Five mixed duplex loads……….

Every week when I shoot my muzzle loader I try to do some type of comparisons to gain information on what may or may not work. I could just get one load that shoots good and strictly showcase it. To me that would just be a waste of good powder and bullets as I would learn nothing (basically). I get more enjoyment on comparing and testing to maybe find the HOLY GRAIL!

Target #1 was strictly a fouling load.



So, last week I shot some duplex loads and mixed some for a few possibles? This week I targeted five different duplex loads and their mixed counterparts. You will note that on targets numbered 2 thru 11 that there are two (2) shot groups on each bull. The groups are mainly just above the dot I used for my POA. The reason for only two?.........Cost and Time. Only on targets 10 and 11 did I shoot more than two shots. Target 12 only has one shot as I will explain.

Note: the mixed loads were combined in a clear vial with twice the capacity of the combined powders. It was duly shaken, rolled, back and forth and up and down to insure I was confident it was mixed.



Rather than go over each target and load, for the most part (at least at 100 yards) both the duplex and the mixed duplex impacted pretty much the same and with similar accuracy. What I did note was that more of the duplex loads produced smaller Extreme Spreads than the mixed.



The reason #10 varied from 10/60 to 10/65 was that I knew H-322 was a much slower powder and felt more was needed to get up in velocity with the others. It fell short. Probably would need to be more like 10/70 of Clays and H-4198. The reason I shot five was that I noticed the first two shots were so close in velocity (2602/2607) and wanted to see how more shots would do……….Shot #3 went back to 2602 and #4 went only up to 2608. Shot #5 then spoiled it by registering 2592 opening up the ES from 6 fps to 17 fps. It did not effect the 100 yard accuracy as the shot fell inbetween #2 and #3. Now the mixed version grouped pretty well @ .7” but the ES was terrible at 95 fps. At 100 yards even a large spread can produce acceptable accuracy.



For the very last ONE shot group, I used the same 10/65 duplex as above but substituted a Federal 209 Mag. primer. Every time in the past I would shoot a CCI mag. primer, it would stick on the bolt nose and leak on one side. Since Herman had some Federals, I decided to try them and see what happened?..............Dang! It stuck hard to the bolt face. When I got it off, it appeared to seal ok, (unlike the CCI’s) and the one shot hit right above the POA so I don’t see and accuracy issue. My guess is that it has something to do with the .028” bushing hole. Maybe it does not let enough pressure back to reseat the primer into the cup??? And maybe, the Win. 209’s do not produce enough pressure to move the primer out of the cup? Any suggestions?.....................Therefore I only put one shot on that target.

A few shots at some clays and our “steel torso” at 300 completed the day.

Oh, while I was reloading, a coyote trotted across the 100 yard berm!



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