FIRST: Make sure EVERYTHING on the rifle is tight.
Including:
Scope base tight on the rifle
Scopes rings tight on the bases
Scope tight in the rings
All stock bolts are tight
SECOND:
Make sure that the crown on the end of the barrel isn't damaged, and that it's concentric to the bore. No nick, dings, etc. A damaged crown is the most detrimental thing to accuracy, bar none.
Now, if all of the above checks out, start playing with loads. Start at 75 or 80 grains and work up. Stop at whatever you get you best groups at. The deer doesn't care if you kill it with 80gr of powder or 150gr of powder.
Really, IMO, all you're getting with the high powder charges is a flatter trajectory, not better killing power. Even a lighter saboted bullet is killing more by its weight than by velocity. Think about it: tons of deer are killed with bullets of 150gr or less... with ML's we're usually using at least 200gr bullets, more often than not, 250-300gr bullets. Plenty of Oomph going on there.
If you want the best out of the PR bullets, call Mr. Epps and talk with him about your rifle. He'll tell you what he thinks you should try, regarding his bullets.
Rule of thumb (generally, but not always
), use the same brand of bullet as the gun is. After all, when the designers are shooting prototypes and final models for accuracy, do you think that T/C is using Knight or CVA sabots? T/C guns are going to shoot T/C loads the best, 9 times out of 10. Same with Knight, CVA, Traditions, etc. The various aftermarket bullets are great, IF you can get them to shoot in your gun.
In the CVA rifles that I've had, the Powerbelts and two Pyrodex pellets (or 777) or 90-100 grains of loose powder shot very well. I've had a Stag Horn and an Eclipse, both in .50. My cousin is shooting a Hunter Mag Bolt (I think that's the one) with two Pyrodex pellets and the 295 gr PowerBelt Aero Tip with groups running around 1".
Primers can make huge difference in accuracy and barrel fouling. You definitely need to get a few different kinds to try.
