Tina's Muzzleloader Was Dead On and Mine Was Eight Clicks Off

In short: Muzzleloader season opened in the morning, so Tina and I went out to our little range in the pines to get both guns dead on at 50 yards before sundown. Tina's took four clicks down and four to the right and printed an inch high, right where you want it. Mine was not close. Three shots walked across the target, I took the scope too far, brought it back eight clicks and then two more. Back at camp we cleaned both guns, because black powder fouling is corrosive.

The range in the pines, the night before the opener

Muzzleloader season opened in the morning. That gave us one afternoon at our little shooting range in the pines to get both guns dead on at 50 yards before the sun went down.

The plan was simple. Shoot the orange dot, see where each gun printed, dial the scopes, and then go back to camp and clean both guns so they would be ready for the morning. A black powder gun does not get put up dirty the night before a hunt.

Tina shoots first: four clicks down, four right

Tina's gun went first. The first shot was not bad at all, so we cranked the scope down and over: four clicks down and four clicks to the right.

That moved it right where it needed to be. It lined up perfect and printed an inch high at fifty yards, which is where you want it. I said we were leaving it right there. Her gun was done.

My turn, and not close

Then I shot mine, and it was nowhere near as close as Tina's. It was a little difficult getting it set in.

My first shot was about three inches to the right, and I could see it through the scope. I was sure I had pulled that one. Then the next shot hit the same exact spot, so I had not pulled it.

So I adjusted, and I overdid it. First shot here, second shot there, third shot way over on the other side. Three shots walked across the target. I took the scope too far, way too far.

Eight clicks back, two more, and the lid on the powder

We went back to the right eight clicks. That brought my shot over right above Tina's first shot.

Always put the lid back on the gunpowder before you touch the trigger. Flame comes out of that barrel, and that could be a bad situation. Close that lid.

The next shot was an inch to the left, so we went two more clicks. The last shot after that was the one I called it on. Both guns were good to go.

Back to camp: why you clean it tonight

Back at camp I showed y'all a piece of heart pine. You can see the circle at the heart of the tree, and that is all fat lighter.

Then the important part. After test firing and dialing in a scope, the barrel is coated with hot, corrosive fouling. Skip the cleaning or do a half job and you are risking a misfire, or worse, permanent damage to the rifling. Lost accuracy can be the difference between a clean harvest and a missed opportunity.

I focus on three things. First, get all the fouling out with an effective solvent, and keep running wet patches until they come out spotless, no gray streaks. Second, clean the flash channel, the little pathway from the primer to the powder. A single speck of fouling there can cause a fizzle instead of a boom. Make sure the breech plug and the nipple are perfectly clean. Third, protect the metal. Once it is clean and bone dry, a light coat of oil keeps the rust away.

That is about 20 extra minutes tonight so you do not spend tomorrow morning frustrated. Both muzzleloaders were clean, prepped and protected. The hunt this was for is the next film.

Questions about this hunt

More hunting: The Blackwater Deer Hunting Guide and every hunting film.