Understanding Maximum Point-Blank Range - Hunter

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Course Outline

• Unit 1: Introducing Muzzleloader Shooting
  • Topic 1: Firearm Safety Rules
    • Video: Welcome to Hunter Ed
    • The Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety
  • Topic 2: Educating Hunters of Today and Tomorrow
    • Why Hunter Education?
    • Becoming a Responsible, Involved Hunter
    • Pittman-Robertson Act
    • Funding Hunter Education
    • Promoting Safe Muzzleloader Shooting
  • Topic 3: Introducing Muzzleloader Shooting
    • Introduction to Muzzleloaders
    • Defining “Muzzleloader”
    • The Development of Muzzleloaders
    • The Damascus Barrel
  • Topic 4: Keeping Muzzleloader Shooting Safe
    • Muzzleloader Safety
    • Focusing on Safety
    • Observing the Four Rules of Firearm Safety With Your Muzzleloader
    • Handling Muzzleloaders
• Unit 2: Knowing Your Muzzleloading Firearm
  • Topic 1: Understanding the Black Powder Load
    • Introduction to Black Powder
    • Granulation
    • Substitutes
    • Smokeless Powders, Storage, and Measuring
    • Interesting Black Powder Facts
    • Projectiles
    • Patches
  • Topic 2: Reviewing the Parts of the Muzzleloader
    • Lock
    • Flintlock Muzzleloader
    • Percussion Lock Muzzleloader
    • In-Line Muzzleloader
    • Stock
    • Barrel
    • Rifling in the Bore
    • Muzzleloader Rifle Calibers
    • Muzzleloader Shotgun Gauges
    • Set Trigger
    • Sights
    • Safety Mechanisms
  • Topic 3: Loading the Muzzleloading Firearm
    • Making Sure the Muzzleloader Is Empty
    • Safety While Loading
    • Steps for Loading a Muzzleloader
    • Loading a Muzzleloader, Part 1
    • Loading a Muzzleloader, Part 2
    • Loading a Muzzleloader, Part 3
    • Seating the Projectile
    • Loading and Cleaning Accessories
    • Disassembling and Cleaning the Muzzleloader
• Unit 3: Shooting Your Muzzleloader Safely and Accurately
  • Topic 1: Becoming a Responsible Muzzleloader Hunter
    • Comparing Muzzleloaders to Conventional Firearms
    • Understanding Maximum Point-Blank Range
    • Determining Velocity and Trajectory
    • Factors Affecting Maximum Point-Blank Range
    • Expanding Hunting Opportunities Using Muzzleloading Firearms
    • Hunting: A Tool For Wildlife Managers
    • Selecting a Firearm for Shooting and Hunting
    • Safe Hunting Habits
  • Topic 2: Learning the Basics of Firing a Muzzleloading Rifle
    • Sight Alignment
    • Aligning an Open Sight
    • Identifying Your Master Eye
    • Sighting In Your Muzzleloading Rifle
    • Rifle-Firing Techniques: Shooting from a Rest
    • Rifle-Firing Techniques: Practicing the Five Fundamentals
    • Protecting Your Firearm for Dry-Firing Practice
    • Positioning Your Body for Accurate Rifle Shooting: Prone
    • Positioning Your Body for Accurate Rifle Shooting: Sitting
    • Positioning Your Body for Accurate Rifle Shooting: Kneeling
    • Positioning Your Body for Accurate Rifle Shooting: Standing
  • Topic 3: Learning the Basics of Firing a Muzzleloading Shotgun
    • Using Correct Shotgun-Firing Techniques
    • Patterning Your Shotgun
    • Swing-Through Lead
    • Sustained Lead
    • Shotgun Choke and Shot String
  • Topic 4: Determining Correct Loads
    • Understanding the Importance of Loads in Accurate Shooting
    • Using Bench-Rest Testing
    • Setting Up for the Test
    • Determining Loads with Bench-Rest Testing
    • Steps for Testing Firearm Performance
  • Topic 5: Improving Marksmanship
    • Good Marksmanship
    • Becoming a Responsible Muzzleloader Hunter: Four Steps
• Unit 4: Hunting Responsibly and Ethically
  • Topic 1: Hunting Ethically
    • Behaving Responsibly with Landowners
    • Landowner Complaints About Hunters
    • Hunting Opportunities on Public Lands
    • Observing the Hunter's Ethical Code
    • How to Behave If Confronted by Anti-Hunter Protesters
    • Examining Personal Ethics
    • Fair Chase
  • Topic 2: Taking Vital Shots
    • Understanding Game Anatomy
    • Choosing the Proper Shot Angle
    • Animation: Choosing the Proper Shot Angle
    • Shot Angles—Broadside
    • Shot Angles—Quartering-Away
    • Shot Angles—Quartering-Toward
    • Shot Angles—Head-On
    • Shot Angles—Rear-End
    • Determining When To Shoot
    • Trailing Wounded Game
    • Approaching Downed Game
  • Topic 3: Performing Field Care of Game
    • Observing Regulations on Field Care
    • A Game Care Kit
    • Avoiding Bacteria Growth
    • Boning, Bagging, and Hanging Meat
    • Field Dressing Larger Game
    • Treating the Meat With Citric Acid
    • Keeping Meat Safe During the Hunt
    • Transporting Game

View Course Outline

Maximum point-blank range (MPBR) is the distance (in yards) a projectile (bullet) can travel without rising or falling more than a predetermined measurement above or below the point of aim. For most North American big game, from white-tailed deer to moose, an acceptable trajectory allowance is 6" (up or down 3" from the point of aim).

To estimate your MPBR, you need to know the velocity in feet per second (FPS) of the projectile as it leaves the barrel of your firearm. Divide the velocity by 10 to find the MPBR (in yards). The MPBR also is affected by whether your projectile is a conical bullet or a round ball.

• Large, heavy, conical bullet: Assume the velocity is 1300 FPS. Dividing by 10 gives you an estimated MPBR of 130 yards. This means that if you properly sight in your muzzleloading rifle at approximately 2½" to 3" high at 50 yards, the projectile (bullet) will not rise or fall more than 3" from the point of aim out to a distance of 130 yards.
• Round ball: Round ball projectiles are less aerodynamic than conical bullets. The result is about a 20% loss in MPBR over conical bullets moving at the same velocity. For example, use the same velocity for the round ball as for the conical bullet (1300 FPS). Divide by 10 to get the distance of 130 yards. Subtracting 20% of 130 (26) gives you an estimated MPBR for a round ball of 104 yards. By properly sighting in your muzzleloading rifle approximately 2½" to 3" high at 50 yards, the projectile (round ball) will not rise or fall more than 3" from the point of aim out to a distance of 104 yards.

• Unit 3 of 4
• Topic 1 of 5
• Page 2 of 8

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