A Bit of Range Time

[Hanshi]

Last Monday a muzzleloading friend came up for another visit so we, of course, went to the range.  We had it to ourselves, not unusual, and burned powder.  Not making excuses but I was under the weather and not doing well at all.  I carried my .36 SMR hoping to see how Swiss 3F did with squirrel loads.  It was amazing in my .32 SMR and should shine in the .36.  Well I was not up to a repeat of the .32 trip (really felt lousy) but the promise was there.  I started off with a tight cluster almost dead center of the bullseye.  But after those three shots (offhand at 25 yds) they all started going to the right.  Went to the bench for support but the shots started to scatter.  Then the scatter started pulling together and subsequent shots made a group of sorts on the right.  They weren't anything to show around but I recognized potential, and that "potential" said "come back when you're feeling better".  Several years ago using Goex 3F I killed squirrel & coon as well as shooting groups up around 45 to 50 yards around an inch or less. 

    So accuracy wise I can't see Swiss improving the 20 to 30 grains of Goex.  But it certainly did have more ZIP.  I may try and just rely on Swiss 3F in the .32 as the tiny 15 grn. to 20 grn. charges make a pound of powder last a long time.