Technical5

North American Muzzleloader Hunting

Technical

Taming First Shot Point Of Impact

If you've repeatedly experienced the first shot out of your rifle with a saboted bullet hitting an inch or two off from where all other following shots tend to impact the target - you're not alone. It's one of the top concerns that I hear about from modern minded muzzleloading hunters.

And it's something that most have simply learned to live with. A few who have e-mailed me have actually sighted in their rifles so that the first shot out of a spotless, clean bore hits the target where they want it. After all, when going after big game the first shot is very, very often the only shot. And to sight their rifle in that manner, some have actually taken a shot...then completely tear down the rifle, and clean it as if it's going back into the gun cabinet. Then they clear the ignition system with a primer or percussion cap, and repeat the loading sequence. And before getting that rifle hitting exactly where they want that first shot to impact, these precision conscious hunters may do the very same thing for the next 5...10...or 15 shots.

It can make for a long session at the range. And out of most rifles, the difference between where that first shot does hit the target and where any following shots group is often not enough to be of real concern.

Typically, the first shot with a saboted bullet out of a clean bore will hit a bit high, and often to the right.

The target at above right was shot with the new Traditions .50 caliber VORTEK, with 3-9x Hi-Lux HPML scope, that is our newest addition to the battery of rifles we use for test purposes - and for hunting. The load was 110-grains of Blackhorn 209 behind the saboted 300-grain Scorpion PT Gold bullet from Harvester Muzzleloading. At the muzzle, the load is good for 1,968 f.p.s., and 2,580 f.p.e. And just as described above, the first shot out of this rifle's clean bore tends to hit the target about an inch high and an inch to the right of "point of aim". And, as you can see here, the following two shots where noticeably closer to the center diamond of this Birchwood Casey "Shoot-N-C" target. Even so, these three shots at 100 yards still stayed within 1.8 inches center-to-center. And when taking a shot at a nice buck like that in the photo at the upper left at 100...150...or even 200 yards, with the proper hold, the first shot out of this rifle will still easily stay inside of the kill zone.

To reduce how far that first shot impacts away from where following shots hit, I now normally snap two or three primers to put just a little primer fouling into the rifling - to simulate already taking that first shot. Before loading, I normally run a dry patch down and back out. This gets out the bulk of the fouling, but leaves just enough in the bore that it does tend to help tame where that first shot hits the target.

The target at left is fairly typical of the first three shots out of the VORTEK, shooting the same load above, but out of a bore that has had three primers fired into it, then wiped (down and back out) with a dry patch. The first shot is the hole that's lowest and slightly to the right. This 100-yard group measures 1.235" center-to-center.

On a number of occasions, I have shared e-mails from those who frequent this website with Keith Anderson, who handles the ballistics lab for Western Powders/Blackhorn 209. He too often hears from shooters who are experiencing the first shot impacting away from where follow up shots impact the target. So, I shared how I usually handle the problem by putting the primer fouling into the bore, creating that small amount of drag or friction that's also created by a previous shot. Now, this is not a problem that's unique to muzzle-loaders shooting plastic saboted bullets. Keith deals largely with modern center-fire shooters, since Western Powders also owns and markets both Ramshot and Accurate Arms smoke-less powders. And out of a freshly cleaned bore, out of most of those rifles, the first shot does tend to impact differently than any shot afterwards.

Popping three primers through the VORTEK's ignition system puts just enough primer fouling into the bore to somewhat simulate the rifle having already been loaded and shot - and does help bring first shot impact closer to where remaining shots hit the target.

All of the in-line rifles I shoot and hunt with are stainless steel rifles. And anytime I travel to make a hunt, the first thing I do when I get to where I'm going is to shoot the rifle and load a few times to insure that it is still hitting exactly where it is supposed to hit. When hunting with charges of Blackhorn 209, out of a stainless steel rifle, I'll go ahead and load the rifle and hunt with it without tearing the rifle down for a thorough cleaning - and may carry it that way for upwards of a week. The same when hunting closer to home. While Blackhorn 209 fouling is, in itself, non-corrosive, there is still the chance that it can pull some moisture out of the air. And for that reason, the company says to always clean your rifle after it has been fired. And with a blued carbon steel barrel, like the Green Mountain "Sharpshooter" side-hammer percussion rifle I still shoot a great deal (with a No. 209 primer ignition adapter installed), I do clean it the same day I shoot it. However, with a quality stainless steel rifle, like the VORTEK, I don't worry about Blackhorn 209 fouling until after the hunt.

Western Powders also markets a great line of firearm cleaning products, known as Montana Extreme. The line includes a new solvent developed especially for Blackhorn 209, allowing a simple and quick two-patch clean up of the bore. Another product in the line is simply sold as "Bore Conditioner", which is a special oil developed to leave a fine film on the bore that creates drag/friction similar to a bore after it has been shot. While it was developed for use in center-fire rifles, Keith felt it might have some application in a modern in-line muzzleloader shooting saboted bullets. He sent me some to test.

First range visit, with the bore lightly oiled with the Montana Extreme "Bore Conditioner", followed by a dry patch - the very first shot out of the clean bore was down even with the following two shots. However, it was still about an inch to the right. I tore down the rifle, gave it a thorough cleaning (using Blackhorn 209 solvent), and treated the bore again in the same manner. The three shot group punched was practically a carbon copy of the first, with the first shot about 1 to 1 1/4 inches to the right of the following two shots. Another cleaning, and conditioning of the bore, put the third group in basically the same pattern.

Then, I cleaned the bore...conditioned it...and followed with three primers fired through the ignition system (the bore wiped with a dry patch) - and the group that followed had all three holes in the same spot - measuring .680" center-to-center.

A combination of using Montana Extreme "Bore Conditioner" and snapping three primers to put fouling into the bore brought the first shot to where the following two shots impacted.

Two following range sessions, with the bore conditioned and then lightly fouled with primer carbon, gave me the same first shot performance. As the weather gets better and better through the remainder of winter and into early spring, and I can get to the range more often, I'll continue to check this to determine if what's stated here holds true - or if I just enjoyed a repeated fluke.

I now shoot 5 different primer ignition in-line rifles, and the degree of where the first shot impacts from the following shots varies from about an inch to almost two inches. However, just fouling the bore with the carbon of two or three primers, then wiping with a dry patch, generally cuts the spread nearly in half. I still shoot two Knight rifles, a Long Range Hunter and the prototype of the Extreme Ultimate Slam I was shooting when the factory shut down. The Green Mountain barrel of both are exceptional tack drivers. Still, the first shot tends to print about 1- to 1 1/4-inches from where the following shots hit. Next time I head for the range, I'll condition the bores and see how it changes first shot impact. And will also follow up with both conditioning and snapping a few primers. Watch for a report some time in late February or early March. For those of you who do not want to hunt with a fouled bore, this may be the solution to taming first shot point of impact.

If you have found any other method, please drop us an e-mail at the following address...and let us share that with others as well. - Toby Bridges

NAmlhunt@hpmuzzleloading.com

Montana Extreme now offers several gun care products that are ideal for today's modern muzzleloading hunter. New Blackhorn 209 solvent does a quick and thorough cleaning of Blackhorn 209 powder residue from the bore with two patches. The line's Bore Conditioner helps keep first shot impact with saboted bullets much closer to point of aim.

Published 1-30-2010