Hornady 350gr FPB's

[goosehunter12]

Anyone have any experience with Hornady 50 Cal 350 gr FPB on elk, I have been experimenting with different bullets.  Back in 09 I shot a 3 point mule deer at 125 yards with a 338 gr PowerBelt, it did not expand at all, the entrance and exit hole looked the same, it was thru both lungs so the deer only went about 10 yards and went down.  I have tried the following, PowerBelt 338, PowerBelt 348 HP, Traditions 300gr Smackdown SST, Barnes 290 gr TMZ BT and the Hornady 350 gr FPBs out of my TC North West Explorer.
The Barnes & Traditions are very hard to load if at all; on the Barnes I had to get a hammer (did not shot that one).

The PowerBelts I’m getting ok groups with, 3” at 100 yards.

The Hornady 350 gr FPB are grouping awesome (100 gr of pyrodex pellets), 1-1/2”- groups at 100 yards, even a few touching.  This is the load I want to go with.

Just looking for any feedback on the Hornady 350 gr FPB performance on elk.

Thanks in advance!!!

[Sabotloader]

I do not use Hornady bullets al all any more other than punching paper.  Although the FPB fills a notch that other bullet makers, other than Thor have not entered - so you gotta use what is available.

I believe your TC NW Explorer, has a 1-48 twist, which by todays standards is considered slow, in fact the most common twist found in sidelock ML's.  Because of that you are somewhat limited to the shorter bullets.  The FPB should fit in that description very well, the 300's should even be a tad shorter.

Power Belts are another short lead-y bullets that should shot well from your rifle, just be careful not to over shoot them.  To much powder can give some really erratic results with a PB.

I have a question... Why are you shooting full bore bullets? Have you tried some sabotted bullets.  There are some awful good ones out there.  I am required to shoot full bore during ML season over here but other than that I would shoot a good .458 (45-70) bullet in a sabot most of the time.  Except right now I am experimenting shooting 50 cal pistol bullets from my 50 cal. rifles.  So I am shooting them sabotless.

[MountainDevil54]

ever try the thor bullet? email them your name and address, they send out free sizing samples so you can figure out what size bullet fits your rifles bore. www.thorbullets.com

For elk, I'd go with the 338gr platinum, its a heavy duty bullet and would explain why it did not expand on a lung shot deer, its built for penetration on elk size game.  The thor will do both jobs but open up to .949" diameter.

[goosehunter12]

Thanks for the help, I have tried the sabotted bullets but they are very, very! hard to load, the Barnes was next to impossible and it was so hard I would not shot it, yes it has a 1:48 twist but I really like the gun, just working on trying to find the best bullet that shoots good so that if I do my job and put it where it needs to go I don't what to worry if the bullet is going to do its job.

I will look into the thor bullets.

Thanks again for the help!

[Sabotloader]

Thanks for the help, I have tried the sabotted bullets but they are very, very! hard to load, the Barnes was next to impossible and it was so hard I would not shot it,

You are not the only one that has struggled with loading Barnes bullets... Barnes is now offering an EZ load sabot just to try to beat the problem.

Might take a gander at this...

http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/muzzleloader/muzzleloader-accuracy/

Have you ever tried the EZ load sabots on the market? The MMP HPH-3p-EZ load or the Harvester 'Crush Rib'.  The are built for tight bores....

yes it has a 1:48 twist but I really like the gun, just working on trying to find the best bullet that shoots good so that if I do my job and put it where it needs to go I don't what to worry if the bullet is going to do its job.

I will look into the thor bullets.

Thanks again for the help!

Thor's are way expensive - so get ready for that...

Can you tell me which sabots you have tried in the past other than the Barnes sabots?

I could also send you a few 3p's or Crush Ribs to try, if you have not used them before.

Also there is a process to polish and smooth your bore using JB's Bore paste - this often really helps with tight bores...

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=13084/guntechdetail/Using_JB_Bore_Paste_and_Kroil_with_the_VFG_Bore_Pellets

You really do not have to get this fancy... JB's with a cleaning jag and tight patches will work well also...

[kerrdog]

I've got a NW Explorer.  It's a cool rifle.  How did the Barnes  TMZ 290 work for you?

I tried the Barnes TMZs and the T/C Maxi-Hunter lead conicals with my NW Explorer.

I'm about to try the Bloodline 250.  I ran one down the bore and it fit nice and tight. Left perfect rifling marks on the sabot.  It's also shorter than a 300 grain Bloodline, and may stabilize better? 
I've got a really good feeling about it.

[MountainDevil54]

for target shooting they are expensive, but not hunting. You cant beat a barnes for performance 

[goosehunter12]

The sabots that I have tried are
Traditions 300gr Smackdown SST
Barnes 290 gr TMZ BT
Hornady 250 gr (tried these a couple years ago out of a different gun)

I first started ML hunting in 2009, I didn't know anyone that had a ML, so I was greener than green but you got to start somewhere, mostly shot powerbelts and tried the Hornady sabots, they were harder to load and I didn't know if you had to clean between each shot with the plastic and there aren't to many places around here to get supplies, so I guess I stayed away from the sabot bullets.  I order the barnes to try and like a said I could not get them to load.  I was planning on ordering the barnes ez load but then I saw a pack of the full bore hornady and gave them a try and they shot great.  Do you mind me asking why you would not hunt with the hornady's?

I did order the sizing sample today from thor to give those a try.

Thanks again for all the help.

[Sabotloader]

I tried to answer with pictures - but it will not post.  For me the site has not been working well for a couple of weeks...