There
are a number of ways to do this.
I am only going to show you how I
do it and what works for me. During the
last 40 some years of sighting in black
powder rifles for myself and for
customers; this is the simplest and
cheapest way to do it that I have found.
Whether
you are shooting a flintlock, percussion,
or an inline; the same basic principle
applies. Your rifle being a standard 100
yard rifle or one of the magnum 200 yard
rifles, the process is still the same.
WORKING UP A LOAD
Here
are some basic rules I use and I really do
stick to them as much as possible.
~~3
SHOT GROUPS
Shoot ONLY 3 shots at one target.
Targets are cheap.
~~A
REST
The rest should be as steady as you
can get it. If the bench is shaky, your
groups will not be good.
~~25
YARDS
If the target is close, it will
make it easier to see your target, sight
picture and your bullet holes.
~~SIGHTS
Do NOT change your sights while
working up your load. You are looking for
a TIGHT GROUP, just so your shots are on
the paper.
Remembering
and using these basic rules, you can work
up your Target loads, or Hunting loads
Hunting
Loads for 50 cal using sabots:
Hunting
Loads for 50 cal using sabots:
For
100 yard standard rifles:
For
200 yard magnum rifles:
80 grains FFg, (3
shots only, rest.)
80 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
85
grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
90 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
90
grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
95 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
95
grains FFg, (3 shots only, rest.)
100 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
100
grains FFg, (3 shots only, rest.)
105 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
110 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
115 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
120 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
125 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
130 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
135 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
140 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
145 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
150 grains FFg,
(3 shots only, rest.)
What is a Good Group?
That
depends on what you call a good group.
According
to Thompson/Center Arms, a 2” to 3”
group is good hunting accuracy, at 50
yards. Target or Competition shoots want a
one hole group at that distance. (For
some, hitting a paper plate at 50 yards is
good enough.)
Remember,
these black powder rifles are normally
capable of shooting better groups than we
can hold.
At What Distance should I Sight my rifle in for
Deer?
For
Standard
100 yard rifles,
I recommend dead on at 50 yards.
Any
shots out to 75 yards, you can hold DEAD
ON and know you have a good shot in
the kill zone.
For
shots beyond 75 yards, put your target up
at 100 yards. Fire 2 or 3 shots to see how
much it drops.
So,
when a deer is beyond 75 yards but not
more than 100 and your rifle shoots 4
inches low, you know to hold 4 inches
high at that distance.
For
Magnum
200 yard rifles, I recommend
DEAD ON at 100 yards.
Any
shots from 75 out to 150 yards, you can
hold DEAD ON and know you have a
good shot in the kill zone.
For
shots out to 75 yards, put your target up
at 50 yards and see how high it shoots.
So,
when deer are less than 50 to 75 yards,
you know to hold 2 inches low at
that distance for the kill zone.
For
shots beyond 150 yards out to 200 yards,
put your target up at 200 yards and see
how much the shot drops.
So,
when the deer is between 150 Yards to 200
yards, you know to hold that much high and
still be in the kill zone.
How Do I Adjust My Sights or Scope?
This
rule of thumb may help:
MOVE
YOUR BACK SIGHT in
the direction you WANT the PROJECTILE to
GO.
So,
if your shot is 6 inches LOW, you want
your projectile to go UP, which means you
want to adjust your REAR SIGHT UP.
Windage
works the same way.
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