Back to muzzleloading.

[pat2bear]

After about 8 years I'm going to go back to muzzle this year. At least for deer as I think my rifle bull tag may be right around the corner. I always loved it and I want to get away from rifle season and the crowds for awhile and do something different. Anyway, I shoot a T/C Hawkins with a green mountain replacement barrel with a 1:28 inch twist. I was shooting sabots and using about 90 to 100 grains of loose powder. But I've been out of it for awhile so I'm wondering if there's better bullets out there since when I was doing it that are compatible with the Hawkins barrel? Thanks for any suggestions.

[whacker1]

the one big change that was significant to muzzleloaders last year was the move to allowing copper jacketed bullets.  I am shooting the Barnes MZ Expander in my in-line .54 with a plastic sabot it comes with.  I shot the 275 grain and killed a decent whitetail with it.  I will be testing out the 325 grain in the same line of bullet this year to see if one shoots better than the other.  These are the best shooting bullets I have found for my gun thus far after trying lots of powder/bullet combinations. 

I like the bullet enough that it got me trying the 100% copper bullets in my rifles as well.  I haven't had the same success with those just yet.

[CP]

My .50 cal Knight has a 1:28 Green Mountain barrel.  I’ve found that it prefers 300g saboted bullets with 100g of triple seven.  There are several that work well:

Hornady SST 300g
Knight all lead 310g
.44 cal Hornady XTP  300g (.45 cal is not as accurate)
.44 cal 300g Sierra Sports Master

All barrels are different though, you’ll need to find the right bullet & sabot combo for your barrel.

[carpsniperg2]

i have always shot dead center bullets the 340s they work great always done all that i have asked and more. last year we all tried the 290tmz and they shot well not quite as well as the dead center but almost they are a nasty bullet and worked well. the one thing i have not got to test or see yet was how well the bullet will go threw soild bone not rib. we all shot are deer last year behind the shoulder. it opens up so much i wonder how well it will get threw with that much deformation when it hits. your powder charge is fine as well i have shot from 80-150 over the years and both my guns like 120grains the best. hope this helps

[pat2bear]

Thanks guys. I read the regs and it said any type of projectile is allowed. I noticed the power belt type bullets but it doesn't look like there as popular as the sabots. Would you guys suggest the jacketed over the all lead. And do you like to stick with a certain caliber as much as grain? .40, .44, .45. Thanks again.

[whacker1]

The two major advantages to the copper is the fact that they are longer bullets than the comparable same weight lead, becaue lead is heavier than copper.  So you gain a little balistic advantage based on teh longer bullet should fly better.    The second advantage is the fact that the copper have a 100% weight retention, well at least they are supposed to.  Mine did not fragment and mushroomed into a 4 leaf design exactly as it was supposed to do.  I think that I would start with the popular ones and see if they shoot in your particular gun.  Pick the one that shoots the best and go from there.

[gadwall]

i have always shot dead center bullets the 340s they work great always done all that i have asked and more. last year we all tried the 290tmz and they shot well not quite as well as the dead center but almost they are a nasty bullet and worked well. the one thing i have not got to test or see yet was how well the bullet will go threw soild bone not rib. we all shot are deer last year behind the shoulder. it opens up so much i wonder how well it will get threw with that much deformation when it hits. your powder charge is fine as well i have shot from 80-150 over the years and both my guns like 120grains the best. hope this helps

I like the dead centers as well. The 300 extreme elite shoots well out of both my guns with 90-100 loose T7.  Going to try the 360 grainers this year as well as te Harvester bullet.  A friend of mine has shot some dandy WT deer with the 260 or 280 gr Harvester and had great success. Some guys have told me that the Dead Center bullets are a bit too soft on major bone but I haven't run one through a shoulder or hip yet myself.


Gadwall

[carpsniperg2]

i have only shot ine buck threw both shoulders and the bullet was just under the hide on the other side outside the shoulder and the shot was 85 yards and the bullet was about 70% weight retension so was pretty good.