Boar Hunting load

[Leatherbelly]

What would this technique be called, "passive terrorism"? Or "regulating the wild pig problem of the US of A!" Just think of all the free meat they'd have,lol! oink oink!  (I'd really like to hunt pigs, wild turkeys too.)

[tallbear]

Guys
I have pruned this thread back a little.Please limit your discussion to muzzleloaders.

Thanks
Mitch

[Leatherbelly]

   thanks Mitch, I'm good with that.

Guys
I have pruned this thread back a little.Please limit your discussion to muzzleloaders.

Thanks
Mitch

[Dan]

I am shooting a nice group with my 54 swamped Getz barrel 45 inch long 70 grain 2f with a .530 rd ball with a .015 ox yoke patch at 50 yrds and that I use for deer in Pa.

Should I be looking at a heavier load for hunting and harvesting a 150-250lb pig. I know of their shoulder plate and their vitals are a small target. I am very comfordable at a 50yd shot or less. Any comments or suggestions?

Shoot what you got, they aren't that hard to kill.

[lakehopper]

Well I went with a larger patch .020 with my .530 and I am seeing tighter groups with 70 grains. With more practice I should be able to shoot even tighter groups. Tried 90 grains and it just didn,t impress me. Did not get any grouping what soever. I tried 4 shots with 90 grain, 530 ball and different size patches, both wet and dry and applying good ole spit, Same with 80 and 85 with no great results. I know my first shot is the only chance I have and 70grn seems to be the ticket with the .020 lubed patch.

The sites on pigs and shot placements were all very helpful.

Thanks again

Glenn

[BrownBear]

i doubt you took one with 7 1/2 shot heck i would not even use 7 1/2 for squirrel

I don't doubt it.  In extenuating circumstances I've killed two deer with #6 shot.  One shot each.  Dropped flat and didn't even wiggle.  Certainly not an ideal load, but in the right circumstances....

[Daryl]

Well I went with a larger patch .020 with my .530 and I am seeing tighter groups with 70 grains. With more practice I should be able to shoot even tighter groups. Tried 90 grains and it just didn,t impress me. Did not get any grouping what soever. I tried 4 shots with 90 grain, 530 ball and different size patches, both wet and dry and applying good ole spit, Same with 80 and 85 with no great results. I know my first shot is the only chance I have and 70grn seems to be the ticket with the .020 lubed patch.

The sites on pigs and shot placements were all very helpful.

Thanks again

Glenn

Glenn - you need to try an oiled or gease patch for hunting - they shoot differently than a water based lubed patch.

 Dry cloth patch?  Dry patches don't/won't/can't soften the fouling from a single shot and will make you have to clean the bore before you can load it again.

Water based lubes are not suitable for hunting - the bore will rot under the patch.

4 shots with 90gr. with a different patch around each ball - sounds like quite an accuracy 'test'- with good old spit.

thread modified - again

[lakehopper]

BrownBear, I will use the oil patch and see what results I get with the different grains of powder load. Thank you for the suggestion

 To clarify my testing i started with one powder load with a .530 ball and tried each patch/ patch type and shot from a bench with a rest to try to keep all things the same. I shot groups of 4 to 5 shots to see where the ball was landing on  paper at 50yards. most of them grouped out of the outer ring of my sight target.  I know my rifle shoots inside the ten ring in tight groups with 70 grains so i did not want to mess with the rear sight or file the front sight just yet. I cleaned my rifle after each shot to also make all things equal. On opening day my rifle will be void of powder before my first shot. I also shot on different days and time slots to see what the sun and time of day had on my shooting and test.  This is the only way I know how to determine the best combination for my rifle.
There is always room for improvement and i am willing to listen to and open for discussions on better ways of sighting in my rifle.


Glenn

[lakehopper]

Sorry gentleman i wanted to address my last post to Daryl. I am beginning to have Senior moments

[Daryl]

NP Glenn- keep at it.  Having a zero for 70gr. with a 'water-base lubed patch' can actually have no real relationship to the point of impact it might have with an oiled patch. Perhaps you've found that by now.

I have found virtually all my rifles need more powder (greater powder charge with oiled patchs) to give the same accuracy as the spit or other water based lubes gave, but then, even a relatively poor load might give Min. Of Boar accurcy.

 I personally count on the ball striking exactly where the sights were when the gun went off. I must be able to trust my aim and the gun's point of impact or I will not hunt with that gun.

[Old Ford2]

It doesn't take a lot to figure this smooth gun thing out.
As any target shooter will tell you, consistency is all important. If you change one thing your group will vary.
So with a smooth bore, if one small piece of crud stays lodged in the bore, your group will change. If your patch thickness, or material varies, your group will change.
If your gas pressure changes in the barrel, you group will change.
Almost everything you alter in the loading process will alter your point of impact.
That is why those guys that shoot phenomenal groups with smooth bores or rifled barrel are able to do it.
They load the same way without even thinking about it.
Old Ford

[Daryl]

Consistancy, though art a jewel - and 50% of the accuracy the gun can provide.