Shooting Smokeless Powder in my Remington 700 UML w/ target

I'm bound to create some controversy with this post, but I've been doing this for 3 years. Black powder and black powder substitutes are not to my liking. Those have too much mess and too much to clean-up afterwards. By studying low pressure smokeless loads in my Nitro-for-Black double rifles, I've come up with a smokeless load for my Remington UML. THIS POST IS TO TELL WHAT I HAVE DONE AND NOT TO RECOMMEND OTHERS TO TRY THIS - This is the ONLY model muzzle loading rifle that I would dare to try to use smokeless powder. The Remington 700 UML is a true 700 action with a special barrel and breech. (see pics) The UML is so much like a conventional Model 700 that BATF requires it has to be purchased through a Licensed Federal Firearms Dealer, just like a regular modern centerfire rifle. Unfortunately the UML has been discontinued and those on the used market are going for about double their original retail price.

My loading procedure is as follows ..... I pour 38g of AA5744 down the barrel - then I push the "sabot only" down the barrel, seating it HARD in one continuous stroke - then I drop the bullet down the barrel and seat it into the sabot with 8 firm raps - finally, I insert the Remington special primed brass case into the chamber. By seating the sabot separately, without the bullet, its much easier to load than trying to force the sabot with the bullet inside down the barrel. I consider 38g of AA5744 safe and MAXIMUM in my rifle. At just over 1900 fps its a good load for my area. It covers zero to 200 yards which is the maximum range for hunting whitetail deer on my hunting land. My rifle is sighted 4-1/4" high at 100yds, which is 4-1/4" low at 200yds. So zero to 200yds I aim at the top of the heart. (at 225 yards, the bullet would strike about 9 inches below aiming point)

With the rifle sighted dead-on at 170 yards, the target below shows a 3/4" 3-shot group at 100 yards. (bullets strike above center aiming) The measured velocity was 1908fps average. (sd was 7fps) - Velocities were measured using a Garman Xero C1 Doopler Radar Chronograph - velocity accurate to with 0.10 fps. The 3 circles below center show the expected impact at 200 yards.


http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/50muz-info.jpg

Interesting write up, thanks for posting!

I shoot smokeless in my Savage MLII all the time.

Been doing so for years.

Holy smokes!!who'd a thought it!!

According to Remington, you can get 2400+ fps with a maximum load of black powder or black powder substitute. I'm very conservative, and happy with 1900 fps. 200 yard accuracy is great for a muzzle loader.

by the way p dog shooter, what's your smokeless load?