Interesting Range Day..

[Adam Helmer]

Today was sunny and just perfect to test loads on the backyard range.

I tested the .45 Hawken flinter from the bench with double ball loads ahead of 75 grains of 2F Goex. At 75 yards, both balls were on the paper and 2 and 4 inches below the single ball load. I reshot the test 3 times and double balling the .45 at 75 yards does in fact produce deer-size groups. Nice to know, but the PA game laws prohibit any but "single projectile loads" in muzzleloaders for deer.

I put the 12 gauge caplock single barrel on the .54 Renegade and tested many load combinations. I found out that the 75 grain load of 2F Goex or RS Pyrodex and 80 garins of #6 shot gave excellent patterns at 35 yards. I tried various overpowder and over shot wads and Herters Feltan Bluestreak wads and various plastic wads I use in loading my regular 12 gauge trap loads.

The plastic wads are handy and fast to load, but gave me the poorest patterns in my 12 gauge barrel. My best load is 75 grains of RS Pyro, one 3/8inch Feltan wad, 80 grains of shot and one 3/8inch Feltan wad over the shot. The patterns were on point of aim, dense and very nice to look at.

I now know what I will carry afield in October for PA small game.

Adam