Anyone shooting a Traditions Vortek Striker Fire VAPR

[grizzly63]

I have a 50 cal on order. Wondering if the 30" barrel helps with accuracy?

 

[Undrcoverrednek]

I don't have one, but usually a longer barrel doesn't necessarily mean a tight group. You should get a little extra velocity, though, to stretch your maximum "point and shoot" range out a little.

 

[grizzly63]

Got the rifle, seems ok. Cleaned it, put the one power scope on. Thats all that is legal. Went to the range. Now according to a You tube I checked out, three white hot pellets behind a 290 Bore driver was the most accurate load. When the gun went off the first time, I was almost in shock at the amount of recoil I felt. Had a medium jacket on. Went to the truck and got the winter coat and put it on over the medium and grabbed a thick winter glove to place between the buttstock and my shoulder pocket. This was much more manageable. Sitting behind this thing on the bench is torturous. Had a heck of time getting zeroed. Shots 7 and 8 finally hit near the 5" bullseye. After a little adjustment, shot nine hit the center of the bull. Ran out of light. Saturday I will go back out and shoot for group and see what it does or what I can do with it. Might bring my shoulder pad along to let me concentrate more on the squeeze. Stock might get filled with BB's or something. Little more weight might not hurt at all.

 

[Dave N]

Try stepping down to 2 pellets. Still kills stuff.

 

[kansasdad]

^^^^^
+1

 

[mevertsen]

Back down your charge. 150 grains of powder is a hell of a lot of powder.

For finding the best accuracy, start with loose powder, and work up.

Start at around 80 grains by volume and work up from there with whatever bullet.

Going straight to max and expecting it to shoot accurately is a fool's errand.

 

[grizzly63]

So, you folks have not shot one? Just giving me good advice. Thanks. I have shot muzzleloaders off and on for 40 yrs. I started with all black. I know you can start low and keep increasing powder until the muzzleloader is cracking more like a center fire rifle sounds. This one is really cracking with three pellets. The last three mz's i have shot use 85 grs 777 for best accuracy. The guy doing the review listed different bullets, powder loads and this one was the top so I'm trying it. I refuse to pay $80 for 8 ounces of powder so forget BH209. The biggest problem I am having is using a one power scope. Tonight, I will change out the scope to something more powerful to develop loads with and then switch it back after deciding what I am going to use. To humor everyone, I will shoot 2 pellets, 3 pellets and loose 777 and I will report back on what it and I can do. I will probably add some weight to the hollow stock. Lightweight rifles are nice if you are climbing mtns but miserable on a bench. I do not use a lead sled.

 

[Bowfinger12000]

I'm getting ready to mount my single power scope on my T/C Bone collector now that they have just made single power scopes legal here. You feel any more accuracy within 100 yds over open sights? I'm pretty spot on out to 100 but as I age my eye's aren't wanting to cooperate and stay young.

 

[grizzly63]

Earlier I was doing better with a peep and fiber optic front but as I age, a scope is more important. You can work your loads up with a mutli power scope and then switch back to the one power once you know your load. My shooting today was not very impressive. All combinations basically gave me a 3-4" group. The two pellets group did not kick as bad but were slower and lower. I will probably go back to loose 777 powder. There are so many things that affect accuracy. Powder compaction, barrel fouling,etc. I imagine they are like centerfire rifles, they do not all like the same thing. I'll keep playing. Probably try different bullets.

 

[grizzly63]

Tried some Hornady 250 monos and loose 777. Nope. I have got a test set of Thor's coming. Maybe that will be the ticket? I have not mentioned yet that this rifle has the nicest trigger of any muzzle loader I have shot before. Got that going for it.

 

[grizzly63]

Back to the range tonight with a three test packs of Thor's. 502 was tight enough but group was 4". Had some Barnes mz 250 with black sabbots. Damn hard to get those down the bore. Managed a 2" 3 shot group. Best so far. Both bullets shot with 85 gr 777 fffg. Have some Fury bullets on the way. Barrel might need to be shot enough to smooth it out a bit. Thinking of hand lapping it. Sure can't get many shots off with all this cleaning between shots.

 

[grizzly63]

Fury test bullets showed up. .502 was hard to push down but easy compared to the Barnes. 4 shot 2" group. Probably all the better I'm getting. Time to order some and put the 1 power scope back on practice a bunch. Probably start shooting at deer targets. 310 gr star bullets

 

[Caseknife]

Try the 290 T-EZ Barnes with 2 50 gr Pyrodex pellets, kills elk just fine and is pretty accurate.

 

[Bowfinger12000]

I like the Pyrodex pellets myself over loose. I'm shooting the Trophy Copper 270 gr bullet with 2 50 gr pellets and so far have no reason to switch. Been so busy getting boat ready and in the water and a few short fishing days under my belt I haven't got to my muzzy yet. Fishing/crabbing/shrimping with boat camping season is almost in full swing here. I need more hours in a day and days in a week.