500 Yards with a Muzzleloader – TC Encore Muzzleloader How To’s
Match Grade Machine was able to go to the range with Luke Horak of Arrowhead Rifles and get some tips and tricks for how he loads and shoots muzzleloader TC Encore or Contender rifles. Luke’s company specializes in smokeless powder muzzleloaders, and we build his TC line of products for Arrowhead Rifles.
The rifle we are shooting in the field today was our black powder only 45×209 muzzleloader. For the projectiles, we got the chance to try the new 300 grain XLD projectiles. These bullets must be sized to the bore of the rifle using a push-through sizing die that Arrowhead sells. The operation can be done in the field as we demonstrate and produces very impressive accuracy and extremely consistent velocities.
- Our rifle achieved center-fire like accuracy at 100, 300 and 500 yards
- Our 100 yard 3 shot group made a ragged hole measuring out to .3″ center to center
- We also shot a swinging target at 300 yards and put together a 4″ group on steel
- When shooting 500 yards we had a bipod failure which led to a higher point of impact from our shooting position
Black Powder Muzzleloader How To’s
Our first black powder muzzleloader shot with a clean bore had our velocity at 2,189 FPS, then settled in at 2,160 FPS, or within 8 FPS of that, for our next several shots. We cleaned the bore and again saw a slight increase in velocity, then dropped right back into that velocity sweet spot.
Our rifles are designed around use of Blackhorn powder measured by weight for the safest use and consistency. Our priming system utilizes the Federal 209A primer. We believe this is a great option for muzzleloaders due to the consistency of flame produced by them.
Our proprietary extractor system is extremely similar to a standard center-fire, where the extractor removes the primer upon opening the action. The breech plug is easily removable and fully serviceable with standard tools for greater longevity of your muzzleloader.
Our rifle achieved center-fire like accuracy at 100, 300 and 500 yards. Our 100 yard 3 shot group made a ragged hole measuring out to .3″ center to center. We also shot a swinging target at 300 yards and put together a 4″ group on steel.
When shooting 500 yards we had a bipod failure which led to a higher point of impact from our shooting position. We confirmed this theory by shooting a group without the bipod and they grouped nicely at 4″ out to 500 yards, with a black powder muzzleloader.
We would like to thank Luke again for joining us, as well as giving us a demonstration of his new jacketed bullets that do not use sabots and giving us advice on how to improve our capabilities with these awesome performing rifles.