woodchuck as practise targets

[Scottie_The_Boy]

Hi all, Stopped at the local gun shop that was still open on a saturday till 9:00.

He had power belts and a small amount of sabots.

I found some Knight brand black color High Pressure Sabots, and asked what he had in the .451-.452 (.45 cal ) range. so we headed off to another room and searched high and low and I found some pistol ammo to try out for now  to brake that itch to fire off some rounds anyhow and learn more about this Omega.

So I picked up a box of 230 gr. JHP 45 cal. Sierra's and them Knight sabots to see how they fire threw the muzzle loader.

Also bought a can of pyrodex loose powder to try so I can adjust  powder loads. I Still need a brass powder messure scale for 10-100 grain with a set screw to hold it on the exact spot for me.

I Picked up a TC .50 caliber brush for cleaning to bore, also a TC Extended super jag .50 cal. and a pack of three Speed loaders.

Is it best that I remove the scope which isn't sighted in and sight in the iron sites first for 60 yards.. and then add the scope back on later and sight it in for a comfort distance before deer season?

So if half way threw deer season I find the scope acting up, my rifle sights will be already dialed in at a set distance of choice.?.?

Sorry if I come back dayly and ask and ask all... I Just want to be safe and Enjoy this new break in the ice for me to try a New firearm hobby out and be safe with my choices.

Will a 12"x12" steel sheet work as a good target it's 3/8" thick.. and I will weld some chain to Both upper corners so it can swing and take the impact and add some sound so I know I hit it at 120 yards out...I also can use them scratch easy targets that show yellowish /green when and where the bullet impacts stuck right on the steel plate.

It's just I have the extra sheet of steel just slowly rusting up on me as I haven't used it  on any other projects with being a Bit thick for this or that I tinker with...

I will also use it for my .17 hmr, .223 nef, .20 gauge 1100, .12 gauge noble and this .50 caliber muzzle loader with smaller sabots rounds.

I Figured the Large the chain the more it shall swing and take a hit from a large caliber. 

How shall 230 grains work on woodchucks? Or should I use smaller grain bullets for woodchucks..?

As I normal will shoot 18 or so in a weekend here .... Most in the past I would grind up into fox and coyote bait and save for trapping.... Yet I won't be doin' that anylonger.....

Is it overkill to add a 14"-27 1/2" Bipod on a Muzzle loader.... Only downside may be added weight to cart and that it doesn't swivel so as a Animal out there a distance moves left or right I would need to move one leg of bipod to keep up.

Is My Choice in that Ammo Okay to atless test threw my muzzle loader?

Scottie_The_Boy ( in Steuben County N.Y. )

[Keith Lewis]

Not sure how the Knight sabots will work in the T/C rifle. Using bullets of .451 you might be able to get them down the barrel. Maybe not. I suggest when trying something new like matching pistol bullets with any sabots (and there are a lot of sabots of various thickness out there) leave the breechplug out and try loading one with nothing in the rifle other than the bullet sabot so that you can push it out if it gets stuck half way down. Make sure you have a good solid rod or a big wood dowel and hammer handy to drive them back up the barrel. I also suggest you try some T/C Shockwave bullets actually made for the rifle if they are not too old as some of the first ones were too big also. Harvester makes several sabots of thinner petals and even one called a crush rib sabot for difficult to load rifles. My Omega is one of those. Also just curious why do you not eat the Woodchucks? I used to live in south west NY and we found the meat rather tasty. I think the Indians called them Unk Wunk.

[gustmouse]

Woodchucks aren't that big of an animal, use the .17HRM
Use paper targets for practice

[slave]

I always try to use my primary load. The Chuck's may not require it but they would be perfect for practice.

[simonkenton]

Why do you kill woodchucks?

[Keith Lewis]

Most farmers prefer to kill the woodchucks as they make holes that the cows and horses step in and break their legs or so I was told by the farmer that used to ask us to shoot the ones on his property.

[AndyHass]

Woodchucks can also do quite a bit of damage to gardens and crops.


There is no such thing as overkill...if the chucks need to be removed, it's good practice for deer season.  I'd recommend finding Shockwave bullets too.

As for sighting in w/o the scope, it depends on you.  Personally I don't bother with the open sights on a scoped gun, if the scope acts up I'll stick another on and sight it in quickly.  I had one gun with quick-release rings so I could use either/or and it worked great.

I have a Harris tall bipod on my long-range ML (Omega).....works GREAT.

[Redhawk1]

With my standard Encore muzzleloader I use the PR 195 gr. duplex DC sabots.  Works like a charm. 

[Scottie_The_Boy]

Keith Lewis, thanks alot .. I was Looking at the sabots on Cabelas.com last night and do like the looks and different weights and such of the Item number : IG-215067 Shockwave Sabot 250 grain. 30 in a pack....

I think I will did into my paypal funds and get a Order for two packs of them to try out...a pack of 250 gr. and 300 grain.

I Know some locals with .45 caliber pistols so I am not at a Lose with buying these 230 grain jacketed hollow points..

I just placed a Sabot and pistol round threw and without the breech plug in as told and I was able to stay kneeling on the floor and pushed it in, a Bit hard without a Starter on the hands .. So I may need to get a starter to set the bullet .. But all in all the sabot and bullet pushed in comfortly and came out the breech area..then I ran a cleaning cloth down the barrel with the Jag addaptor ....

I have been told for years woodchucks taste good if done correctly. I seen so many over the years and the thought of chewing on the meat has got me wondering at times with them chubby thighs and such.

SimonKenton,Also I have personally seen hay wagons and small farm tractors that high sided and rolled on sides when the weight of a rear tire was  lined up with a woodchuck trench they made just shallow under the ground... So Farmers here in Western N.Y. where Keith was years back has lots and lots of farms yet for the most part also alot more folks with a family horse and such for riding.. and a woodchuck den will brake a Horses  ankle... But for the Most part,Woodchucks in spot area's can be just watched and Enjoyed for years without harm to humans and livestock.. I dfind such dens ofter out in the state lands to just sit and watch them.. No Harm to me there and others so I like to watch them..

I Have tried and Like alotis bear meat from them 250 and small bear... I work at a fur tannery and Tan all I shoot,trap or find...

Last two seasons I been skinning black bear ,coyote and skunk for a local taxidermist for fun also....

maybe one of these years I might connect with my first black bear,yet I am not in a hurry to harvest one from the small amount we have here.... So I have time to hold off...

Best wishes to all and Merry Christmas

Scottie_The_Boy (In Stueben county N.Y.)

[Keith Lewis]

I have been told for years woodchucks taste good if done correctly. I seen so many over the years and the thought of chewing on the meat has got me wondering at times with them chubby thighs and such.

Scottie_The_Boy (In Stueben county N.Y.)

[/quote]

It has been a while since I had any western New York groundhog. I was at my brothers house in Wellsville and he has a pet one (almost a pet) that lives just outside the yard so we wouldn't shoot that one. If my memory is good the meat tastes a lot like squirrel except there is a lot more per animal. I think I remember that they have a scent gland near the rear legs that you have to be careful to remove. I think we parboiled the meat then brazed it in a pan with butter and seasonings. Not very specific but it has been a lot of years.

[slave]

I not sure if a Groundhog and a Chuck are exactly the same. Groundhogs look to be a least twice the size. I have never eat either one but you know they could not be that bad. 

[Keith Lewis]

I suspect they are related, but the NY groundhogs are huge. My half pit bull dog used to hunt them and some were so big he could not lift them off the ground to snap their neck. The body length averaged about 18 inches or more and they were very heavy.