Chronographed Load Data

[Mark whiz]

Well – I FINALLY got myself to the range and Chronographed all my worked up loads.  Due to time and economy reasons, I only shot 2 or 3 of each load – but this data puts me in the ballpark anyway.  All of these were shot out of my .50Cal, Knight USAK American Knight with a 22”, 1:28” twisted barrel, using CCI #11Mag caps and Triple Seven powders.   So, for your viewing pleasure, here are my results:

Bullet;                        Charge;                  Muzz. Vel;         Muzz. Energy
1) 300gr XTP Mags;    80gr 2fg 777;   1501fps;           1501 ft lbs.
2) 300gr SSTs;    80gr 2fg 777;   1490fps;         1479 ft lbs.
3) 300gr Precision QTs; 80gr 2fg 777;   1477fps;          1454 ft lbs.
4) 300gr Precision DCs; 80gr 2fg 777;   1400fps;          1306 ft lbs.
5) 300gr Barnes MZs;     80gr 2fg 777;   1452fps;          1405 ft lbs.
6) .490 Round Ball;     70gr 2fg 777;   1544fps;          953 ft lbs.
7) 348gr Aero Powerbelt;  90gr 2fg 777;   1403fps;          1521 ft lbs.
8 ) 348gr Lead Powerbelt;  90gr 2fg 777;   1425fps;          1570 ft lbs.
9) 350gr PrecisionExtreme;  90gr 3fg 777;   1485fps;          1714 ft lbs.
10) 350gr Precision QTs;  90gr 3fg 777;   1563fps;          1899 ft lbs.
11) 360gr Prec. Plinker;   90gr 3fg 777;   1509fps;           1821 ft lbs.
12) 385gr GreatPlainConical;  85gr 2fg 777;   1343fps;             1542 ft lbs.
13) 460gr NoExcuses Con.;     90gr 2fg 777;   1259fps;           1619 ft lbs.
14) 385gr NoExcuses;      85gr 2fg 777;   1384fps;           1638 ft lbs.
       (.45cal in sabot)
15) 400gr Precision QTs;    100gr 3fg 777;   1519fps;           2050 ft lbs.
16) 400gr PrecisionExtreme;  100gr 3fg 777;1474fps;           1930 ft lbs.

All this data pretty much confirms what I had thought all along.   This rifle has a sweet spot where it prefers its loads around a certain velocity.  In this case, it likes its sabots running around 1500fps, conicals around 1325fps, and its PowerBelts around 1400fps.  I can only ASSUME that other muzzleloading rifles will react this way too – having a preferred velocity sweet spot.  Hopefully some of you here can apply this data for your own work ups in the future.  Also as a reference, I should note that these 1500fps loads are listed as 1600fps loads on Hodgdon’s Load Data for 777 – I reckon that difference is probably caused by my shorter 22” barrel.

And the good news out of all of this is that all of these loads are very accurate.  I was NOT concentrating on accuracy for these tests so I shot all 40 shots (16 different loads) into the same target at 25 yds.  At the end of the day, every single shot had passed thru a 2” hole left on the center of the target.  So the point of impact at most muzzleloading distances are functionally identical for all of those loads.  SWEET!!!

[tscott]

How do you like the rifle overall? Wall mart has an American #11 ig,
50 cal for $143... Good price?

[Mark whiz]

That's a very good price.  I paid $159 on sale for the rifle & starting kit at Bass Pro back in 2000.

While this gun doesn't have all the bells & whistles the new models have, it obviously has been getting the job done for me - and for less than 1/2 the price of most rifles on the market. I've thought about upgrading to a  "better" (i.e. NEWER) rifle - but everytime I see it cut cloverleafs at the range, I'm covinced to keep what I got!

[jeff223]

very good post Mark :toast:

[jeff223]

Mark next time you go and get some bullets  for your muzz try some 220s,240s and some 250s.you might like them

[Mark whiz]

Jeff................

The rifle came with some 260gr Knight sabots when I bought it.  The gun hated them - had a hard time even hitting a 3'X3' board at 25 yds with them.  I tried several different bullets until I stepped up the the 303gr Remington Core-Lokts - THEN I started to see groups happening.  For some reason, this thing likes the heavy bullets.  Strangely enough, it was Cecil at Precision Rifle who convinced me to go to heavier bullets.  That man knows his stuff.  :grin:

[NimrodRx]

Good stuff Mark.  Thanks for the info.  

Del certainly knows his stuff.  That being said, I still can't get his sabots to fly out of my rifle.

Mike