Good ML accuracy?

[freddogs]

There seems to be  a wide variety of opinions of what good muzzle loader accuracy is. What do the rest of you expect at 50 and 100 yds. I don't think a pie plate at 100 yds is good accuracy. :biggun:

[Bridger]

I stick to the 50 yard line and if I can shoot off of a bench to get all holes touching for a three shot group I'm a happy guy. With my eyes that's all I can expect even though I think I have some accurate rifles. Where in Wisconsin are you? I live near Madison and use the Stoughton range. With the temperatures we've been having this week its going to have to warm up a bit before I venture out. Hard to concentrate on your sights when your teeth are chattering!

[agdexter]

If your purpose is hunting, a blackpowder group of 2" to 4" inches at 100 yards is sufficient. Anything beyond that, is what people want or desire, not what they need. To have an expectation that any hunting rifle blackpowder or centerfire would have three rounds touching is unreasonable and in most cases unattainable, even using a mechanical bench rest.

[P-J]

I shoot mostly 25-100 yard matches these days, and I expect my rifle to be just as accurate as anything with open sights. On a good day, when my old eyes can see and the hold is steady, 2 inches at 100 yards is not too difficult. That's with a traditional muzzleloader shooting black powder and round ball. Those good days are getting rarer every year though.

Probably not all muzzleloaders will do that well. But with a quality barrel, slow twist, and a tight fitting patch pie plates at 100 should be dead every time.

[dbm]

There seems to be  a wide variety of opinions of what good muzzle loader accuracy is. What do the rest of you expect at 50 and 100 yds.

You need to identify your purpose and what you're shooting really. Hunting or target shooting? Matchlock, flintlock or percussion? Smooth-bore musket or rifle? Military, match or sporting arm? Patch ball? Minie bullet? Paper patched bullet? Unsupported or from a rest?

At the World Championships in Italy last year, the winner of the 50m target rifle offhand match scored 100, as did the top 4. The ten ring is 50mm (approx 2") dia. Ties are decided by distance of furthest shot from the centre; the winners widest shot was 18mm from the centre.

In the 100m target rifle match shooting at the same target with a 50mm 10 ring, the winning score was 99. That is shooting prone, with only a sling for support.

ML arms are capable of excellent accuracy.

David

[Dan Chamberlain]

Every .54 Caliber rifle I've owned will print three rounds touching at 50 yards!  But they didn't do it out of the box.  My Renegade will do it with round ball and conical!  My GPR will do it consistently with RB and 90gr of Pyro.  My old Hawken did it as well before I sold it.  Now remember that's only 50 yards.  I've never gotten 100 yard groups that small.  In fact, I'm normally very happy with 4" groups at that distance and tickled pink when a group nears 3".  

Dan C

[freddogs]

Thanks guys. I was just curious about people's opinions on ML riflrs accuracy. I guess I expect similar accuracy to modern rifles at 50 and 100 yds. I feel the range of a rifle is the distsnce you can shoot accurately with sufficient power to kill your game.
Bridger, I'm over in eastern WI near Fond Du Lac.

[DannoBoone]

Perhaps I'm too picky, but I go by the saying, "Good ain't good enough.".

When I see groups like these:
http://www.prbullet.com/pts.htm
Then that's what I want to strive for.

Once in awhile a 150-200 yard shot presents itself. These smart ol' bucks
NEVER let ya get closer than that in the terrain we have around here. I've
passed up shots like that just because I wasn't sure of the loaded bullet's
capabilities. When I know, and I mean REALLY know, I have a load/bullet
combination that can be trusted to make that 200 yard shot, there will soon
be a trophy hangin' on my wall. One can safely take a shot like that when
sub-MOA groups are consistantly attained. But to be pleased with 3-4"
groups at 100 yards is definately cause to pass up that long shot -- never
want to just wound a magnificent trophy.