Knight .52 cal. ( Red headed step child)

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yotehunter243

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I'm like alot of guys on here and don't like plain old calibers. So when I saw knight had a .52 I had to have it. The more I shoot it the more I like it. Last year I had a bad spell of missing deer. It wasn't because of the gun but was in my head so I tore it down this year and replaced scope, rings and new bullets to help clear my head of last year. The gun in a Disc extreme, Vortex HS 2.5-10x44 30mm, Badger rings, 275 gr Knight Red hots (.475 barnes expander) and blackhorn 209. I know the gun likes 120 gr of blackhorn but wanted to see what nodes I got with a few different charges so I did a half a$$ ladder test



As you can see the max load of 120 gr was the best. The 125 gr had major pressure signs on the primer. These 9 shots were numbers 12-20 with out cleaning or swabbing between shots. I would let the barrel cool for 2 minutes between each shot. The Blackhorn has really changed alot for me and my muzzleloaders. My velocity was right around 2140fps.

I also did a little penetration test. I took 3 of the hard back cabelas catalogs and soaked 2 of them in water and left the 3rd one dry. I took a 1/2" steel plate and places behind the 2 wet books and places the dry book in front. The bullet blew thru all 3 and completely flattened on the steel plate blowing the plate about 10 ft thru the air. Needless to say I can't wait to try them out on a deer.
 
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I have about 5 Knights, Elites, Extremes, and a Mountaineer. Three are 50 cal, two 45 cal. With the 52 cal you just need to plan ahead with components, don't get short as shooting approaches.

All I shoot is Blackhorn 209, usually in the 45 cal for hunting now. Even when I can use a slug gun(IL) I more often take a muzzle-loader.
 
I got my first knight in 2nd grade and been shooting them ever since I now have 4. Even have a shotgun which is a hammer. They sale the sabot in bulk for the .52 cal. To fit a 458 bullet. So i have a couple hundred Barnes 300 gr 458 socom bullets stored away. They shoot amazing also. The triggers they use are awesome. I set mine to 2 lbs. How does the 45 treat you? My farm is right on the Wabash River so I wanted something that's going to knock them off their feet. I lost a 170 class buck to the river 3 years ago
 
No I'm not on that forum but guarantee I will be shortly haha. I'm getting just over 2100 fps with my 275gr bullets.my drop is 3" at 150 and 11.2 at 200. I haven't shot at 250 or 300 yet. I suppose the extra bore size burns powder a little more efficient than the 50. Barnes has a 450 gr 458 bullet that has a BC. in the high .3s I'd like to try but don't think I can handle the recoil.

Pyscodog, I live in indiana we don't have any big deer
 
Originally Posted By: yotehunter243

Pyscodog, I live in indiana we don't have any big deer


? We've got some really big deer. Must depend on the area. I haven't taken anything over 150, but not because they haven't been in the area.

The Knights are good rifles, I just never bought into the proprietary Disc system and specialty components for the .52. The standard .50 Omega accurized kills deer to 350-400 just fine.
 
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I've been hunting in Central IL the last 9 years or so, friend leases some property. Since he has a 'QDM' program of sorts it's usually anterless or a larger buck. It's very common to have a 'dressed weight' right near 200 lbs. I often donate meat and the buddy takes them to a local processor, that's not an estimated weight, it's off his scale.

Between food, genetics, minerals, and whatever else, they can be heavy deer. It does seem like our numbers are down some. We have had more pressure from neighboring properties, and then that 'blue tounge' has taken it's toll. That being said, I am always on alert for coyotes. We usually take a few each year, I often have a predator call in my pocket for when the situation arises.

With the Knight I use a 'Lehigh' style breech plug, not that the red or orange discs won't work. This is free of the primer discs, bare primer. The flash channel may be a hair larger, reportedly optimized for B209. It's also much cleaner than using the discs, little blowback.

Friends have TC, I'm with Knight, kinda a Stihl/Husqvarna preference, either will work.
 
Originally Posted By: springerOriginally Posted By: yotehunter243

Pyscodog, I live in indiana we don't have any big deer


? We've got some really big deer. Must depend on the area. I haven't taken anything over 150, but not because they haven't been in the area.

The Knights are good rifles, I just never bought into the proprietary Disc system and specialty components for the .52. The standard .50 Omega accurized kills deer to 350-400 just fine.

I was being sarcastic with the deer comment. Iv killed one that went 192" gross and several in the 140"-150s. I also have a Pro Hunter and A Triumph. They shoot very well also. Iv just favored Knight. There is something to be said for a comfy that picks up a phone after 2 rings and the person on the other end is very willing and helpful with any questions you have. Plus I fell in Love with the Knight triggers.

Muskrat 30 I use the Knight bare primer conversion on mine. The red disc didn't do so hot with the Blackhorn. The buck inspoke of in my earlier post that I lost in the river. I had watched him chase a doe across the river from Illinois. I got out of my stand and got up in front of him. Once he came up the bank I let him get about 50 yards into the woods and shot him. I'll be damned if he didn't turn and run right to the river and died about 20 yards into it. That's when I switched from junk shock wave bullets
 
Sounds like he was an IL buck? Yes, the Shockwave/SST bullet has mixed reviews with performance. They often shoot nice groups, just about never look good if recovered in game. The Hornady XTP comes in a few type variations, sized for the 50 & 45 cals. The Barnes M-L bullets have the prettiest mushrooms, but I often use the XTP's. My favorite sabot is the Harvester 'crush rib', easy to buy directly from them.

The Knight trigger has relations with the Timney trigger. I forget the specifics so I don't want to mislead with the details, but there is that relationship. All one has to do is adjust it, no need for replacement, simple.
 
I had trail cam pictures of the deer for a few years but he crossed the river like it was a stream. I had great results with the XTP bullets out of my old Knight Revolution. I'm looking forward to a nice should blade shot with the Barnes
 
Its weird, I've shot Shockwave 250gr for years in several different rifles and never ever lost a deer with them. I've used the in Knights, Encores, my Omega and my CVA. Never had a problem.
 
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