NEW LEUPOLD SCOPE FOR T/C ENCORE

 

No Sir, it means I have "tagged" this thread to receive email notification when someone posts on it. Just curiuos.... 

 

 

3 or 4" groups scoped???  If so thats not the average at all IME.  2" sure but just like a CF once you find the sweet spot for loads and shooter ability allows - 1" or better groups are not out of the question.  You are absolutley right about the inconsistencies, that is why Ml shooters are so methodical.  Load to load variance can greatly be reduced by sticking to a routine, process vs just dump and ram.  This comes with shooting ML's and not the exact same one either.  The side benefit is you become pretty effecient with these tools.

 

Have you tried different powders (sounds like your using pellets which is odd for a ball and patcher), bullets,sabots, primer, et".  ML is the like reloading, you may have to search a little to find pay dirt but once you do your laughing.

 

As far as shooting long range well all i can say is the scope is the least of my worries, finding a bullet with a BC better then a brick is number 1, number 2 is finding a load that shows both accuracy but the best possible MV and #3 is learning how to make adjustments for the conditions.  I personally use a 10x, no BDC reticle either.  

 

Once again sorry not my intent to ruffle feathers.  TC

 

Well my opinion is a little different. In Iowa we either use muzzleloaders or shotguns to hunt deer. One of my Encore 50 cal muskets has a 30mm tube leupold VX III  4.5-14x50 and another an Omega 50 cal musket has a Bushnell 4200 4-16x40 and another an Encore has what is normaly expected a 3-9x40 Nikon Omgea (and the glass is crap).  Now the reason why one might wish to have a high magnification optic on a 50 cal musket is because at the 200 yd distance which I shoot most of my deer at the higher magnification allows me to evaluate the rack of the deer and decide if I want to harvest a particular animal or let it grow and mature. I only shoot 10 point and larger Bucks other wise I shoot does. The second reason one might wish to have that magnification is that any deer here with a branched antler 3pt is a buck where a spike with no branched antler is able to be taken with a doe tag. Now since I perfer to hunt Texas style and set up a box blind or ladder stand two hundred yards from a food plot, this works very well.  And anyone who thinks you cant get sub minute of angle groups out of a muzzleloader is simply mistaken.  Bullberry guarantees sub minute of angle on ALL their barrels including 50 Cal musket. http://www.bullberry.com/ Now while you guys are laughing about how inaccurate and short range those old muzzleloaders are just remember that the kentucky long rifles which were used in the American Revolution rather surprised the British because the Americans were making accurate and deadly strikes past 400 yds.  In case you missed the concept it is one of the major reasons we won the American Revolution - the demoralizing effect concealed fronteersmen using indian tactics and muskets with better long range ability than what the British had.

My sons and I have in fact shot our muskets out to 400 yds and I am convinced that the boys could dial in correction with a tactical scope on a 50 caliber musket out to at least 600 yds on a man size target if we were to put a 10x Super Sniper on one, you might want to think that through since Muskets are not considered "firearms" by BATF and might be the only thing left after the next election.  Now each musket like many other rifles seems to favor a paticular grain powder charge one of mine likes 120 grains of tripple 7 another likes 150 grains of tripple 7.  So I think a 4.5-14x40 Lupold  would be a fine choice.

Anyone want to prove me wrong jump right in and tell us of your extensive expenience with 50 caliber muskets. http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/muzzleloader/spit-fire-tmz/

Want accuracy run a wet patch then a dry patch down the barrel after each shot and keep the load and seating depth consistent.

 

The responce you gave was for a thread from 2008,good recommendation though.

 

The responce you gave was for a thread from 2008,good recommendation though.