Finally building a tower blind

[Robert_in_NY]

Your timing is perfect. I'm heading out the to blind in a few minutes and plan on spending the next two days in it. I'm not seeing anything on my game camera, but figure that it's cold, wet and nasty out, so it's a perfect weekend for something to happen. Besides, deer season ends in a week, so it's coming down to the end for this year.

Now I'm going to be a lot more comfy!!!! :thumbsup:

Eddie

Good luck

 

[jk96]

Great idea Robert. Now I just need you to convince my wife that I need one. I think if she sees me buy anything else for the blind she'll hang me. Need to check a couple of garage sales when she's at work.

Good luck Eddy. Let us know if you see anything. Wish I was going. Looks like I may get to go again Monday morning.

Jeremy

 

[westcliffe01]

JK, I have the same model TC but with the regular / non thumb hole synthetic stock. I don't know how much you have shot muzzleloaders, but mine works real well with 120gr of Blackhorn 209 powder firing a 245gr powerbelt plated bullet with the hollow point. I originally heard 777 powder was the rage, but I found it fouled like crazy and I basically had to swab the bore after every shot and that seems like a heck of a lot of work. With the 209 powder I can fire 10 shots one after the other and loading the 10th bullet is as easy as the first.

I also tried the lead (unplated) powerbelts and the lead fouling was incredible... That was a total waste of time and money too. I have a packet of Hornady FPB's but have not shot them since changing to the new powder. I have to say the time I spent at the range with the 777 was some of the most frustrating I can remember in a long time...

So far I have shot 2 deer (does) at about 130 and 100 yds. My particular rifle does not like 150gr charges, the group size increases quite a bit. I also fitted a fixed 6x Weaver scope that was on sale for $110 which works out really nice. If you can find a scope with a BDC reticle that fits your bullet/charge that would be very nice indeed, but I have not stumbled onto anything yet.

One final thing if you have not discovered it yet: The breech plug. With 777 powder I had a **** of a time removing the breech plug. Even after just 2 or 3 shots. I recommend some special lubricant like Moly or Tungsten Disulphide grease on the threads and on the front face where it seals against the barrel. I had it be so tight that I had to use an impact driver to get it out and that is after tightening it with the tiny little wrench that comes with it (the cross pin that one uses for leverage is only 3" long so only 1.5" sticks out either side to twist on). In my case, since going with special grease and changing the powder I have had no more issues, but be careful...

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Great idea Robert. Now I just need you to convince my wife that I need one. I think if she sees me buy anything else for the blind she'll hang me. Need to check a couple of garage sales when she's at work.

Good luck Eddy. Let us know if you see anything. Wish I was going. Looks like I may get to go again Monday morning.

Jeremy

Buy "her" a new office chair and "retire" the old one.

 

[jk96]

Buy "her" a new office chair and "retire" the old one.

Robert, this is why I love TBN. So many great minds and ideas. My wife was sitting across the room when I read this and almost laughed out loud.

Westcliff - muzzleloaders are new to me so thanks for the advise. I've been out shooting twice now. I'm shooting 100 grains of Blackhorn 209 right now and using TC sabots. I started with 120 grains of 209 but my rifle kicked like a mule with 120 grains. From what I read, 120 grains of Blackhorn is equal to 150 grains of BP. No problem so far as you stated removing the breach or firing several shots. I've been firing about 6-7 shots before cleaning.

How have the powerbelts worked on the deer you've shot? I was inclined to use powerbelts on my uncles advise but read a lot of bad reviews. Most reviews stated that the powerbelts had very poor expansion and little to no blood trail. Also - are the powerbelts hard to load? The T/C sabots are very stiff to load, even on the first shot after cleaning. I really have to press to get them seated, so much that the rod will almost bend if I'm not careful.

I ordered a bushnell trophy scope with BDC reticle. I was able to find it online with free shipping for $139 after mail in rebate. Should have it next week. Thanks again for the advise.

Jeremy

 

[buck12]

I also shoot a TC. The power belts are amazing. I shoot 150 grains of Pyrodex pellets. It had been few years since I switched from sabots to power belts. The power belts load fine for me. I use the bore butter witch helps ease loading. Good luck.

 

[bucktaker]

I shoot a T/C Omega as well Bought it for a elk hunt in 05. What i used then and now is 130 grains 777 pellets and a 300 grain hornady .452 hollow point or the T/C equivilant with the spire point. Sighted in dead on at 125 yds I am shooting 3 in groups up to 200 yds. Bullet performance has been very good with no lost animals. My Brother took a very large 150 dressed doe from my food plot with a almost head on chest shot that was very impressive wound channel. FYI with muzzlerloaders even different primers will change your grouping. Find what works and stock up.

You can buy sabots and .452 dia hornady .45cal bullets at cabaleas for less than half the cost of made for muzzlerloader bullets

 

[westcliffe01]

JK, so the first rule with muzzle loaders is that the charge is measured and not weighed with a regular smokeless powder scale ? Making sense ? I'm talking about the brass telescopic things with the engraved marks on it.

So for a tip, weigh out several charges from the measure. Determine how many grains it is (weight). This allows for adjusting the charge weights to get them exactly the same, which you can't do when using the measure. But of course the number of grains is vastly different.

Secondly, recoil is very dependant on the bullet weight. I shoot a 245gr slug with my 120gr charge. If you try the same thing with a 300gr slug the recoil (and gas pressure) will be much higher.

Most of us are only shooting deer. They are relatively fragile critters. A 245 gr powerbelt going at 1400 fps at a distance of 125 yds still has a huge amount of energy (~1350 ftlb). My 2 deer so far had different results. The first shot at 130yds was hit just below the spine above the hip. Shot very far back due to moving at a fast walk (group of 20 does). She jumped then fell right over. Bled out internally, bullet severed several arteries. Second was also about 120 yds, standing still, classic double lung.. Bullet never hit anything more than a rib and the lungs passed straight through. Internal wound channel was about 3" seen by bleeding when skinning. That doe managed to run about 200yds. Very little blood until near the end, then like a horror movie.

Anyway, that was my strategy. In my opinion a heavier bullet kicks harder and is more difficult to shoot accurately. If it holds a ton of energy to a soft target like a deer, it is likely to go straight through. A strike in a fleshy area like my first got good expansion and no exit. Its similar to my 8mm mauser, I stated at 200gr bullets and finally went all the way down to 150. If I was up against a bear I may do otherwise...

$8 at Cabelas. I just carry powder and primers in mine, putting bullets in there may work but I have not tried that with loose powder yet. But the charges can be pre-weighed so they match exactly, this helps with accuracy.

I found the ram rod on mine to be virtually useless, so I removed it altogether. I am thinking about one of these Rossi USA - Telescoping Ram Rod

 

[jk96]

Thanks for the followup westcliff. I appreciate the additional info. Weighing the charges instead of measuring makes sense.

I went out this evening and saw two different groups of does. Never did take a shot. The first group of 3 came out at about 150 yards. Too far for me to take a shot with open sights. The second group of 4 came out directly in front of the blind at about 100 yards. They came out on a run, stopped for a split second and then walked at brisk pace across the rest of the field. Tonight was my last chance to hunt and I wanted to take a shot but passed. They never did stop long enough for a good shot and I didn't want to take a chance at shooting a moving deer and not making a clean kill or not being able to recover it. It was still exciting nontheless and made for a fun evening.

Now I can get back to finishing up the blind and planning a food plot for next season.

Jeremy

 

[trook]

The office chair is what I use. Walmart has them for $50. Initially, it sounds like a lot of money, but when you compare it to anything else, it's a very reasonable amount. It's MUCH easier to set in a chair for a few hours when the chair is COMFORTABLE!! :thumbsup: