What bullet should I use?  I frequently get asked, which is the best muzzleloading bullet for me to use?  Well, it would be easiest just to recommend a muzzleloader bullet that I particularly like using.  But, that wouldn't answer the question, nor would it be ethical, now would it?  In order to make an educated guess (and that is all it would be), a few additional things need determining, like what would the bullet be use for (hunting or target shooting)?  Once that is nailed down then there is a little more to work with.  Let's say for sake of discussion, this bullet is going to be used for deer hunting.  That brings other things into the equation.  In what type of terrain will it be used?  How far (click on link to see muzzleloader ballistics chart) would the muzzleloading bullet be expected to shoot and perform its intended purpose?  Is a heavier or lighter recoil/bullet preferred?  Once this information is established, next thing is to know something about the type of weapon that will be used.  This leads us to rate-of-twist (click the link to see a chart that shows which weight and size bullets do best with different rates-of-twist).  The muzzleloading bullet will need to be matched with the rifle's specific barrel twist.  Once all this has been determined, there are probably going to be a number of equally good muzzleloading bullet sizes and weights that might work.  Of course determining which one will shoot best in your smoke pole is a whole other topic for discussion.  I will write more on that particular topic in the near future. 

Which muzzleloader bullet will shoot best in my rifle?  To address this subject we need to establish a few truths.

• Not every muzzleloading bullet will shoot great in your muzzleloader. 
• There exists a powder and charge for each muzzleloader bullet that will work best for your muzzleloader. 
• It is up to you to find that accurate combination of powder, charge and muzzleloader bullet. 
• Consistency, in every step, of loading and firing our muzzleloader aids accuracy.

Now, let's address these truths.  Most of us have already experienced  the first truth.  Let's take a closer look at why.  Matching the rate-of-twist of our muzzleloader's barrel with the proper bullet should be a primary consideration to achieving desired accuracy.  Now that we've picked the bullet for our rifle, now we need to give the bullet its best chance to perform.  What I mean is, don't just try one load of powder.  We might need to try several different powders and loads before we find that magic combination.  If we just try one or two charges, because they worked best with the last bullet used, then we are probably giving up too soon.  Sometimes as little as 2 grains can make the difference.

This leads us into the second truth: There exists a powder and charge for each muzzleloader bullet that will work best for our muzzleloader.  This is true but, it doesn't imply great performance, just the best performance possible with that particular muzzleloader bullet and rifle combination.

It should be obvious by now there is more to discovering which muzzleloader bullet is going to give us the greatest accuracy and performance possible.  Trying a few different bullets with one charge and basing our decision on their performance under those limited conditions is inadequate.  Determining which muzzleloader bullet will perform best in our particular muzzleloader may require some hard work on our part.  If the muzzleloader bullet we are considering is not going to give us the down range performance and trajectory we desire, then why waste time and money on testing.  Pick only those bullets that will meet our requirements and then start the process of finding which one will work best.  You might have guessed by now, that I do not recommend pellets for testing, since they generally limit your charge variations.

To print within the same area shot after shot, you need to do the same things shot after shot.  You can not expect the same results if you vary between-shot routines.  Without consistency there is no accuracy.

Black Powder Cleaner #1. Have you ever experienced a problem with your breech plug sticking and being hard to take out?  Well, so have I and here is what I do about it.  First, block the breech plug by inserting a spent primer in it.  Then stand you rifle on some paper against something at a slight angle.  Pour a table spoon or two of Black Powder Cleaner #1 down the barrel and let it set about 20 minutes or so.  It should eat away that crud ring that causes the plug to stick and make it easy to unscrew. A nice thing about this cleaner is you can salvage what you pour in the barrel for use later; it doesn't quit working even when dirty.

Oh yeah, its one heck of  black powder cleaning solution too.  Just dampen a clean cotton patch with cleaner and swab the barrel with it.  For stubborn fouling, several patches may be required.  Follow up with clean dry patches until clean.  After cleaning treat you gun with the rust prevention of your choice.

Yesterday after some shooting at the range I popped my .25 ACP Encore breech plug out and as usual it had a lot of crud on it.  I normally dislike cleaning the breech plug because it usually get black all over everything it comes into contact with.  Well, this time I thought I would try something different.  I put my breech plug into a pill container bottle, which was approximately the same diameter as the plug and poured just enough Black Powder Cleaner #1 to cover it, and went about doing other things like cleaning the rest of the rifle, using the Black Powder Cleaner #1. I think I left the breech plug soaking about an hour.  I took my .25 ACP Encore breech plug out of the solution, careful to save the solution, and wiped it down with a cloth dampened with Black Powder Cleaner #1, and to my surprise the cloth did not have much fouling on it at all.  The breech plug was shining clean after wiping it off a little.

This morning I noticed the vile of cleaning fluid was not dirty, but clear, because the fouling residue had settled to the bottom.  My first thought was wow, I need a picture (click here to see picture) of this to show people.  I reckon it would be pretty easy to pour the clear part of the liquid into another container for future use, without loosing much.  How nice.

Shooting or hunting with blackpowder bullets is a very popular sport these days. To say shooting black powder bullets has improved over the years is an understatement. As the quest for an extended range blackpowder bullet continues, the Precision Rifle bullets offered by R and P Muzzleloading are an example of just how far black powder bullets have come. R and P Muzzleloading also contains informative material and many muzzleloader accessories designed to improve your muzzleloading shooting experience and accuracy with your muzzle loader rifle.

Muzzleloader rifles have improved, shouldn't your muzzleloader bullets keep pace with them? If you have come to accept the typical 4 inch group at 100 yards for hunting with black powder then you owe it to yourself to consider the sub minute of angle (MOA) groups possible with the Precision Rifle muzzleloader bullets. This includes the Dead Center muzzleloader bullets, QT_muzzleloader_bullets, Extreme Elite muzzleloader bullets, Keith Nose HP muzzleloader bullets, and the unique Dead Center Duplex sabot muzzleloader bullets, which are designed to cause you to hit dead center every time.   Randy Wakeman declares the Dead Center muzzleloader bullets the bullet of the year.

There are things you as a black powder shooter can do to help improve the accuracy of your muzzleloader and cause it to hit dead center. Consistency is the name of the game. Here is a link to some helpful tips that might help you to shrink that group a little: A muzzleloader accuracy solution that works.

If you want to stay healthy so you can continue to hunt longer, it is important to make sure your body gets all the proper nutrition it needs.  I have found a product that seems to help.  Vibe!

1995 and 1996 CVA in-line recall.  In 1997, Connecticut Valley Arms, Inc., voluntarily implemented a recall of in-line muzzleloading rifles manufactured in 1995 and 1996.  If you currently own or possess a CVA in-line rifle with a 95 or 96 serial number, or you purchased one or gave it or sold it to another person, and the barrel has not been replaced, you should contact a Company Representative immediately by calling the customer service number below:

To identify the rifle, read the serial number on the barrel opposite the firing bolt.  The only CVA rifles subject to the voluntary recall are in-line models with serial numbers ending with the last two digits of 95 or 96.  No other firearm models within the CVA product line are affected by this recall.

Below are some of the many emails R&P Muzzleloading has received from satisfied customers.  Please read what some of your fellow muzzleloading enthusiast have to say about their muzzleloading experience with Precision Rifle muzzleloading products.

Received 14 Aug 04 from Frank Langston of Allen TX:  So far my best 3 shot group came with the Dead Center bullet .40 240 gr. 50 cal using 44 gr of AA 5744.  1st shot 1905 fps; 2nd shot 1848 fps; 3rd shot 1840 fps for a 1.58 inch group @ 100yds. I am using a stock Simmons 3x9x40 scope. When the barrel gets broke in the groups will shrink. Cleaning with a saliva patch after 5 rounds will get velocity and grouping more consistent.  Click graphic to enlarge.

Frank 

Hello Ray, 

Well the time on the shooting range with different loads and bullets paid off. With your help I had settled on a 235 grain QT bullet and a 120 grain charge of Triple Seven FFG powder. I felt this was the best combination for Manitoba deer hunt where I might have a close shot or one out to 200 yards. Luckily it was close, 32 yards, but a straight on shot into his chest. The QT did the job and the buck went right down. The bullet was found under his skin along his side and had expanded well as the photos show. Thanks for helping me make this a successful hunt! I was hunting with Sugarloaf Outfitting in Grandview, Manitoba. 

My buck did go right down, he did some kicking but never got up. I was a little surprised because the bullet never hit any parts of the shoulders or legs. I think it was the shock of the bullet that kept him down until he died from the loss of blood - certainly less than a minute, maybe 30 seconds. I was reloading and watching him; just in case another shot was needed. 

I was using a Winchester X-150 with which I'm very satisfied. My son was along and was hunting with an Apex that we converted to the 25 ACP brass/primer. He saw a monster but couldn't get a shot. I'll start hunting with that rifle here in CT next week; there's a big one here I'd like to get with it (see my game camera photo attached). 

The weight of the deer by the outfitters scale was 200 lbs live weight but I have to believe it was more than that based on other deer I've gotten. He certainly isn't the "monster" Canadian whitetail that some hunters get but the hunting was tough and I'm very satisfied with the buck. I actually tracked him in the soft snow and called him back to me with rattling/grunting.

Best regards, Don Greene

Hi Ray- just a quick note to once again endorse the QT .40. I killed two more deer with them in Dec. in New York. I was once again impressed with the accuracy and knock down. More importantly your tips (swabbing, shooting loose instead of pellets, fouling first... etc... ) have really made muzzleloading the most fun I have had hunting, ever! The trusty shotgun will get lots of rest in the future. I plan on shooting all winter, I will place an order soon. Happy New Year-

Pete Johnson- Buffalo New York.

Ray. I have spoken to you on a couple of occasions about your bullets and the magnum bases. Tuesday 11-02-04, I had the privilege to use them on a nice 8 pointer. He fell to the 200gr dead center from 50 yards. Man....what an exit hole. He didn't fall in his tracks but was real easy to trail due to the massive hole. I have found these bullets to be exceptionally accurate and look forward to using them more in the very near future. Thanks for turning me on to such a great bullet! 

Jeff Gregory/Chesterfield. Va

Hello from Ft sill, Oklahoma. This is the 6th buck in the past years I have gotten here on this army post. Last year I used your bullets and they performed awesome. Dropped the deer in there tracks. I didn't take any photos. But here are some pics of a buck I got on a mountain top last SAT. during muzzle loader season. It was walking over the crest and weaving through big boulders all I had was a neck shot.  I shot it at 50 yards and hit exactly where I was aiming. I am so confident using your bullets. I get awesome groups at 100 and 150 yards. 1IN with the 100 gr 777, 195 gr 357 Duplex's; there so accurate. The buck will score in the 150's and field dressed at 168lbs. Its age 8yrs. So far it is the 2nd biggest buck killed on Ft Sill.  All my friends use your bullets and some have gone to other units and posts state side and buy the bullets there too using your web sight. They will have had great success. The shear knock down of these bullets is one of a kind.  I have shot everything, all kinds of bullets too. Thanks for a great product. Enjoy the pictures.

Elton (Lee) Jeans

Thought I would send feedback to this Incredible product. This is truly the tightest group I have ever seen from a muzzleloader. Shot 1,2 practically same hole (these 2 shots were from mounting the scope, gun right out of the box which is a .489 group (no bore sighting). The next three shots are truly impressive as well. .713 WOW!! My father was a firearms instructor for our local police dept. and is one of the best shooters I know of, and he as well was very impressed with the accuracy. I am still amazed at the accuracy of the Savage, coupled with the Precision Products.  Conditions: Cloudy, 11 mph crosswind, 71 deg. 40/50 260 Gr. Dead center (using the Rat seating tool) 50 cal. Magnum sub-base 44 gr. XMP 5744 65 yds.  Brian Nelson Traffic Supervisor City of Clarksville 199 Tenth St. Clarksville TN 37043 Office (931)-645-7464 Nextel 29*51352

Ray, I shot up the bullets today and all I can say is WOW!  For the first try, I took my old T/C Renegade, primarily because it is by far the most familiar of my muzzleloaders... Over the years, I tried just about everything imaginable in it... Minnie's, Maxies, sabot this, sabot that, and the ONLY thing it has ever shot well is patched round balls... You could drive nails with them, but any of the sabot or cast bullets open up to around three inches with the occasional flyer.. So, using 80, 90, and 100 grains by volume of 777 FFg I started in my sighting in the scope which turned out to not need any adjustments... After that, and after I had my flinches and jerks out of the way, I got down to business.  On the first target, which I actually intended to be a practice target, I fired two rounds each of 80, 90, and 100 grains... It was a one hole group! Backing off to 100 yards, I turned in another three rounds again all holes touching the other... I'll have to scan the targets, but basically, I found no point of impact difference between 80 and 100 grains 777 FFg at 50 yards, and no change in accuracy at 100 yards using 100 grains... This is the very first "bullet" of any kind other than the patched round ball that I have found to shoot in this rifle... If this is any indication at all, the QT is one heck of a great bullet.... I'm totally impressed... I'm going to post this on the forums, and then get the article together for the magazine page... 

Dave QUOTE: "Lord, please help me to be just half the man my dog thinks I am"... 

D. Robert (Dave) Quick HANDLOADING FOR HUNTING Main Website: http://www.accs.net/users/drquick 
Discussion forums: 
http://drquick.proboards18.com/

05/07/04 - 50 cal Omega group at 100 yds is now 1.5" with the dead center-Down from 3+" with Powerbelts
05/08/04 - Clean the barrel after 3 shots-100 grains 777 and a good Nikon scope. I was very disappointed with the performance of the Powerbelts. They were scattered all over the target. The Dead Centers with the double sabot was a welcome relief.
10/23/04 - Finally, something to report about the 195 grain duplex sabot. It was in the mid-80's the 1st few days of the season with no movement at all. Then, the rains came with cooler weather. The duplex performed great. A 156 lb white-tail (remember I am in extreme South Ga.) at 62 yards, it entered the left shoulder, destroying both lungs, then passed completely through the right shoulder and was found under the skin while dressing. The bullet appears to be completely intact. The 195 grain bullet mushroomed very well, measuring 3/4" and appears to have rolled back even with the base. I will see if I can scare up a scale and calipers and give you a little more info. Recover was less than 35 yards, with a good blood trail especially with only an entry wound. A T/C Omega, 100 grains of 777 and especially the DEAD CENTER duplex are an extremely good combination.

Arthur Ambrose

Hi Ray- I finally got a chance to shoot more than paper this past weekend on the Pennsylvania early muzzleloading opener- does only season. I was very impressed with the QT and the job it did on an animal. Truly devastating at 100 yards. The penetration and the way the bullet exited the deer made tracking in yellow and bright red maple leaves (although pretty in the sun) easy because of the amount of blood.  Pete

Ray, I thought I would drop you an email to let you know how happy I am with your sabots! I was shooting Powerbelt 275 grain bullets and wasn't happy at all! They dropped like a rock after 150 yards. I have a TC Encore 45 and the Powerbelts were dropping 9 inches from 150 to 200 yards! I shots your sabots (.40 Caliber QT 250 grain) and could not believe it....At 100 yards I was 4 inches high and at 200 it was still 3 inches high. I moved the target out to 250 yards and I was only 4 inches low! I could not believe it! NO "flyers" either! I am going on an Elk hunt in New Mexico in 2 weeks and an extra 100 yards or more range sure will help! 

Thanks! 

Sid in Georgia

If you would like to share your shooting experiences with the Precision Rifle bullets please email us with the story and graphics.