300grn Barnes expander MZ

[Z_rock01]

So the weather can affect which sabot works best? Is it because the barrel shrinks a bit with cold temps ? Just curious,im a novice with muzzleloaders

I dont know.. I have found that my Knight likes the smaller sabet in the colder months and the high pressure sabet during the warmer months.

[SkookumHntr]

Using 100grn 777 2f and Barnes 290 t-ez, 100yds getting about a 4 1/2 inch group! When I was shooting 110grn it was about 12inch group. Definetly going with 100grn!

[NWKrenz]

Where can I buy the 300 grn? I am only finding the 290 grain TEZ.

[Chukarhead]

290 is the biggest T-EZ that Barnes makes.  It kills 'em just fine.   

[bowhunterforever]

290 is the biggest T-EZ that Barnes makes.  It kills 'em just fine.   

[NWKrenz]

Would you guys suggest those over the 300 grain in the link below? I have been shooting the Hornady Great plains since i started muzzle loading but I have a hard time shooting a consistent group.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/211841/barnes-expander-muzzleloading-bullets-50-caliber-sabot-with-45-caliber-300-grain-hollow-point-flat-base-lead-free-box-of-24

Any tips appreciated, I hunt both elk and deer.

[Chukarhead]

Would you guys suggest those over the 300 grain in the link below? I have been shooting the Hornady Great plains since i started muzzle loading but I have a hard time shooting a consistent group.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/211841/barnes-expander-muzzleloading-bullets-50-caliber-sabot-with-45-caliber-300-grain-hollow-point-flat-base-lead-free-box-of-24

Any tips appreciated, I hunt both elk and deer.

I doubt that the terminal performance is going to be much different between the expander, TMZ or TEZ bullets... Every one I've recovered from animals (elk only... deer are pass-through) have petaled out perfectly, and blown enormous, gruesome wound channels.  It's going to be a matter of which one loads and shoots best in your particular barrel.  Make sure they're shooting straight before hunting.  Good luck!

[scottcrb]

Tagging

[NWKrenz]

I just got the 300 grn MZ's last night and I definitely see what everyone is talking about. I tried to put one down the barrel last night just to try it and see if it was really that hard.

I have a Knight Bighorn that I bought before the season last year, probably has around 15-20 shots through it.

The bullet made it about half way down and I thought i was going to snap the ramrod. I can only imagine how tough it would be after I shot.

Thinking about getting the crushed ribbed sabots or maybe just the 290 grn TEZ. Running out of time before the 3rd.   

[bankwalker]

I'm shooting 250gr Mz's and the supplied sabots were extremely tough to load. Clean barrel was ok. I switched to crush rib sabots and even after 5 or 6 shots they load easier than the supplied sabots in a clean barrel. When I clean my barrel the crush ribs just glide down the barrel with ease.

[Soady]

I just got the 300 grn MZ's last night and I definitely see what everyone is talking about. I tried to put one down the barrel last night just to try it and see if it was really that hard.

I have a Knight Bighorn that I bought before the season last year, probably has around 15-20 shots through it.

The bullet made it about half way down and I thought i was going to snap the ramrod. I can only imagine how tough it would be after I shot.

Thinking about getting the crushed ribbed sabots or maybe just the 290 grn TEZ. Running out of time before the 3rd.

I know Lacey store has them. If you find your coming up short go to the Tulalip store they have them so says their website.
      http://www.cabelas.com/product/harvester-crush-rib-50-caliber-sabots-per-50/740770.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3DHarvester%252Bcrush%252Brib%252Bsabot%26x%3D10%26y%3D6%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%252BProducts&Ntt=Harvester+crush+rib+sabot     

[NWKrenz]

For those of you with experience with these bullets how much powder are you using?

I have the Triple 7 FFFG right now in a Knight Bighorn.   

[Chukarhead]

For those of you with experience with these bullets how much powder are you using?

I have the Triple 7 FFFG right now in a Knight Bighorn.

I finally got serious about load testing this summer.  I've settled on 125gr of T7 FFFG with the 290 T-EZ.

I wanted to make sure that I still had enough energy at 200 yards to reliably expand petals on the bullets.  Unlike lead projectiles, they need speed to be fully effective.  If I recall correctly, Barnes says something like 1,300 fps at impact to reliably expand.  In past years, we've loaded 100-130 grains, and had great performance out to 105 yards on elk, but I'm hunting pretty open stuff this year and anticipate longer likely shots.

Others have experienced expanding groups with loads over about 110 gr, so be sure to shoot a few groups to make sure you're not adversely affecting accuracy in favor of speed.

[NWKrenz]

That seems like quite a bit but hey if it works with your gun that's great. Were you able to shoot pretty consistent groups with 125?

I was thinking of trying 110, I was shooting 100 grain this past weekend but i think my rear sight got knocked off from last hunting season.

[Chukarhead]

That seems like quite a bit but hey if it works with your gun that's great. Were you able to shoot pretty consistent groups with 125?

I'm no marksman, so group size isn't really a great measure for me.  My primary concern is dead elk, and this year I'm thinking that it might be a longer shot than the previous 5 years.  Off an improvised rest at 100 yards I got two consecutive 3" 3-shot groups, and called it a day when the second group settled 4" high after a sight adjustment.