy 400 Yd Vel/Energy 500 Yd Vel/Energy

100 Gr. FFg GOEX Black Powder

1391 fps/1888 fpe 1003 fps/981 fpe 874 fps/745 fpe N/A N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 175 yards, for elk 75 yards, for moose 40 yards.

100 Gr. GOEX FFFg Black Powder

1466 fps/2094 fpe 1030 fps/1034 fpe 903 fps/792 fpe N/A N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 195 yards, for elk 85 yards, for moose 50 yards.

Thompson/Center .45 Hawken - 240 Gr. TC Maxi-Ball Conical (b.c. .095)

Muzzle Vel./Energy 100 Yd Vel/Energy 200 Yd Vel/Energy 300 Yd Vel/Energy 400 Yd Vel/Energy 500 Yd Vel/Energy

100 Gr. FFg GOEX Black Powder

1688 fps/1517 fpe 1044 fps/579 fpe N/A N/A N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 80 yards, for elk 40 yards, for moose N/A.

100 Gr. GOEX FFFg Black Powder

1853 fps/1827 fpe 1138 fps/688 fpe N/A N/A N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 85 yards, for elk 45 yards, for moose 20 yards.

Thompson/Center .45 Hawken - 128 Gr. .440" Patched Ball (b.c. .045)

Muzzle Vel./Energy 100 Yd Vel/Energy 200 Yd Vel/Energy 300 Yd Vel/Energy 400 Yd Vel/Energy 500 Yd Vel/Energy

100 Gr. FFFg GOEX Black Powder

2373 fps/1468 fpe 1161 fps/384 fpe N/A N/A N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 40 yards, for elk 20 yards, for moose N/A.

Thompson/Center .50 Hawken - 178 Gr. .490" Patched Ball (b.c. .060)

Muzzle Vel./Energy 100 Yd Vel/Energy 200 Yd Vel/Energy 300 Yd Vel/Energy 400 Yd Vel/Energy 500 Yd Vel/Energy

100 Gr. FFFg GOEX Black Powder

1947 fps/1,540 fpe 1128 fps/516 fpe N/A N/A N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 55 yards, for elk 30 yards, for moose N/A.

Thompson/Center .54 "Big Bore" Hawken - 224 Gr. .530" Patched Ball (b.c. .068)

Muzzle Vel./Energy 100 Yd Vel/Energy 200 Yd Vel/Energy 300 Yd Vel/Energy 400 Yd Vel/Energy 500 Yd Vel/Energy

110 Gr. FFFg GOEX Black Powder

1754 fps/1,571 fpe 1047 fps/561 fpe N/A N/A N/A N/A

Max. Effective Range for deer, appx. 60 yards, for elk 35 yards, for moose N/A.

Data Compiled by the NORTH AMERICAN MUZZLELOADER HUNTING ASSOCIATION

Note: Directly beneath each of the loads given in these charts, for modern center-fire rifles...modern in-line ignition rifles...traditional flint/percussion rifles, is the Maximum Effective Range for the different species of big game. These are the distance at which the load drops below the MINIMUM energy level needed to insure a clean kill of the game animal. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE AVERAGE TYPICAL RANGE OF DEER TAKEN IN THE U.S. IS UNDER 100 YARDS!

Next time you hear someone spouting off that today's modern in-line ignition rifles are too much like a modern center-fire to be considered muzzleloaders...just send them to this page. While some of the hotter loads for today's in-line ignition rifles do perform noticeably better than the older traditional muzzleloader loads, their performance is still many, many yards short of the Maximum Effective Range of typical center-fire big game rifles, such as those listed above. The ballistics given here for center-fire rifles in those calibers (.270 Win., 7mm Rem. Mag., .30/06 & .300 Win. Mag.) are with factory loads. Those shooters and hunters who custom handload their own ammo can tweak even a little more out of these rifles. Hot new long-range calibers, like the .338 Lupua Magnum, stretch the Maximum Effective Range for deer out to nearly 1,000 yards.

Those who make such erroneous claims about today's new in-line rifles do so for only one reason - to try and curtail opportunities for muzzleloading hunters. Unfortunately, the biggest opposition to expanded hunting opportunities for the muzzleloading hunter comes from organized bowhunter groups, who simply do not want to share fall/winter hunting time. If we're going to be faced with battling for our time in the field, let's just get a little more educated. Facts beat good ol' b.s. every time - especially if such issues have to be decided in court.

Now, here's a thought - By comparison, the performance of a muzzleloader (even the modern in-line models) is much, much closer to the Maximum Effective Range of today's hi-tech compound bows and carbon arrows (70 to 90 yards) than it is to the performance of a 7mm Remington Magnum or .300 Winchester Magnum. So, next time anyone starts claiming that modern in-line muzzleloaders should be used during the modern firearm/rifle season, you may want to argue that we fit far more appropriately with the bowhunters. I also bowhunt, and I know that the archers enjoy the best hunting opportunities. Maybe its time that we muzzleloader hunters joined them. - Toby Bridges, NORTH AMERICAN MUZZLELOADER HUNTING ASSOCIATION

Published 4-8-08

When It Comes To Big Game Taking Performance...

...Do You Know Where Your Muzzle-Loaded Rifle & Load Ranks?

Special Report

North American Muzzleloader Hunting