Hornady Great Plains

[andrew_in_idaho]

I went out shooting with a buddy today, I’ve only shot powerbelts from my gun but I was thinking about trying the Hornady Great Plains and that is what he had bought for his gun. They were difficult to get started in his gun, like tougher than they should be it seemed. I thought I would try one and it essentially jammed in the end of my barrel and wouldn’t move. Powerbelts I can almost drop down the barrel. All .50 cal. Is this typical? The powerbelts shoot well out of my gun so I think I’m just gonna stick with them. Only reason I was thinking of changing is I’ve heard powerbelts don’t perform well on game(elk especially). But I’ve also heard plenty of folks say they work just fine on elk. What’s the deal with those Great Plains bullets? I really don’t understand how they can be so tight they won’t even start down the bore.


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[22-250]

I use the 385 grain in a lyman trade rifle no issues loading for me they seem to expand pretty good usually wind up against the hide on the opposite side.  Can usually shoot 4 or 5 before they start to load hard.

[bkaech]

I'm not familiar with the great plains bullets, but I have seen a lot of differences in muzzleloader bore sizes and bullets, the tolerances and specs between manufacture can be quite different. This is why it so important to shot each individual muzzy with different bullets and find what works for it. I would want a bullet to not slide in too easy, so that it doesn't move while hunting, and seals well on exit, but not load so tight that it is difficult. I know one guy who's muzzy is extremely hard to start a bullet, but slides in easy after that and another who can start bullets but needs to really smash on his ramrod to finish it, both have the same make & model muzzleloader.

On a side note, I has not impressed with the old powerbelts when I did ballistics testing into water jugs, wet newspaper, and plywood. Not the perfect test but I preferred the terminal ballistics of the barnes TEZ bullets over the powerbelts, and have hunted with those ever since. But to each there own, the only way to know is to test it.

[JWBINX]

Andrew, Like Bk stated, different rifles have different tolerances. Great plains act like, and somewhat are,REAL bullets. (Rifle Engraving At Loading).
Keep your bore clean and they should work fine. They will never load as easy as a sabot.
Good luck.

[andrew_in_idaho]

I'm not familiar with the great plains bullets, but I have seen a lot of differences in muzzleloader bore sizes and bullets, the tolerances and specs between manufacture can be quite different. This is why it so important to shot each individual muzzy with different bullets and find what works for it. I would want a bullet to not slide in too easy, so that it doesn't move while hunting, and seals well on exit, but not load so tight that it is difficult. I know one guy who's muzzy is extremely hard to start a bullet, but slides in easy after that and another who can start bullets but needs to really smash on his ramrod to finish it, both have the same make & model muzzleloader.

On a side note, I has not impressed with the old powerbelts when I did ballistics testing into water jugs, wet newspaper, and plywood. Not the perfect test but I preferred the terminal ballistics of the barnes TEZ bullets over the powerbelts, and have hunted with those ever since. But to each there own, the only way to know is to test it.

Can’t use Barnes in Idaho so I’m kinda limited on options. Thinking about trying the “no excuses”bullets although the powerbelts seem to load and shoot well for me, and they are tight enough that I don’t think they are moving about after I seat them


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[andrew_in_idaho]

Andrew, Like Bk stated, different rifles have different tolerances. Great plains act like, and somewhat are,REAL bullets. (Rifle Engraving At Loading).
Keep your bore clean and they should work fine. They will never load as easy as a sabot.
Good luck.

My bore was completely clean when I tried to load it. I was shocked at just how difficult it was when compared to a powerbelt


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[Harleysboss]

I've shot the Great Plains and the No Excuses. They just need to be the right size for your particular bore.  No Excuses has a bullet size pack so you can determine what fits your rifle.  You don't want them to just slide down but you don't want to have to pound them either.  What rifle are you using?  If you don't already know, a wool over powder wad may improve your accuracy with the No Excuses.  Between the two I would choose the No Excuses over the GT Plains for Elk, just a better bullet. With all that said, I cast my own now.  Good luck with what ever you choose.

[Dirty Mike]

The great plains is bore Dia bullet unlike the powerbelt. The gas rings on the side of it engage the rifling when fired. Usually the lube on them gets all dried out so bore butter or some other lube helps. Where are your power belt is only engaged by the plastic cup, if you take that off the bullet itself will usually just fall right down the barrel since the bullet doesn't touch rifling. I've personally never had good accuracy with any of my guns and have seen there performance and wasn't to happy with there results. I've been a big fan of barnes in my inlines

[andrew_in_idaho]

I've shot the Great Plains and the No Excuses. They just need to be the right size for your particular bore.  No Excuses has a bullet size pack so you can determine what fits your rifle.  You don't want them to just slide down but you don't want to have to pound them either.  What rifle are you using?  If you don't already know, a wool over powder wad may improve your accuracy with the No Excuses.  Between the two I would choose the No Excuses over the GT Plains for Elk, just a better bullet. With all that said, I cast my own now.  Good luck with what ever you choose.

Mine is a traditions tracker, I ordered the sizing pack from no excuses today actually so I’ll get out and do some shooting here in the next couple of weeks. Never too early to start preparing for next season right.


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[GoexBlackhorn]

The great plains is bore Dia bullet unlike the powerbelt. The gas rings on the side of it engage the rifling when fired. Usually the lube on them gets all dried out so bore butter or some other lube helps. Where are your power belt is only engaged by the plastic cup, if you take that off the bullet itself will usually just fall right down the barrel since the bullet doesn't touch rifling. I've personally never had good accuracy with any of my guns and have seen there performance and wasn't to happy with there results. I've been a big fan of barnes in my inlines

Barnes are great bullets, provided your bore is accommodating in diameter.

[andrew_in_idaho]

The great plains is bore Dia bullet unlike the powerbelt. The gas rings on the side of it engage the rifling when fired. Usually the lube on them gets all dried out so bore butter or some other lube helps. Where are your power belt is only engaged by the plastic cup, if you take that off the bullet itself will usually just fall right down the barrel since the bullet doesn't touch rifling. I've personally never had good accuracy with any of my guns and have seen there performance and wasn't to happy with there results. I've been a big fan of barnes in my inlines

Barnes are great bullets, provided your bore is accommodating in diameter.

Can’t use the Barnes in Idaho, we are still limited to solid lead only


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