With proper instruction, muzzleloaders can shoot at long range. To start with, it is recommended that they are used within close range with consistent performance.
By taking these steps, many variables associated with shooting can be reduced allowing for you to focus solely on proper sight placement and technique.
Muzzleloaders produce less muzzle energy than modern rifles, which can be compensated for by carefully testing varying powder charges and bullet combinations.
How to Shoot a Muzzleloader
Muzzleloaders may not get as much recognition as centerfire rifles do, but they still can produce tight groups when in the hands of an experienced shooter. Indeed, some modern muzzleloaders rival scoped centerfire rifles in terms of accuracy.
Consistency is key when shooting with a muzzleloader, as keeping a consistent load in the gun every time will increase your odds of successfully hitting targets both on the range and when hunting. Therefore, it’s essential that you practice as often as possible prior to heading out in the field with your muzzleloader.
Muzzleloaders typically employ 250-350 grain bullets that carry enough momentum to penetrate deer and other large game animals at moderate distances, yet are not particularly aerodynamic; thus their trajectory and energy begin to diminish over longer ranges.
Muzzleloaders are ideal for hunters who enjoy experimenting with various loads. Just as rifle or bow hunters may devote considerable effort to developing custom handloads for their weapon, muzzleloader hunters often spend a significant amount of time creating handloads specifically tailored for muzzleloaders.
Apart from experimenting with powder and bullet styles, other factors also impact muzzleloader shooting distance. One such factor is barrel length; shorter barrels tend to foul more easily and disrupt shot consistency more than their longer counterparts.
Another consideration is how often the barrel is fired. Even high-quality barrels will succumb to overheating when fired too often, limiting their ability to expand effectively and limiting muzzleloaders’ range of effective shots. CVA Director of Media Relations and Shoot Straight television host Chad Schearer recommends running a saliva-moistened patch down each shot chamber after every shot to prevent overheating and prevent overheating of muzzleloader barrels.
Attending a local shoot is a fantastic way to either begin muzzleloading or just expand your knowledge about black powder shooting, offering safe, enjoyable opportunities to improve skills and meet fellow muzzleloader enthusiasts while discovering which firearms suit you best. Gun clubs typically organize such events.
Sights
Muzzleloaders often come equipped with fiber optic bead targeting short range. While this works great for hitting big bucks at 50 yards, this approach doesn’t do much to extend range.
With just a simple hack, most open-sighted muzzleloaders can be upgraded to extend their ranges by using inexpensive parts. A few minutes of work and some Loctite glue can turn a basic muzzleloader into an effective long-range deer-killing weapon.
If you don’t use handloading techniques, most black powder alternative powders should work to propel 250-grain slugs to speeds necessary for long-range shots. The key to finding an appropriate powder for your gun lies in matching it up to its specific burning characteristics – even a few grains could make an enormous difference to accuracy!
A standard slug load typically produces 1,700 fps at the muzzle, which should be enough to kill most whitetail bucks. To increase accuracy when shooting beyond this distance, however, you will require an accurate sight that can align with such high speeds; most states prohibit these during late season muzzleloader hunts. A telescopic sight may be your go-to solution here but they are not the easiest option available to you.
Consider opting for a Williams peep sight instead. These sights allow for adjustments by moving a small aperture forward or backward to align with the bullet’s parabolic path, while also featuring an easily centerable reticle for pinpoint accuracy when shooting from any range.
Once your muzzleloader is zeroed in, take time to practice shooting with various loads and distances in order to build the consistency needed for a reliable shot on a buck. While it will take time and practice before becoming adept at hitting targets at long range consistently, taking this route puts you well ahead of other hunters by giving yourself every advantage when hunting buck.
Most slug guns enter subsonic range at around 50 yards, providing the ideal target to zero your muzzleloader at. Doing this reduces wind error issues that might disrupt its scope settings at longer ranges.
Reloading
Muzzleloaders should deliver accurate shots that have a flat trajectory and deliver enough energy to strike at their target at specific range. For best results, this requires careful and practiced loading as well as practice from hunters in using this kind of weaponry.
Before firing a muzzleloader, hunters should first ensure there are no obstructions and that the ramrod is firmly secured in its nipples. They should then test this by firing one or two percussion caps into soft ground as a test for their effectiveness and then consult their gun’s owner manual for safety guidelines and recommended maximum loads; generally speaking this would usually equal double of what would otherwise be allowed by caliber of barrel.
Muzzleloader owners who enjoy customizing their firearm can take advantage of numerous handloads available to customize performance for individual hunting situations and create tight shot patterns at long ranges. While many standard muzzleloaders will work just fine for most hunters, exploring new ones can be fun and rewarding!
As with any type of firearm, reloading must be carried out carefully to ensure safety and accuracy. First, the hammer should be set at half-cock to avoid air from becoming trapped in the breech chamber. Once the powder has been added to the barrel, use a priming dispenser to ensure proper charge amounts. After placing all the powder into your barrel, a short starter may then be used to ignite either patched balls (round balls) or sabots (conicals). Once a projectile has been fired, it can be guided down the bore by using the main ramrod until it sits firmly against powder. The closer its proximity is to powder, the more easily it will ignite when hit with a strong blow from a hammer.
One question frequently raised on FindLaw Answers criminal law message boards is whether or not muzzleloaders qualify as firearms. This distinction is important because gun control laws only typically cover firearms; thus allowing felons, drug abusers and others who might otherwise not possess one to still legally hunt with muzzleloaders.
Stability
Muzzleloaders use large charges of black powder to propel their bullet, which requires great precision and stability to hit its target. If your gun is unsteady, its powder may explode prematurely and cause misfires; as a result, its bullet won’t reach or miss its mark entirely. A device such as Caldwell Lead Sled can help stabilize it for you by clamping it into position for you – an effective way of eliminating shooter error and guaranteeing consistent results every time!
Muzzleloader accuracy also depends on several other elements. One such factor is barrel twist rate, which affects how well bullets stabilize in flight; faster twist rates mean greater bullet stability; some manufacturers, like Traditions Firearms, offer faster twist rates in some muzzleloaders like Vortek StrikerFire and Pursuit XT models.
Another factor is bullet weight. Lighter bullets tend to have less power down range and are more prone to wind fluctuations; heavier ones provide a heavier punch while resisting wind fluctuations more effectively. Finding an appropriate balance between speed, power and stability for optimal muzzleloader operation requires finding just such an optimal bullet weight balance.
Your skill level is another significant influencer on muzzleloader accuracy, so practice as often as you can to achieve long-range shots consistently and maximize its use when hunting. By developing consistent long-range shooting skills, your muzzleloader will deliver maximum hunting effectiveness!
Start practicing by loading your muzzleloader with its maximum recommended charge and testing its accuracy by firing at targets or aiming down sights. When you feel confident with how far your weapon can shoot, begin getting ready for hunting season by gathering all necessary gear, such as speed loaders, bullet starters and ramrods.