MUZZLELOADER LOADS and the REMINGTON ULTIMATE

Hello Mr. Wakeman,

I really enjoy your website and it has helped me quite a bit on muzzleloading over the years. I live in MN, and prior to now, we could not have scopes on our guns. Now we can and it is a real game changer. I sighted in my Remington 700 Ultimate Muzzleloader today using 120 grains by volume of Blackhorn 209, combined with the new Federal 270g Muzzleloading bullet. My scope is a Leupold Ultimate Slam 3x9x40mm. It shot really well at 100 yards, where I sighted it at 2.5" to 3" high. My range does not have a 150 yard target. When I went to the 200 yard target, my gun shot this combo exactly 12 inches low. I was disappointed with that much drop at that range, as I had hoped that this combo would be good out to 300 yards. At 300 yards, the drop was about 18' to 20".

Questions:

1) Should this combo shoot flatter than that?

2) In your opinion, is this bullet lethal and effective beyond 200 yards?

3) I have seen your bullet recommendations for 300 yard performance. Do I need to go up to 150 grains of Blackhorn to be able to shoot that distance?

4) I am also questioning my scope choice and whether or not the S.A.B.R. system is made to shoot that far with a muzzleloader. I found myself having to use the very bottom dot to hit the 200 yard target with accuracy. The system is not very helpful.

Thank you for your time.

Regards,

Jeff M.

Hello Jeff,

The actual bullet mass of the Federal 270 grain is 250 grains, the remaining 20 grains is the B.O.R.-Lock array and the base. Federal has measured the static G1 ballistic coefficient as .168. That is not at all a ballistically efficient bullet. I've listed several muzzleloading projectile ballistic coefficients here: http://www.randywakeman.com/PopularMuzzleloadingBulletsBallisticCoefficientsandWhatTheyMean%20.htm

Hornady 250 grain .452 XTP BC = .146

Hornady 300 grain .452 XTP BC = .180

Hornady 250 grain .452 SST BC = .21 (This identical bullet, sold as the T/C Shockwave, then magically has a .24 published BC. Lying about BC's to sell bullets is apparently alive and well.)

Hornady .458 #4500 300 grain Hollow Point BC = .197

Parker Ballistic Extreme .451 275 grain BC= .23

Parker Ballistic Extreme .451 300 grain BC= .26

Barnes XPB 275 grain BC = .21

Barnes T-EZ 290 grain BC = .223

Barnes Original 300 grain Semi-Spitzer Soft Point BC = .291

Parker Match Hunter 300 grain BC = .37

From the left: Hornady 250 grain .452 XTP, Barnes 225 grain .451 "XPB" #45120, Parker 275 grain .450 Ballistic Extreme, Barnes 290 grain T-EZ, Barnes Original #457010 Semi-Spitzer FB .458 300 grain, Parker 300 grain .451 Match Hunter. (Photograph by Randy Wakeman)

For less drop and less wind drift, the Parker Match Hunter 300 grain has no equal. A flying ashtray is a flying ashtray, and the Federal you are struggling with is not the best choice for longer ranges.

I personally have no use for so-called "muzzleloader scopes." They are often set up more for slug guns than high performance muzzleloaders. With the load above, zero your rifle at 175 yards, and out to 250 yards it is just pull the trigger and go pick him up.

Custom Search