Pennsylvania Game News - July 2012 - 63

DIAMONDBACK black powder and Black mz substitute black powder are two of the newest muzzleloading propellants to enter a busy field of choices.

created an entirely new type of muzzleloading shotgun, one that can create patterns similar to modern centerfire shotguns. After shooting the T/C Encore 12-gauge muzzleloader, it was immediately obvious that the extra-full turkey choke made a difference. Thirty-yard patterns were impressive and even the 40-yarders were lethal. By reducing the diameter of the bore near the muzzle, the shot string was compressed and elongated, creating a large percentage of pellets on target. Even with the century load of FFg and #5 shot, using a red Ballistic Products shot cup, the balanced volume of powder and shot seems to have produced the best pattern. Choke inserts have allowed muzzleloading waterfowl hunters to drive their shot columns out to 40 yards with lethal densities. Older cylinder bore guns are limited to 25 yards. New ShotguN PowderS Muzzleloading waterfowl hunters have a large assortment of bulk black and replica powders to choose from. But if you believe that all muzzleloading is based on pellets and sticks, you would be better served to avoid these solid propellants in a shotgun. Elephant, GOEX, Scheutzen, Swiss and Diamondback black powders, along with the replica BPs Pinnacle, Pyrodex, Triple Seven, American Pioneer and Black “mz” (called a black powder substitute because of its lower ignition temperature than the other replica black powderes) are all efFun Game answers: W, Y, Y, Y, W, W, W, W, W, Y, W, Y, W; HOODED WARBLER.
JULY 2012

fective choices for turkey and waterfowl muzzleloading hunters. Bulk powder loaded in FFg or RS-sized grains will produce safer pressure and more consistent velocities than the small grains of FFFg. Each load must be worked to be consistent with each type of nontoxic shot. “Volume for volume” are the words of advice echoed from many experienced muzzleloading shotgun shooters at the Friendship, Indiana, national range of the NMLRA. This refers to the volume of powder compared to the volume of shot. Many muzzleloading shotgun manufacturers recommend 85 grains of FFg, followed by a vegetable-oiled fiber wad over the powder, a plastic shot cup sliced twice to create petals, and an equal amount, about 13/8 ounces of #6 shot, and a paper overshot card. Winchester (winchestermuzzleloading. com) has a new Triple Seven 209 primer that has improved the ignition and reduced the fouling found in in-line breech cones. So before you explain to the next generation that muzzleloading is just for third season deer hunters, please look again. Your ancestors always kept a shotgun around for a reason: utility. If you want to put meat in the freezer, choose the gun that gives you the most days afield and the greatest opportunity for squeezing the trigger. Moreover, make it fun . . . with a Pennsylvania fowler or double-barreled muzzleloader. 
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Pennsylvania Game News - July 2012

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