So, I have owned, and built some NICE rifles in my time. I know how to shoot sub moa groups, but these Bone Collectors from TC are driving me up a wall.. NOTHING I have tried will make them shoot. The best I can do is a nine inch group at 100 yards..
My wife and I both have one, we bought them last year. I did not spend a LOT of time getting them accurate.. 9 inches at 100 yards is within the kill zone, and proved adequate in filling our tags.. however... The season is fast approaching, so I thought I might try some different loads and get them closer to two or three inch groups at 100 yards..
I have multiple powders and pellets, as well as multiple styles of bullets and sabots, with different types of bullets to shoot in the sabots. I have run 80 to 150 grains of powder with most conceivable combinations. So far, my own cast home made 240 grain .44 bullet in a sabot in front of 100 grains of triple 7 is the only one that will get me to 9 inch groups... White hots with the same bullet give similar results. Pyrodex pellets and loose powders open the groups beyond 12" at 100 yards.
Hornady SST's, Powerbelts, Aerolite's, Harvesters, Spit fires, and Barnes expanders all open the groups up to around 12" as well.. With CAREFUL shooting I can keep all shots on a paper plate at 100 yards. With less care I can shoot sub MOA groups out of my M1 Garand at the same distance. Having TWO black powder rifles that both shoot exactly the same makes me think there is something I am not doing correctly...
I have tried to get a good group with a CLEAN barrel, and with fowling shots, and with a downright dirty barrel. I am more or less grasping at straws now.. So you black powder guys and gals, tell me what I am doing wrong!!