Author Topic: Huntsman Chronograph Woes (Read 1047 times)

JoeLansing · « **on:** September 19, 2004, 06:08:23 AM »

I guy at the range yesterday had a chronograph and the results of firing my huntsman through it surprised me.

1068, 1311 1479, 1651 Seemed to top out after the 4th shot. After a couple of patches I was back down to 1100. I've heard of needing a fouling shot, but didn't realize there was such a huge loss shooting from a clean bore. Is this normal? I'm shooting 295gr powerbelts and 2 50gr pyrodex pellets. Are the powerbelts just not sealing well? Would something else give me more consistant shots? - Joe

Busta · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2004, 04:07:22 PM »

Wow, that is very inconsistent. The 300gr Hornady SST's seem to be the most consistent out of mine. The 260gr Knight PowerBelts also shot very well, although I have heard that these might of been discontinued due to performance on game and I have not seen them on the shelves this year.

I have also had very good luck shooting 460gr No Excuses conicals out of mine. These are the ones sized to .503, just love those things.

The only bad thing about the SST's is that they load very hard, but they sure do shoot good out of my Huntsman.

JoeLansing · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2004, 04:48:49 PM »

I'm thinking of the 460gr No Excuses conicals that you mention. I'm used to sighting in so the first shot hits true, but 1061fps on the first shot just isn't going to get it. I've never shot anything but powerbelts before. A conical you just grease right? No patch? Conicals work ok with a 1/28 twist? I shoot all my deer at about 20 yards, but I'd like to have 1000/ft/lbs at 50. My lame 1061fps doesn't even do that! What if I do a fouling shot of 3 pellets and no bullet? I'd go for one fouling shot, if I could get dirty enough to hit 1400fps or so with my next shot using a powerbelt. I'm goofy anyways. I shoot the deer in the neck, and I've been drilling out the middle of the HP 295gr powerbelts, and taking all the copper off of the nose on a grinding wheel. I don't need penetration on a neck shot...

My cronograph results were with stock ones. I could live with 1300-1400fps on the first shot. - Joe

Busta · « **Reply #3 on:** September 21, 2004, 12:29:07 PM »

Joe,

If you are shooting deer at 20-100 yards, then you really need to try these. Put 65-75 grains of Triple Se7en FFG (or equivalent) under one of these 460 grainers and you will have more foot pounds of energy than you'll know what to do with. They are pre-lubed and you won't find a better guy to do business with. Place your order, he sends the bullets, when you get the bullets you send him a check. It just doesn't get any better than that. Just get the regular ones that are sized to .503, they are perfect and will slide down smooth and obturate fully into the rifling at ignition. Just remember the max weight conical for the Huntsman is 470 grains. (read owners manual for max loads on bullet type and powder)

http://www.muzzleloading-bullets.com/page3.html

Longcruise · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2004, 06:46:46 AM »

Quote

I guy at the range yesterday had a chronograph and the results of firing my huntsman through it surprised me.

1068, 1311 1479, 1651 Seemed to top out after the 4th shot. After a couple of patches I was back down to 1100.

Did you try wiping after each shot. That would at least make it consistent, but 1100 fps range is way too low for that charge and that bullet weight, IMO.

This might seem too simple a solution, but try picking up some of the inexpensive Hornaday green .50 cal sabots and load them up with an inexpensive cast .430 bullet with a flat point. 60 to 100 grains of any powder will give you all you need for deer and you may be surprised at the accuracy. For the price of 20 PowerBelts you will have 100 shots this way. :grin:

Those sabots and a 180 grain .430 HP over 100 grains of ff goex hit over 2000 fps out of my TC hawken (1:48 twist). It won't stabilize the bigger bullets, but your Huntsman should.

JoeLansing · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2004, 01:25:12 PM »

I bought some Knight green sabots and some 300gr XTP's to try. Hope to try them out tomorrow. Also have some of the funny split sabots with the felt base and some 240gr Speer Gold Dot's on the way from www.midwayusa.com I might order a Chronograph tonight.

Longcruise · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2004, 04:45:49 PM »

Quote

Also have some of the funny split sabots with the felt base and some 240gr Speer Gold Dot's on the way

Sounds like the TC Break-O-Way sabot. I used them for a while but they did not work as well for me as the Hornady. Who knows what might work in your gun though.

Quote

I might order a Chronograph tonight.

You will never regret getting a chronograph! Quite an eye opener. If you get the Chrony, get the optional lexan screen protectors and use 1/8" soft dowel wood to hold the skyscreen shades instead of the alluminum rods.

I wiped out the LCD display on mine with a patch from a round ball and later hit an aluminum rod with a sabot. No permanent damage from the sabot but it coulda been!

JoeLansing · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2004, 05:37:01 AM »

I got one of these. It's got a heavy steel base for the screens, 19' wires for the display unit, 24 shot memory. It wasn't real cheap, but I hate buying something I don't have a clue about and it ends up being a toy. I've already got a nice camcorder tripod for it.

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/965062