Finding the right combo

[KTMSMOKER]

Ok, so I got (kinda, yet to pay for it yet) a new (to me) Traditions Tracker.  I put about four rounds threw it, not sighting it in yet, just shooting.  When looking for bullets and powder I noticed there is a huge selection.  I figure for bullets I would like to shoot between 295-350 grains for deer.  I purchased 348 powerbelts, just thought they would fit the bill.  I want balistic tip and jacketed.  For powder I want to use pellets for now.  I got pyro 50/30, and was using 90 gr.
I was on the paper, but was shooting from standing, not sighting in.  So my question is how do you guys go about finding what your guns likes.  Seems like the combo's could be endless.  So many bullets and so many powder options.  I think if I stay with the 50/30 I might sight in with 120gr for a little more velocity, will this have a chance of throwing?  Is the powerbelt 348 a good place to start or should I look eles where.  Too many combo's and not enough time or money.  Any tips?  And when you guys go sighting in how do you clean you guns between shots.  Do you do a full breakdown and soap and water, or just run a brush with solivent then bore butter.  I am newer to ml and new to modern ml.  thanks for any info.  Seems kinda funny that I am getting excited for deer hunting in january.

[hunter guy]

If you want to shoot cheap use powder it goes alot further and pellets needs more ignition to go off (never had powder not ignite if the cap goes off).  For the bullets hornady XTP saboted pistol bullets shoot great and you can get 100 rounds for under 40 bucks.  On cabelas they get 4.9 out of 5 on reviews.  Buy the bullets and the sabots seperate.

[Blsum]

When I got into muzzle loading I had one type of bullet and one type of powder. The only thing I could change was the amount of powder I put in. I have never had any kind of luck with the power belt bullets. I know some people do. It's just I won't shoot them. If they work for you then by all means stick with them. It might take a little while to find the load you gun likes. If you are buying it from someone, ask them, I'll bet they could get you started in the right direction.  

Both my gun's really like the 100 grns loose 777 behind a 300grn hornady sst bullet. I've gotten really good results at the range with this combo. Before I switched to the sst's I was shooting Dead Center 300 grn ballistic tip, all lead bullets.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Here is what you look for... When you shoot do you have alot of unburned powder in front of you. We tried shooting 150 grains of powder with the 295 grain bullets and noticed alot of flash out of the barrell, as we scaled back on our powder the flash got noticeably smaller.

I believe that you must go heavier bullets to get any use out of a heavy charge of powder and alot burns outside your barrell. If you look back in someof the threads you will see what alot of us use and it really is close to the same.
I used to shoot 110 grans of pyrodex pellets with the knight saboted 365 grain bullet. Now i shoot 90 grains of FFG 777, same bullet. YOu will find what works for you but that is what has been most accurate for us in my group.

[Dirty Mike]

i use 100 grains 777 loose and a 300 grn sst but this yr i might try the barnez 290s

[KTMSMOKER]

The guy who owns the gun never shot it, the person who owned it before him never sighted it in properly.  I am not trying to cheap out, just realizing that to find the righ combo might take some time and $.  The money part sucks, but it is worth it.  The time thing just gives me a reason to go out and shoot.  Thanks for the info guys. 

I am still wondering about when you go to the range to shoot targets. How do you clean between shots.  I was thinking solevent on a brush then bore snake with bore butter.  Does this sound right or do I need to clean it with water/solevent then bore butter.  Thanks for all the info, sorry for being such a newbi.

[bobcat]

At the range I usually just use windex on a patch. Run it through once or twice, then a couple dry patches.

[carpsniperg2]

i would look at the barnes tmz 290 they are a tipped bullet great accuracy out of them i just switched to them this year. they would be fine with elk as well. me my cousin and uncle all shoot them i use loose 125grain my uncle uses 100 loose and my cousin uses 100 grains in pellets we all shoot t/c black diamond xr rifles but i also use my cva elkhorn as my primary gun. i would check them out they have shot well with all the powder combos we have used. hope this helps

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I just run a wet patch that i spit on down the barrel at the range between shots as 777 gets a kind of crud ring, and by running a wet patch it takes care of that for me.

[KTMSMOKER]

Thanks guys.  Very helpfull info.  Thanks again.  I will post back when I get a few more good shot threw her.  this whimpy winter has caused spring fever to hit WAY too early

[hillbilli]

as far as finding the right combo, i would start with 100gr of powder, 777 loose or pyrodex pellets or whatever, get a couple diff bullets- powerbelts, hornady xtp(300's if elk are on the menu), shouldnt be hard to find one that groups ok. i'm used to using 209's  but caps shouldnt be that different.

[KTMSMOKER]

I tried 150 grains of powerder and she had quite a kick to her and the bullet didnt even hit the plywood.  Backed it down to 130 with 348 powerbelts (I think) and she seems to be dang close.  Just gotta buy a peep and do a final sight in, well I only have 7 months