New Knight Bighorn

[431cruiser]

First, I would like to say that this is an awesome site. Yesterday, I found the "traditional" muzzleloader version of this site, didn't notice that it was for traditionalist, and upset alot of people when I posted some questions about my inline. Although a couple of guys were kind enough to privately answer my questions, my post was deleted in a matter of minutes. Many thanks to the three guys there who really helped me alot.

You would think that people would look beyond the type of firearm that you are using and just be glad that another hunter is in the flock and willing to get close to the target with a bow or ML.

Earlier this year I bought a "new in box" .50-cal Knight Bighorn with stainless barrel and camo synthetic stock with NWTF emblem embeddd in the stock. I got a heck of a deal on it, and actually bought it sell because of the great price. (I am a lefty and the thumb hole is for a righty, so can't fully enjoy all of the bells and whistles.)

Since buying it, I have been invited to go on a ML hunt in TN, so have decided to keep it and hunt with it.

The selection of ammo available for ML's is overwhelming to a newbie such as myself. I understand that I will need to get to know my rifle and tweak the load and experiment until I find that right combination.

Would any of you happen to have a Knight Bighorn and be able to tell me what yours likes?

I prefer archery hunting, but if I were deer hunting with my .30-06, I would shoot 180g Winchester Silver Tip or a 140g Remington Pointed Soft Point, depending on where I was hunting. I am totally confident with these and in 30 years of rifle hunting, have never shot a deer that did not drop in its tracks. I even shot one in the hip once and it fell over dead. Obviously, I am completely in love with these loads and extremely confident.

I want to obtain that same level of confidence with my ML and the "right" bullet/ load for shots under 150 yards. Any tips on where to start?

Thanks for any suggestions, and for the help found on this website.

 

[Anonymous]

Cruiser,,,,first of all, I can't really help you with your question pertaining to your rifle, as my muzzleloading hobby consists of mainly White rifles shooting conicals.

What I WOULD like to interject is that the "traditional site" you stumbled upon before finding this one, IS IN NO WAY affiliated with this site. (I do know which one you are referring to) You have found one of the best and most informative muzzleloading sites in existance right here. Welcome!

 

[cayuga]

431cruiser - first off let me take this opportunity to welcome you to the forum it is good to have you here. Ask anything you like.

Does this Bighorn have a 22" stainless steel barrel? Does if have the 209 ignition or is it still using the #11 cap ignition? Either of them will work fine.

Get some loose Pyrodex RS and some 240 & 300 grain Thompson Center Mag Express XTP's. Any Wal Mart carries them that has muzzleloading supplies. Start your loads with 80 grains of loose powder and see how well it puts those XTP's down range. That should get you started and help you learn more about your rifle.

If the 80 grains groups well, kick the powder charge up to 90 grains and see what happens. Your Knight rifle is a very good quality rifle and will handle that with ease. Any of these loads would work on deer and hogs.

You might want to swab the barrel with a solution like Windex between shots. Then a couple of dry patches. I personally make a solution of 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and car windshield washing fluid. I use that to swab the barrel and even clean the rifle some times.

Once you get a working load. You can then try other bullet powder combinations. Try some 250 grain Shockwaves. Or some 250-300 grain Barnes Expanders. Knight will tell you if the rifle does not shoot well with 100 grains of Powder and a Knight 250-300 grain Expander, there is a problem. I shoot the XTP's to save money as the Barnes are real expensive.

Good luck with your rifle and keep us posted.

 

[431cruiser]

Batchie....thanks for the welcome. I am looking forward to spending some time here and shortening the learning curve with help from you guys.

Cayuga.....thanks for the suggestions on the loads. My rifle has a 26" Green Mountain Rifle barrel. It accepts 209 primers AND/ OR #11 caps Knight says for versatility with various state hunting laws.

Knight's website says that all 2006 and later models have a 150 grain maximum powder limit. I assume that my rifle is a 2006 or 2007 model since I purchased it early this year. I guess it could be a holdover from 2005, though, which is when they brought it out of retirement. In that case, it would have a 120 gr max powder limit. I may call them just to find out, but as you said 100 gr should do the job.

I was going to buy pellets for loading convenience until I read your post.
In addition to it being cheaper, I guess that you recommended the loose powder because it will be easier to fine tune the load because of the limitations with the pellets. Is that correct, or is the loose powder easier to clean? Or could both of these be correct?

Thanks, again, for the help.

 

[Anonymous]

Using loose powder is less expensive, and easier to "tweak" your load for better accuracy. With pellets,,,you're basically limited in "rounding" your loads off. Clean-up is the same, whichever way you decide to go. If you use pellets,,you'll most likely want to use the 209 ignition. Using loose powder will enable you to use the #11 cap system. (I'd personally opt for the loose and #11 set-up) 209s are overkill on loose powder IMO.

 

[BPHunter]

Congrats on the new toy! Sounds like you got a heck of a deal. I purchased my first Knight (KRB7) a few weeks ago and it immediately became my favorite gun. It has a Green Mountain barrel very similar to yours, but a couple inches longer. Great gun, shoots a lot of different loads well, some with astounding accuracy. I think yours should shoot just as well. Happy shooting!

 

[cayuga]

The older model Bighorns had the shorter barrels. You have the new model. They are a nice rifle, no questions. I have a Knight Wolverine with a 22" barrel and a Knight Disc with a 24" and both of them are great shooters.

Batchief is right... loose powder IMO is the way to go. I shoot all loose powder when possible with a simple #11 cap. Maybe that is why I do not have the nasty crud rings. Ignition is still fast and sure and I have no complaints.. although if you use #11 caps try and purchase CCI magnum not their standard caps, or RWS 1075 Dynamite Noble. They are a little hotter then others. Last choice when nothing is around are the Remingtons.

 

[Patrick White]

If I were you I'd contact Knight and see if they could get you a regular style stock. I'd try for a swap first but if that doesn't work just buy it and sell your thumbhole stock.

 

[flatland hunter]

Last choice when nothing is around are the Remingtons.

I am the exact opposite... last choice for me is CCI reg or mag. I have gone through plenty of tins of Remington caps with no issues, of course all of them have been the "40%" hotter caps as well...

 

[Anonymous]

I've had great success with Remington caps as well. I use mainly RWS caps now. I wouldn't give you a nickel for a tin of CCIs. Your mileage may vary.

 

[big6x6]

Welcome to the site! I've heard of this other site but as mentioned we are in no way commected. Notice if you shoot something, we have a place to post! ..and it's been a LONG time since we have deleted a post!

I'm thinking you'll have a nice shooting rifle. I'd probably try 90-110gr loose Triple Se7en. Personally, I'd go the 209 route(I don't really like cappers) it won't matter. Bullets? Go with a 250gr Parker, 250gr XTP, or 250gr Barnes Expander.

Are you going to put a scope on it?

 

[Anonymous]

Chuck,,,how does one get "commected"..... :lol: I know,,,it's early.... :lol: :wink:

 

[MLKeith]

I visit the other "unnamed" site also and find them a little anal about almost everything. I listed a rifle for sale in their classified section but mentioned it in the forum and was promptly beaten with bamboo sticks and threatened with banishment from the site. The moderators here seem to be a little more pleasant. You are getting good information from a couple of well recognized sources and since I do not have a Knight rifle yet although (Dave note this one) I have a KRB7 in the mail due this week. Sorry Dave I could not resist any longer.

 

[cayuga]

Of all the #11 caps I have shot.. the worst were the CCI standard cap. Out of a tin of 100 having 15% misfires is not uncommon. I have one tin left out of the last 1000 I bought, and am sure not sorry to see them go.

The next brand that burned me years ago were the Remington caps. They were all I could get for a long time and they just plain stunk. Missed one nice deer because of them and their little "poof." Maybe the new 40% hotter are better, but they will only get on my rifles in an emergency.

Now the CCI Magnum I have had very little problems with. They have very few if any misfires, and set off all kinds of powder for me just fine. I would buy them again if I needed caps.

The best IMO are still the Dynamite Noble 1075 RWS. I just bought 2000 of them so I should be good for a long while. With the 1075 and loose powder I never seem to have a misfire. My White Ultra Mag and them have a real affair going. The White makes them disappear. The other brands I tend to get pieces of cap in and along the hammer/striker.

When shooting my Staghorn with the Winchester 209 primers the other day, I think I spent as much time digging out primer pieces as loading. Those Winchesters were blowing the centers out, and jamming in the breech plug. But I had 100 of them to waste before I went to the expensive Remington Kleen Bore Primers... so now we are about where I want to be in that department as well.

 

[gamegetter]

Welcome, I was one of the guys to let you know about this site ( RetiredMedic)

The other site is a little fanatical when comes to Muzzler Loaders.
I go there for the some information on building ML's..

But when it come to whats better,
IMO all ML weapons are great to shoot. So why pick only one.

You have received all very good information so far and I can really add much.

Just don't let any group discourage you from shooting anything you want to try.

Just remember,
There are no stupid questions, Just being stupid for not asking...

 

[431cruiser]

Thanks, everyone, for the great information.

gamegetter, you are one of the three that I thanked in the original post above. Thanks also for the lead on this site!

big6x6, I do not plan to put a scope on it at this time.

I will definately get the loose powder as that seems to be the choice with you guys.

If I use good equipment, and practice, practice, practice, is it safe to say that I could become as confident with my ML as I am with my .30-06 or bow as long as I stay with its range? (LOL @ throwing the bow in there, but I feel pretty good with it as long as I stay within its boundaries, which are different between target shooting and hunting!)

Do you guys consistently get an exit wound in the deer that you have taken when using the loads/ammo posted in this thread?

Thanks.

 

[Underclocked]

Ok, ignore all those guyz and listen to me for awhile - then you'll be thoroughly commected. :wink: :lol:

I would suggest that, before you put any powder in that bore, thoroughly clean the rifle and make sure your bore is free of any oils. Snap a couple of caps or primers to make sure your flame channel is clear and dry - then proceed as recommended.

 

[431cruiser]

Underclocked....thanks for the suggestion. I am working on that right now.

 

[fairchase]

I have a couple of Bighorns in the 22 inch size, and they are some of my favorite shooters.
For me, I really can't go wrong with 90-110 grs of most any powder and either 250 grn shockwaves or oddly enough the largest T/C maxiballs, 370 grn. and a musket cap to light it off. Have fun.

 

[431cruiser]

Thanks, fairchase.

I had a break from work Mon-Wed and had planned to fire this thing for the first time. I got all of the supplies that I thought I would need, but forgot some of the cleaning supplies. So I need to make one more trip to store, clean the thing up (loaded with grease from the factory), and THEN have some fun shooting.

Heck, I might go ahead and put a scope on it!