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BALLISTICS ON MUZZLELOADERS

THINMAN
WOULD LIKE TO FIND BALLISTICS ON A VARIETY OF PYRODEX POWDER LOADS WITH MODERN BULLETS CONTAINING TRAJECTORIES , VEL., AND HOW SHORTER
BARRELS ARE BALLISTICLY AFFECTED . I,M TOLD THAT IN CENTERFIRE RIFLE
BARRELS YOU LOSE A 100' FPS IN EVERY 1" LESS BARREL .DOES THIS RULE
APPLY TO MODERN IN-LINES . WHAT LENGTH BARREL IS NEEDED TO FULLY BURN
A 3-PELLET CHARGE [150GR. PYRODEX 50/50 ]. ANY ONE HAVE A RECOMMENDED LOAD FOR 23" 1-28 TWIST .50CAL , PREFERBLY PUSHING A 180GR. HORNADY XTP SABOT .

THINMAN
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2 comments

Date Votes
  • nononsense
    Thinman,

    First, forget about that bit of information regarding velocity loss in centerfire rifles. Modern chronographs and electronics have made it possible to gather accurate velocities and quantify the variables involved in shooting and record keeping. Currently, the records indicate that we loose about 25-35 FPS. for every 1" of barrel removed.

    Here is some other information about Black Powder ballistics:

    Tony Knight realized years ago that a long barrel wasn't necessary to burn the powder charge efficiently. By shortening the barrel, the rifle is easier to handle when the going gets tough in thickets or overgrown fields. Knight rifles come in two barrel lengths, 24 and 20 inches. The difference in muzzle velocity between the two barrels is 10 to 15 f.p.s. per inch of barrel lost, which is negligible.
    http://www.blackpowderjournal.com/Vol2No3/Articles/BPJ23-2.htm

    http://www.blackpowderjournal.com/Vol2No3/Articles/BPJ23-5.htm

    http://www.rmsg.us/fire/blackpow.htm (excellent resource)

    http://pages.sssnet.com/go2erie/muzzle.htm (ballistics)

    http://www.uslink.net/~tom1/ (ballistics system)

    http://members.aye.net/~bspen/ (lots of good articles)

    Best.
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  • Contender Man
    Good references, other than giving you a longer reading list not much I can add, except; don't try and draw parallels between black powder or BP substitute weapons and smokless/center fire arms. Two different worlds.

    If you use pellets you have a quick loading method that is pretty consistent in charge volumes, you can also use premeasured loaders for the loose stuff and again be fairly consistent.

    Unless you use Wonder Lube, TC bore butter or similar product, each shot will foul the barrel a little more and therefore degrade performance, so either keep it swabed out or use one of the fouling reducer lubes.

    Next, unless your using sabots ... cast bullets will have come varriation in weight, especially lot to lot, or mfg. to mfg., or batch to batch if you brew your own. So unless you weight each cast bullet to limit the difference in weights you'll have some verformance variable here too.

    Also, be consistent in seating your round. Don't slam it home one time and tap it another as this will also make a difference.

    And lastly ... maximum charge does not mean maximum performance. Rifles, even within the same mfg. and model, have differences and add that to the bullet being fired, it is often found that peak accuracy is found at less than maximum charge levels ... so you are going to have to experiment some. If you just using an in-line and in a hunting situation ... 3 tabs of pyro and snug seating of the sabot or bullet will be fine.

    If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
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