Muzzeloader bullet grains and styles

[YJ Guide Service]

I'm new when it comes to muzzeloading. I have a CVA 50 cal and I'm wondering what the best style and grain of bullets to use for Mule Deer. Thanks everyone for your help

[duckmen1]

348 grain lead hollow point powerbelts
 

[Sabotloader]

I'm new when it comes to muzzeloading. I have a CVA 50 cal and I'm wondering what the best style and grain of bullets to use for Mule Deer. Thanks everyone for your help

It would be my suggestion, if you do not have to use Power Belts - stay way from them... if you do have to use them the one suggested, while it sounds heavy, would be the one to use.  It should stay together with moderate charges.

I would say you may have to make a desision either to shoot a premium, bullet like an offering from Barnes or a Bloodline from Knight Rifles.

The next option would be a afforably priced box of reloading bullets with a sabot that is compatible your bore.

The bullet that would suggest in the affordable arena is the Speer Deep Curl.  I have a preference for the .452-250 grain Deep Curl for deer out to 175 yards.  Also the .452-300 Deep Curl would make an excellent choice even to 200 yards

The MMP HPH-24 Black sabot is probably the sabot that you might need.

Personally i use the Bloodline bullets either the .452-250 gr. DOA or the .458-275 grain bullet.

 

[YJ Guide Service]

Thanks Sabot I'm going to check into them more. I appreciate the info. My wife is buying a Knight 50 cal since she wants to hunt with a smoke pole this year as well....

[dawhunt]

Kinda depends on the twist if its 1 in 28 great if its 1in48 powerbelts there's a big selection of saboted bullets for 1in28 I like the Hornady 300 gr. SSt's, the new powerbelts are pretty good also depends on what shoots the best  in your gun.
Bob

[YJ Guide Service]

Are sabots aloud here in Washington. IS there any types that arent aloud here... Thanks for the info everyone.

[duckmen1]

i shot a deer with the Powerbelt bullets and went clean through both shoulders with complete pass through.
lots of damage inside, complete pass through, deer dropped in his tracks. can't beat it. i know tons of deer shot with these all lead Powerbelts and they are my favorite bullet. Great bullet for elk to.
also with CVA if you have one of those Bergara barrels those are made to shoot very well with powerbelts. I shoot a Thompson center and traditions and they are extremely accurate out of my guns.
The bullets i have had bad luck with was Hornady great plains and maxi hunters.

[YJ Guide Service]

Thanks Duck great info....

[Kowsrule30]

The deer I've shot with all lead and copper coated, 295 grain PB I've only recovered one bullet ever.... Out of around 8... I've recovered every PB in the same grains on the off side of every 10 elk I've shot with them.... My gun has a 1 in 28 twist... They shoot great...

[Sabotloader]

Are sabots aloud here in Washington. IS there any types that arent aloud here... Thanks for the info everyone.

You can use sabots in Washington, we can not in Idaho nor can you in Oregon.  In both Oregon and Idaho we have to shoot full bore lead conicals... Washington is not so tight.  All three states require cap ignition during ML season.

I believe there is a caliber restriction in Washington for hunting big game but I am not sure what that might be.

YJ - you might take a look through these two threads...

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=77194.0

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=75690.0

Just remember Barnes bullets are also extremely effective especially at longer ranges and the Speer Deep Curls for an economical bullet is also very good.

[Mike450r]

going to try some .429 and .458 leverevolutions with a sabot out of my TC Black Diamond

[andersonjk4]

going to try some .429 and .458 leverevolutions with a sabot out of my TC Black Diamond

Are you talking about the Hornady FTX bullets?  I was just looking at those the other day and was thinking I should try them out.  You can get some pretty good ballistic coefficeince with these bullets.  Getting up there with the Barnes and SST's and these are a bit cheaper. Let us all know how they shoot. 

[whitetailslyr]

I shoot a ML with a 1 in 48 twist and found that the 250 grain sst shoot really well. Haven't used them on game yet but their accuracy is top notch.

[Big Horn]

250gr Barnes spitfire TMZ with 125gr 777 ffg
Out of a TC black diamond xr my