It is real windy today in the Florida panhandle. I decided to check my rifle this morning before going to a stand this afternoon and found my shots were about 6'' to the left on the paper. The rifle shot well during the early ML seaon and was not dropped or abused, so it should have retained its zero. After shooting a couple of 3 shot groups I went online and found some interesting info on effect of the wind on a muzzle loader. I am well aware of windage issues as I am a graduate of the Parris Island school for Uncle Sam's Misguided Children(USMC) back in 1964. I shoot a .243 and in this part of the world a 150 yd. shot is about max due to type of woods we are hunting. The wind has been about 15 mph today and I was really surprised at the wind effect on the muzzle loader. Shooting a Knight RevelutionII, 50 cal, 240 gr. sabot and 100gr. of American Pioneer powder. Took a crack with the .243 and not a issue. All that to say or ask if anyone has info or experence with this issue? One source said that a 20mph wind would cause a 250gr bullet to drift 18" at 140yds.
Thanks for any ideas and by the way I do under stand Kentucky windage. Treefarmer
well lets start at the beginning. what range were you shooting at? and you stated you had app 6" wind drift with the mzl and nothing with the 243, correct. no disrespect to whoever told you 18" wind drift at 140 yds with a 20 mph wind but could that have been a typo and 1.8"? 18" seems way too much. and how was the wind blowing in relation to your shooting l-r, r-l, headwind,tailwind?depending on bbl length I'm assuming a velocity say somewhere around 1700-1900 fps (guestimate), I doubt at 100 yds anything less than a gale force wind would give you anything over 2" app wind drift. my "non expert" opinion.
thank you nacho grande for your thoughts. I failed to include all the particulars as you pointed out. The site that gave the info with the 140 yd example was Randywakeman.com. There is an article titled "The fairy tale of muzzleloading hunting accuracy". I was shooting off a bench @100yds,the wind was right to left and the bbl. length is 26". Muzzleloading just extends my season as I am a "meat hunter". Never gave the wind much thought other than how it causes ol' buck to be extra cautious. But this morning I felt like I needed to find out a little bit more about wind drift. I'm an old dog but you can teach me a new trick now and then. Treefarmer
I'm far from a balistics expert, but that sounds like a lot of drift. I would check the scope again in calmer conditions, and a closer distance to rule the scope out. If it is indeed still on, then the wind is the factor, and we all learned something
@ 100 yards I would think the drift would be minimal -2" I shoot a load similar to that it is 240 grain/100gr. triple7 pellets.
