I am new to the Encore handgun and have a mess of questions concerning sighting-in the 15" bbl.

7mm.08:
I plan to start at 25 yards and work out to 100 yards with both bbls. (7mm.08 and the 209x50)
With these 2 bbls would you sight-in at 1" to 2" high at 100 (like I do for my rifles) or dead on?
(I assume its personal preference but I am concerned with beyond 100 on the 7.08 and bullet drop so I was wondering what was better.)
Sadly I am limited to factory ammo so load developement will be what I can buy off the shelf.
The previous owner of the 7.08 said it liked Federal ammo at 140g so I am starting there.

Is there downloadable ballistics date on the 15" bbl in this caliber?
If not can someone tell me what can I expect for drop from 50, 100, 150 with a 140g factory ammo?

209x50:
Should I be looking at 50 or 75 yards for the MLs limit,
or can I expect accuracy up to and past 100 yards on the ML bbl? (-given I do my part.)
What sized scope would be good for this bbl?
(I assume the 3-12x32 is a bit much for the ML, I was thinking a 2x-7x mag...???)

I am sure I will come up with more, but this is enough for now.
Thanks

Here's a rough calculation for the 7mm-08 based off some assumed info....2400fps, 140gr bullet, .400 BC, scope 1.72" above bore, 50 degree temp, and elevation at 1600'.

If you sight in 2.7" high at 100yds you are looking at a 200yd zero and -11.3" at 300yds. This data would need verified w/ actual shooting.

Range..... Vely..... Bullet
yds...... fps..... Path
0 ...... 2400..... -1.7
25 ..... 2349..... 0.0
50...... 2299..... 1.3
75 ..... 2249..... 2.2
100 .... 2201..... 2.7
125 .... 2153..... 2.8
150..... 2105..... 2.3
175..... 2058..... 1.4
200..... 2011..... 0.0
225..... 1965..... -1.9
250..... 1920..... -4.4
275..... 1875..... -7.5
300..... 1831..... -11.3
325..... 1788..... -15.7
350..... 1746..... -20.9
375..... 1705..... -26.7
400..... 1664..... -33.4

my preference would be a 1.5" high at 100 sight in for the 7-08, and roughly the same for the BP barrel only at 50yds.

a bushnell trophy 2x6 would make a good scope for the muzzle loading handgun imo, if ya want a variable on it...or a straight 2x burris,leupold......maybe even weaver, or bushnell 2x there also.

Dan B-
WOW thanks that help me get an idea of what to look for. Very helpful.

Kyode-
"a bushnell trophy 2x6"
Man that a small front objective...!!!! LOL
Thanks for the suggestions.
I happen to know a guy with a few scopes that may work. Huh Dan. Hint hint.

2x6 POWER!..........as in variable x's.........not objective size

the 2x7 burris is my favorite "deer scope" fer around here. got one on my 30-30AI and it is perfect.

for a black powder barrel...........i'd more likely use the bushnell trophy. got one on my 300 win mag and 35remington. they are great for the $ spent so far. just not as wide field of view as the burris.

a straight power scope would also take fine care of a blackpowder barrel and the ranges it would likely be used imo.

I agree with a straight power 4x being all I would ever need on a ML pistol for hunting.
2x even.
Its the bench I would want a the higher mag for.

It will be a couple months before I start looking for one anyways.
Got some GA Jims to buy, and a few other things for the 7mm.08 set up.
LOL

You can kill a whitetail at 150 yds.+ with the 7mm.08 140-gr. I once owned the same weapon, used same ammo and sighted in 1.5" @100 yds. Great weapon! I now hunt mainly with an S&W .460 because I go to Illinois every year but I really like your gun, too.

Re: your questions about 209x50 range. My VVA barrel (Contender) pumps a 300 grain .429 slug down its 15" pipe at an averaged 1378fps w/ 2 50 gr. Hodgen pellets. That's almost 200 fps faster than a .44 mag load of the same bullet weight. Still, stick to 100 yards for most game up to elk. On small bodied deer or antelope, 150 yards, maybe. A good scope only aids in proper bullet placement, not increase one's killing range. Remember, you'll get flatter trajectory with lighter bullets, but it's then only suitable for smaller game. TANSTAAFL. (there ain't no such thing as a free lunch).

Keyman (non sibi sed patriae)

DAN


where or how did you come up with that ballistic data?? is it a program? i would like to see what info it comes up with for my 44mag.

For JTCSRRVBI,
Got my data for the 209x50 and 44 mag loads the old fashioned way, by shooting them over my own chronograph at the range. I recommend this method for anyone who reloads. It gives you actual data in YOUR gun, which may differ slightly from what a reloading program say's you SHOULD get. It also eliminates a lot of the "blue sky" figures you might have only read about. Some reloaders are just theorists about their pet handloads, a chronograph usually brings them back to this planet.

Keyman (non sibi sed partiae)