One Gun For All Seasons
Hank Strong
"What am I thinking of? Shooting at 600 pounds of charging boar with a muzzleloading rifle!"
"The White Rifle in action."
I focused my attention on the crest of the ridge 150 yards away. Between the pale greens and warm earth tones of the forest floor were two large hulking shapes. Tanks, funny that I should think of those hunks of iron here, while hunting hogs in the Ozarks. The breeze stiffened and the hulks moved down the firebreak at a walk. Then Tom spoke, "Here they come boys!"
At 100 yards they stopped, the spotted one raised it's head. Then it's running mate, a large black headed boar reared it's ugly snout and both of them grunted. Hell, they've wind us in this swirling warm air! As if shot from a gun they went into a dead run down the firebreak, headed straight in our direction.
I stood in awe as these creatures sped toward us, leaping the dead falls together in perfect stride. Their pace seemed to quicken as they wove between the saplings and ground cover closing the distance between us.
The spring rains had gouged out a small deep ravine that ran up the slope. As the boars drew closer they angled slightly across our front avoiding the obstacle that separated them from their antagonists. Tom's voice snapped me back to reality.
"Shoot!" "Shoot!" "They're closing fast!" Without thinking the carbine came into my shoulder and I flipped the second safety forward. Laid the cross hairs on the spotted boar's head and slowly increased the lead, till it was a foot in front of the boar. What I am thinking of? Shooting at 600 pounds of charging boar with a muzzle loading rifle! KA-BLAM! the carbine's report echoed down through the watershed. In the background Tom was yelling for Gumby to take the second hog. They had separated now, the black one disappearing sharply off to my left. The 430 grain conical slammed into my boar low and behind his left shoulder, exiting high on the hog's right rear thigh.
The 1500 foot pounds of energy, spun the boar's body around like a pinwheel. While his front legs were still moving trying to maintain his forward movement. His hind legs regained their hold and the rear body movement stopped with the hog looking up at me.
Again Tom's voice boomed across the ridge, "Reload Dammit!" "Hank Reload!"
"NO, I'll ruin the meat"
"Meat hell, reload and shoot!" "He's climbing the bank fast!" By now Tom was frantic and my boar was closing. Then a hog burst from the undergrowth. It was the black hog in full charge. Like a well choreographed dance Tom moved to my left reaching for his .44 magnum revolver. Ten feet to my left Tom lost his footing and went down flat on his back! Within seconds my Quick-Charger was out and powder dumped into the bore. Just as I was seating another conical. Tom yelled, "Gumby take him!"
I jerked my head up to see Tom on his back looking between his legs at the black hog less than 20 yards away and closing fast!
It abruptly stopped, confused with two of us blocking his path. Tom yelled again, "Gumby take him, he's got us! " Just then my hog emerged from the undergrowth in a full charge to the right rear of the black hog. It veered past the black hog and sped past Tom. Out of the corner of my right eye I saw Gumby quickly bring White's new .45 caliber pistol up, a split second later the black hog was thrown to the ground as a 350 grain .40 caliber Shooting Star sabot bullet slammed into the boar. The report from the pistol was still echoing down through the ravine when I lined up the sights on the spotted hog as it charged from our left rear. The carbine spoke, the hog shuddered, then stopped and retreated up the ridge. The black hog was back on it's feet!
In a fluid motion Gumby dropped the pistol to it's sling and brought his "G" Series to bear and slammed a 435 grain .45 caliber Shooting Star sabot bullet into the hog's shoulder. It was down for good. Within ten seconds my gun was reloaded; the spotted hog had moved down the ridge and was coming in for another charge. When Tom yelled "Take him Hank" As he uttered the last syllable the carbine spoke, and the conical glazed across his back, missing the spine by a friction of an inch!
The hog shuddered, hesitated then continued the charge. As I reached for another Quick-Charge, Gumby yelled "Hank!" I looked up and he pitched his rifle to me. The boar was closing fast, Tom was on one knee trying to stand up and get out of the path of the charging boar!
The rifle swung into my shoulder, without thinking I laid the cross hairs on the vitals and squeezed the trigger. The carbine roared and the boar crumpled! When Tom said he was down I dropped to the ground; poured water over the back of my neck and head to cool off. After taking a healthy slug, I fumbled around trying to find my cigarettes and lighter. While I fumbled, Tom jubilantly announced we had book hogs. I asked Tom, "Is the damn thing dead?"
I had just seen two White rifles, stand and deliver. Accurate, hard hitting and rugged are the only words that can describe these rifles. White Shooting Systems has done a superb job of designing their rifles and bullets.
White designed the twist for a specific caliber rather than one twist for all calibers. The rifling is .003 deep with wide lands and narrow groves to reduce bullet stress and improve long range accuracy. The bore design also helps disperse bore residue and eliminate blow by to improve accuracy.
The .50 caliber White "G" Series was originally designed for the Whitetail hunter. However, to limit this rifle to Whitetail hunting does not do it justice. It confirms the years Gary "Doc" White spent developing a muzzle loading rifle that would deliver M.O.A. accuracy past 100 yards!
The 6 1/4 pound rifle handles like it's custom built. When the adjustable Timney trigger is squeezed, it breaks clean and crisp. The 1 7/8 " thick rubber recoil pad is coupled with a modern synthetic stock designed to spread and dampen the recoil.
One session at the range will convince the skeptic; here is a rifleman's rifle, built for the hunter. It has capabilities that only a few marksman can fully exploit. The button rifled barrel is made from 4140 steel that allow chamber pressures in excess of 23,000 P.S.I.. Now a hunter can use FF or FFF black powder and all the Pyrodex powders with any bullet. This gives the hunter a wide latitude in powder and bullet selection for the best accuracy.
The key to success with a rifle is matching the bullet to the barrel. With some rifles, this can saddle a hunter with a bullet that is too light for dangerous big game or too heavy for smaller game. The "G" Series will handle a wide range of bullets. From the light, .44 caliber 225 grain Buffalo Bullet Sabot to the heavy 600 grain White "Super Slug" with the same high degree of accuracy. You can hunt anything in North American with this rifle from coyote to Brown Bear. You select the bullet for the hunt not the bore. Then hone your shooting skills for the hunt, because the "G" Series will deliver, if you can shoot.
The difference between the "G" Series and the competition doesn't stop at the bore. The nipple and breach plug are one piece with a lifetime warranty. It offers an advantage over the separate nipple and breach plug employed by the competition. The head on the nipple is hexagon allowing the shooter to remove it with a socket and ratchet! However, a nipple wrench is available. Another advantage with a combined nipple and breach plug, is slightly higher muzzle velocities. I discovered this when comparing loads in my data file from other in-lines to the White Rifle. The muzzle velocities from some of the competition is 7-10 percent lower.
This rifle was built for the hunter. Like the bullet puller built into the unbreakable ramrod. Another feature is the studs for sling swivels. The ramrod thimble is welded to the barrel, this allows the rifle to ride low when slung on your shoulder, and not get snagged on a branch. If it gets snagged, a branch will not rip the thimble off allowing the rifle to fall the ground. The receiver is drilled and tapped for Warne detachable scope mounts and White's quick detachable peep sight. Enabling the hunter to zero the rifle with the two different sighting systems and hunt with either. The peep sight is Lyman's 57SML with a bracket for a quick release.
The "G" series has duo safeties. The cocking lever is located on the left side of the receiver. When it is pulled to the rear and locked in place the rifle is on safe. A second safety is located on the right rear side, that can be switched on and off with a finger. The duo safeties allow both left and right hand hunters to use the rifle with ease.
Left handed thumb hole stocks are available for hunters. Two left handed shooters that shot the rifle, found it was comfortable. The stock design places the weight in the rear and center of the rifle providing excellent handling for either left or right hand shooters.
Most muzzle loading rifles will shoot 3" or smaller groups with 10, maybe 15 bullets at 100 yards. After 27 bullets I quit looking for a bullet the White would not shoot accurately. Only five of the 27 bullets were from White Shooting Systems.
This rifle shot the tightest groups I have ever recorded from a muzzle loader at 75 and 100 yards. It may sound incredible but six of the groups were under 1" at 75 and 100 yards! Buffalo Bullet's 225 grain sabot .44 caliber sabot bullet printed an unbelievable .728 group at 75 yards! The rifle is just as accurate with White's .50 caliber 430 grain @Super Slug. The conical printed a .902 group at 100 yards!
Placing a bullet inside the kill zone of an Elk or Bear is no challenge with a "G" Series rifle. The only challenge will be deciding which ventricle of his heart you want to take out! These aren't my words, they are from one of seven shooters who shot the rifle. All of the shooters were in agreement, this is an rifleman's rifle!
It is not uncommon for a rifle to reject one brand of powder during a test, by printing 3-5 inch groups at 100 yards. The White did not. Three different powders were used to shoot over 500 bullets at 100 yards. @Pyrodex Select, P grade, Elephant Black Powder in FF and FFF along with the new Pyrodex Pellets. All were accurate in the rifle.
I found that after cleaning the bore, it was best to let the rifle sit for 15-20 minutes in the shade with the hammer to the rear. When the barrel cooled, the firing was resumed. The velocities would drop back to normal and the group would tighten.
Scopes are taken for granted they just lay there gathering light and taking a beating. We pat the rifle and gush over the bullets performance, but never a word about the scope. When, it was the scope that made it possible to take that Trophy or fill the freezer with fresh venison.
A Bushnell Trophy series 1.5X5 variable power scope with Warne scope mounts was installed on this rifle. This is an excellent all around hunting scope for the muzzle loading hunter. The rifle was dropped, banged, then fell into a creek. Some of the loads fired at the range would equal a .458. The scope took it all in stride and it is still performing beautifully. Thanks Bushnell!
Several bullets deserve mention. Barnes, long noted for their excellent center-fire bullets, have introduced a new .45 caliber solid copper hollow point called the "Expander." It comes in two weights, 250 and 300 grains with ten to a package.
The sabot has longer petals than Modern Muzzle Loading and Muzzle Loading Magnum Sabots. And the base is designed to take up to 150 grain powder charge. Most sabots give up the ghost at 120 grains of powder. It is an accurate hard hitting bullet that is darn hard to beat. Their 250 grain sabot will surpass most 300 grain bullets because of its expansion capabilities.
As usual the 300 Grain Sierra .429 bullet when mated to a Modern Muzzle Loading Sabot turned in an excellent group. I have talked to Sierra about this bullet and they can't explain why it beats the competition in accuracy. Time after time this bullet has proven itself to be very accurate at extreme ranges in a wide cross section of rifle barrels.
White Shooting Systems introduced a new .45 caliber bullet in their sabot, called the "Shooting Star." A boat-tail with spitzer designed nose that has a hollow point. It's accurate in a wide selection of barrels, but the "G" Series allows you to exploit the bullet's capabilities with a 150 grain charge! When pushed with 130 grains of FFF Elephant powder. The soft lead bullet drove through a half of a railroad tie, then plowed into a saw dust bank. Expanding to 1.113" and losing only five grains of weight! This bullet can take anything!
What is the difference between White Shooting Systems and the competition? They have developed a thorough system for taking big game with a muzzle loading rifle. The dictionary defines system as "an arrangement of things so related as to form a whole."
All their accessories, bullets, bore cleaner, etc, were developed to compliment their rifle for a trouble free hunt. Even this old cynic has to admit, they have a system and the equipment works.
Since most companies now market products to compliment their rifles. Is the White system better then the competition, that is real the question? Overall, I would have to give them an "A" and place them in the top three. Ultimately, you the consumer will have to grade their system. The "G" Series is an excellent rifle. It isn't cheap but then neither are Cadillacs!
Side Bar For White Rifle Article
Black Canyon Powder
Black Canyon Powder is a coarse powder. So, the powder charge was increased by 30-40% and a volume measurer was used for building the loads. My procedures for loading this powder are slightly different then those used with other powders and should only be used with Black Canyon Powder.
The powder measure was set at half the volume. For a 140 grain load the measurer was set at 70 grains. It was filled twice and dropped into the bore. A brass rod was used to compact the powder by placing it into the bore and holding it 6-10 inches above the charge. The rod was slammed down on the charge 3 times. Then the bullet was seated with 40-50 pounds of pressure.
When the powder was loaded using this method it produced very good standard deviation with muzzle velocities comparable to other powders. If the loading rod was slammed down 4 times the standard deviation increased, and the group would spread at 100 yards. This method was used by three shooters and it worked fine.
White "G" Series Ballistics Chart
| B.C. | DIA | GR | BULLET | CHGE | MV | 50YD | 100YD | 100YD | |
| TRJ | GRP | KE | |||||||
| .240 | .452 | #350 | ACRY | U | 80P | 1223 | 2.6 | .8 | 914 |
| .209 | .452 | *300 | BRNS | CHP | 110E2F | 1650 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1226 |
| .170 | .430 | 225 | BUFF | HPBT | 80P | 1422 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 700 |
| .190 | .430 | 302 | BUFF | HPBT | 180BC | 1438 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 936 |
| .148 | .510 | 385 | BUFF | HPHB | 100S | 1087 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 877 |
| .185 | .510 | 490 | BUFF | RNFB | 160BC | 1317 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 1329 |
| .177 | .510 | 300 | CVA | 90P | 1553 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1329 | |
| .205 | .511 | 410 | HRNDY | FB | 110P | 1526 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 1030 |
| .274 | .452 | #340 | LYM | HP | 90S | 1426 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1163 |
| .274 | .452 | #35O | LYM | FN | 80P | 1226 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 939 |
| .288 | .452 | #385 | LYM | RD | 120E2F | 1520 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1493 |
| .214 | .452 | #260 | M.M | .JK | 160BC | 1372 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 777 |
| .246 | .452 | #310 | M.M | .LDHP | 90E2F | 1340 | 2.1 | .75 | 927 |
| .231 | .452 | #300 | M.M. | JK | 180BC | 1425 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 977 |
| .095 | .505 | @370 | MAX | BAL | 90P | 1383 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 856 |
| .206 | .429 | #300 | NOSL | JKHP | 90S | 1471 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 997 |
| .195 | .451 | #300 | SIERR | JKSP | 90S | 1437 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 938 |
| .230 | .429 | #300 | SIERR | JKSP | 90S | 1491 | 1.6 | .9 | 1054 |
| .248 | .435 | &435 | WHSS | HPBT | 120E3F | 1414 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1527 |
| .191 | .503 | 430 | WH | FB | 90P | 1362 | 2.1 | .9 | 1234 |
| .195 | .503 | 460 | WH | FB | 90P | 1201 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 1129 |
| .223 | .503 | 480 | WH | FB | 180BC | 1303 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1344 |
| .280 | .503 | 600 | WH | FB | 120E2F | 1206 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 1580 |
Table Abbreviations
B.C.= Ballistic coefficient
DIA = Bullet Diameter
GR = Bullet weight in grains
BULLET = Name of bullet used
CHGE = Grains of powder measured by volume
MV = Muzzle Velocity
100YD = Group at 100 yards in inches
KE = Kinetic Energy of bullet at 100 yards
TRJ 50YD = Bullet's rise above line of sight at 50 yards
# = MODERN MUZZLE LOADING SABOT
& = WHITE SHOOTING SYSTEMS SABOT
* = BULLET WAS MATED TO THE NEW BARNES SABOT
HP = HOLLOW POINT
BT = BOAT TAILED BULLET
HB = HOLLOW BASE CONICAL
LD = LEAD BULLET
JK = JACKETED BULLET
FN = FLAT NOSED BULLET
RD = ROUND NOSED BULLET
FB = FLAT BASED CONICAL
C = SOLID COPPER
ACRY U = ACCURACY UNLIMITED
BRNS = BARNES BULLET CO.
BUFF = BUFFALO BULLET CO.
HRNDY = HORNADY BULLET CO.
LYM = LYMAN, BULLET CAST FROM LYMAN BULLET MOLD
M.M. = MODERNMUZZLELOADING
MAX BAL = MAXIE BALL
NOSL = NOSLER BULLETSIERR = SIERRA BULLET
WHSSHP = WHITE SHOOTING SYSTEMS SHOOTING STAR BULLET IN THEIR SABOT
WH = WHITE SHOOTING SYSTEMS CONICAL.
Rifle Specifications:
BORE DIAMETER: .504
RAMROD: Yes, unbreakable with bullet puller
GROOVES: 12 Wide
DEPTH OF RIFLING: .003
LANDS: 12 Narrow
FLINT: NO
TWIST: 1-24"
CALIBERS AVAILABLE: .45,.50 , .54
PERCUSSION: YES
UNDER RIB: NO
BARREL LENGTH: 22"
STOCK: Synthetic or Wood
DRILLED & TAPPED: Yes, for Warne detachable mounts
SIGHTS: Rear; Fully adjustable, Front; Beaded on a ramp
RIGHT OR LEFT HAND: N/A in line
TRIGGER PULL LENGTH: 13 1/8"
TRIGGER PULL: 1.75 POUNDS
LOCK: In line ignition, coil spring
ONE PIECE NIPPLE/BREECH PLUG: Stainless steel, Limited life time warranty.
MANUFACTURER: WHITE SHOOTING SYSTEMS
SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $360.00
CHRONOGRAPH: PACT 1 13 feet from muzzle of rifle
TEMP: 28-90 degrees Fahrenheit
ELEVATION: 450 feet above sea level
HUMIDITY: 47-85%
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE: 27-30.5
BENCH REST: Lohman Sight Vise
STANDARDS: Group 3" or less, deliver a minimum of 800 FT. LBS. at 100 yards
KINETIC ENERGY: Was developed by using the Version 4.12 "Drop Kick Ballistics" W.R.FRENCHU computer program.
WIND FLAGS: One every 25 yards out to 100 yards
POWDER MEASURE: Mountain State Muzzle loading
CAPS: CCI@
LUBRICANT: The pre-lubed conicals with the manufacture's lubricant
CLEANING PROCEDURE: Bore swabbed after every shot with @Black Off
LOCATION OF THE HUNT: Tom Fraleys Ranch call 1-314-364-3017