Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: TheSkyBuster on October 16, 2016, 02:24:47 PM

Title: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: TheSkyBuster on October 16, 2016, 02:24:47 PM: Being a hand loader and a .44 magnum fanatic I have a wide assortment of . 429 handgun bullets laying around. I ordered some sabots and plan on trying them out in my knight bighorn, and knight wolverine. I have been using a 300gr SST pushed by 2 50gr pyrodex pellets. Those bullets preformed like FMJs on my blacktail this year so it is time to try something different. I have killed a few deer with XTP's and GDSPs out of handguns with way better results. Who has experience? Am I better off going with .452 cal bullets and sabots? My purpose is for hunting deer and elk at under 200 yards.
Title: Re: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: JKEEN33 on October 16, 2016, 03:18:17 PM: I use the xtp's in my bighorn. Shoot great and have killed everything I have shot with them. I order the sabots and save a lot. I'm sure others will tell you different, but it has worked great for me.
Title: Re: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: TheSkyBuster on October 16, 2016, 03:31:26 PM: Quote from: JKEEN33 on October 16, 2016, 03:18:17 PM
I use the xtp's in my bighorn. Shoot great and have killed everything I have shot with them. I order the sabots and save a lot. I'm sure others will tell you different, but it has worked great for me.

Thanks JKEEN33,
what bullet weight and powder are you using?
Title: Re: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: JKEEN33 on October 17, 2016, 01:56:58 PM: Triple 7 FFG and I have used both 240 and 300 XTP's with 100 grains. Both shot well. I hunt with the 300. My dad likes the 45 XTP's. To use these, you just change the sabot. Both seem to shoot well, but I too reload for 44 and have a lot laying around. I originally used the Pyrodex pellets when I first got into muzzleloading, but switched over to loose. I use a #11 cap.
Title: Re: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: GoexBlackhorn on October 18, 2016, 09:06:04 PM: I use the 44-cal 300gr XTP. Good choice for deer or elk....Harvester crush rib sabot and 90gr of powder.
Title: Re: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: Smokepole on October 19, 2016, 05:47:47 AM: I have been using .452's with Crush Ribs. Works great, but I'm interested in using 44's, since I reload a lot of 44 mag. It is easy to get these bullets mixed up. If I had the right sabots, I might even try some hand cast Keith bullets, just for fun. Hmmm.
Title: Re: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: GoexBlackhorn on October 19, 2016, 06:27:47 PM: PRBulletdotcom still makes the Keith Nose sabot/bullet in 50/45 cal (275 + 330gr).

Talk about a sabot/bullet that thumps them DRT.....lol
Title: Re: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: Soady on October 20, 2016, 11:38:06 PM: I prefer the .452 XTP Mag 300 gr and a Harvest crush rib sabot with 777 fff 85gr in my Bighorn. Primer is a DN #1082 musket cap. It is an extremely effective and accurate combination taking most any deer or elk.
Title: Re: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: CP on October 21, 2016, 06:13:30 AM: I've found that 300g - .429 bullets are more accurate in my Bighorn than any .45 cal bullet.
Title: Re: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: TheSkyBuster on November 05, 2016, 10:38:43 AM: I finally made it to the range, 300 gr XTP with a harvester sabot pushed by 2 50 gr pyrodex pellets.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2016/i-QSZvzH5/0/XL/image-XL.jpg)
Title: Re: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: TheSkyBuster on November 05, 2016, 10:41:00 AM: First shot, Clean bore @ 50 yards.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2016/i-dd3gsH6/0/XL/image-XL.jpg)
Title: Re: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: TheSkyBuster on November 05, 2016, 10:48:51 AM: Next I moved the target to 100 yards and fired 3 additional rounds through the Bighorn. 2nd 3rd and 4th holes (top circle). Next I pulled out my scoped knight Tbolt (22" barrel) and fired 3 more shots (bottom circle). With the same load.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2016/i-XFn4FWc/0/XL/image-XL.jpg)
Title: Re: .429 bullets in .50 cal muzzleloader
Post by: TheSkyBuster on November 05, 2016, 10:55:12 AM: Overall I am very impressed with the accuracy I got from this load through the bighorn. This is as good as I can shoot with open sights. Keeping the same zero is way cool as well. I'm under impressed with the accuracy on the scoped rifle. I have shot one hole groups with this gun before. I will continue to experiment with both. BTW I am using CCI musket caps in the big horn, and federal 209's in the scoped T-bolt.