Hey guys, got a Huntsman 50 cal muzzleloader. Getting ready for a hunt in a couple weeks, shotit today but couldnt get it to group. Shooting 90 gr of 777, 350 gr conicle. Also tried 90 gr Goex BP with same 350 gr conicle. Neither one grouped well at all. The worst part, was the plastice primer holder. Half of the ones I fired were destored. Im sure theyre not intended to last forever, but I thought they would be good for more than 1 or 2 shots. Im not new to muzzle loading, the guns clean, everythings tight. 4x Nikon mounted may be out of whack, like maybe couldnt handle the recoil??? What about the primer holders, shouldnt last more than a couple shots? I appreciate any help or advice yall might have.

Start with 60gr of powder, 777 or Goex, and go up in 10gr increments until you either find a load that's accurate or you've reached your powder limit. If you've done this and find that it's still not printing well, change bullets and repeat the process.

Be absolutely sure that the bullets are being firmly and CONSISTENTLY seated against the powder. Try to set a mental reference on the force applied to the ramrod and replicate that each time. You'd be real surprised how much seating force plays into inital ignition and how that translates into the powder burn.

What Mancannon said... load yer rifle sitting on a bathroom scale... check the pressure to seat the bullet in pounds.. should help you to get consistent.. HTH Les

Thanks for the replys. Ive been thinking and going through some notes, and am wondering if Im having scope problems. Ive always shot 90 gr powder under 350 gr conicle. Seat the bullet by bouncing my ramrod. when it bounces its tight enough. I bought the rifle close to ten years ago, and could make three shots touch at 50 yards. Havent shot the rifle in 4-5 years, until yesterday. First shot was dead center, half inch high at 50. The rest were hard to keep on the paper. Do you reckon the reticle turned loose? Its a 4x Nikon thats been on the rifel since I bought it. Guns clean, everythings tight, all the little things are right. And the guns always shot good. I changed the scope last night, soon as I get a chance to shoot Ill let yall know if it makes any difference. Thanks for the replys.

I have seen this same thing on a friends muzzleloader. It used to be a decent shooter, but then it all went to hell. The scope was definitely to blame, but his loading technique was also terrible. The scope was swapped out and he learned how to properly and consistently seat the bullets. Groups are now much better than they've ever been.

My advice? Forget the ramrod bouncing... Develop a seating force reference in your mind, and repeat. Everything else will fall into place.

I'd like to know what happens after the scope swap...

All right, got to shoot a little after work today. I replaced the 4x Nikon scope with a 3x9 Nikon I had that wasnt doing anything. I also think I fixed my primer carrier problem. I have some 22 Hornet brass that has been shot a few times, and is wearing thin. So I opened up the orange primer holder to take a Hornet case, primed with a small rifle primer. Worked like it was made that way. Shot the gun 5 times. 1st shot at 10 yards, real close. Went to 50, 1st shot was about 6 inches high. Dialed the scope down, 3 shot group about 2 inches, 3 inches high. Ran out of primers. Ill make a few more, and re-prime the ones I already have, and get her dialed in for my hunt in FL in two weeks. I feel a lot better, I was afraid I was going to have a hard time making my quota hunt. Thanks again for all the help guys, but I honestly think that my scope was to blame. Im gonna sight in at 50yds, and do a little load work, maybe I can get her to group a little better.

Wanted to give you all an update. I had some problems with my Huntsman, kept blowing primer carriers. So I cut down Hornet brass to where they were the same length as the primer carrier, and substituted a small rifle primer instead of a 209 shotgun primer. Mounted a new scope, zeroed at 50 yards. Not the best groups, but not a lot of load development either. Setteled for 2.5 inches at 50. Went to FL on a WMA hunt at Fish Eating Creek. Up early first morning, fired three caps to dry out the barrel, then loaded my rifle. 30 minutes from camp, Im slippin through some cypress, come opon a 200 pound boar hog at 25 yards. Bang, big pile of smoke, hog dead in his tracks. High lung shot took out top half of both lungs and broke the spine. First blood with my muzz. Now on to deer season in WV. So far so good!

FMatt, I just found this thread and thought I'd add my observations. I have the H&R Sidekick (basically the same gun as yours) and I usually get at least 20 shots out of each primer carrier, sometimes many more. I use two Pyrodex pellets and various sabot-type slugs with good results.

If you check the Graybeard Outdoors website you will find a very active and helpful section on H&R muzzleloaders. There are numerous mentions of an aftermarket manufacturer that produces an adapter allowing you to use primed centerfire pistol cases (.32ACP, I think) in lieu of the primer carriers. I have no experience with them, but they seem to be highly-thought-of by the users there.

Good luck with your gun...I am very pleased with mine. I think it far surpasses the vaunted Encore in many respects (especially in value-for-money) and it is my go-to muzzleloader now.

John

Hey John, I like my Huntsman too. Great bang for the buck. Graybeard is where I actually got the idea for my primer carriers. The breech plugs Ive seen use either 25acp or 22 Hornet. Ive got a Hornet, so I just modified my primer carrier to use the shortened Hornet brass. Im tickled with it, and managed to save a little money too. Im getting good acuracy and my carriers are holding up fine. Now I just need to take it hunting some more.

I believe the owner of Metrics Unlimited, makes a slick 209 conversion breech plug that you desire. 1-800-638-7986. I can't remember the guys name but he got banned from GBO for not paying to advertise.