What are you guys using as your muzzleloader/inline bullets? I currently use shockwaves in my T/C Omega, but was looking to see if maybe there was something better out there.
Barnes Expanders out of my Encore 50 (original version)
Very accurate out to 200 yds. ( maybe longer, but I have not shot it out to anything longer than 200 yds)
I'm pretty new to the inline game, but I have been using .45 caliber 250 grain Hornady xtp bullets with sabots out of my traditions G4 ultralight. I have not experimented with other bullets yet, but have been happy with the xtp so far. Out of the flintlock I shoot hornady pa conicals.
Yep, 240-300gr XTPs seem to perform better than Shockwaves for us. This year I am trying-out the 265gr Hornady Interlocks, inside a Harvester Crush Rib sabot.
All great choices, but I am going to throw another one into the discussion. Precision Rifle Custom Muzzleloader Bullets "Dead Center" bullets are extremely accurate and deadly out of all of our inline muzzleloaders. They are all lead so they do mushroom and dump a lot of energy on impact while penetrating through hide and bone. They work well and I cannot think of a better bullet to use in any inline.
Check out the Scorpion PT golds with crush rib sabots by Harvester muzzleloading. I use 300 grain with blackhorn 209 and they are by far the most consistent/accurate out of my TC Impact. You can also buy "bulk" bullets from them, without the sabots, for $25 for 50 bullets.
I'm a big fan of Harvester's bullets. Nothing hyper-marketed or flashy looking, just amazingly effective. My T/C Omega likes the 350 gr. Saber Tooth gas checked bullet from them. With Blackhorn 209, the accuracy is amazing, and nothing has survived a hit from it.
I also use the black Crush Rib sabot with my home cast 250 gr. handgun bullets. So much easier to load than the alternatives.
For years I used the 245gr Powerbelts over 2 777 pellets, and was OK, but not thrilled with the results, but the gun liked them... a lot. 100 yard cloverleafs were the norm.
But the terminal performance was spotty. A good number of DRT shots, but the occasional trailing with limited to no blood was concerning... never lost one though.
Upgraded the rifle early last year and decided to change up loads. My "clean bore" shot is a 300gr .430 XTP in a regular green Harvester Sabot over 2 pellets of 777.
Backups in speed tubes are 295gr Powerbelts for ease of loading on a fouled bore.
I've tallied 4 deer with this setup in 2 seasons. 2 with each load, from 75 to 150 yards. 2 bang/flops, 1 went 10 feet, and the other went 20 yards. Stevie Wonder could've followed the blood.
I got complete pass-thru with both bullets, and plenty of evidence of expansion. I'm quite happy with the combination.
I still have a few packs of the 245gr PBs on the shelf... debating on giving them a whirl in the Flintlock this January.
The gun seems to like them over 80gr FFF, but PRB hasn't let me down or given me a reason to switch. I'll likely stay traditional there.
Posted a thread last year i believe regarding powerbelts. Had at least 3 deer i shot double lung pass through shots with 295 aero tip powerbelts that gave NO blood trail, including one in snow. In each case the deer didnt go far, believe 2 luckily dropped in sight and the tracks in snow are how i found 3rd. i generally hunt thick areas so it could have been difficult. Or worse if i was inexperienced to recognize how a hit deer generally reacts or wasnt hunting from an elevated stand to see the 2 drop or had the tracking snow for 3rd i might have thought i missed and left 3 dead deer laying in the woods. No longer use PB in any of my front stuffers even though they were Extremely accurate. Set my dad up with harvester hardcasts in sabots in his inline since he is hunting in a bear area. I am using harvester scorpions in my inline for deer and hornady great plains, TC maxiballs, and PRBs in my various flinters
Have used Cheap Shots with great results. 44 magnum handgun equivalent ( 1350 fps )
I've also used 3 different calibers of XTP's and if there were no other bullets available, I would smile all day!
The 40 caliber 180 and 200 grain are death rays in my Super 45 XR Black Diamond. The 180s have taken a doe with a 50 gr charge of 3f Swiss. 1550 fps, an 8 pointer with a 60 grain charge, 1750 fps.
The 200 totalled a doe with a 70 grain charge, 1800 fps.
Took 4 deer with the 44 cal 240 gr and 70 gr of 3f T7 ( 1700 fps) from an Omega. All were BOOMflop.
But the standout is the 250 grain .452 in my 50 Black Diamond XR. 70 gr of 3f Swiss gets one moving at 1600 fps. Definately removes a critter's will to live.10 deer 10 shots.7 were BOOMflops 1 went 10 yards and 2 went <50. None recovered, except a 180 gr 40 caliber. Still weighed 122 gr after going through 3 feet of 8 pointer.
3 finger exit holes and bled dry.
Accuracy is also excellent.
A very good thing about pistol bullets in sabots is the bullet jackets aren't compromised by rifling so they can take more velocity than if fired from barrels of their caliber. The rifling cuts causing stress risers in the jacket.
Love my frontstuffers!
Just wanted to give an update and thanks to you guys for your recommendation. I ended up going with the Harvester PT Gold 300 grain and crush rib sabots. Was able to connect with a decent 7 pt Friday evening (I hunt Maryland). Was only about a 30 yard shot. Didn't notice much of a blood trail, but he only manage to run about 50 yards before crashing (I actually heard him crash while in the stand, first time for that, but I do hunt a lot of field edges). Upon skinning him the damage was very impressive. I would recommend these bullets to anyone and will be using them for the foreseeable future.
Barnes 250 TEZ. I’ve trailed 3 deer since Saturday shot with these....fantastic blood trail. None went over 80 yards. I was a Powerbelt guy until this year, but never was impressed with the damage they did. The Barnes .45 cal sabot peels back 6 ways and really blows a hole in a deer.
I got really good accuracy with those Barnes TEZ bullets out of my TC Omega. The blue sabots are a lot easier to load than the previous version (TMZ?) that had the yellow sabot. My only gripe was that they require a special short starter tip to load due to the sharp profile. Otherwise, they are an excellent choice.
In my flinter and my percussion rifles I use a patched round ball and 90 grains of Pyrodex.
With my inline I am using the Traditions 170 grain Smackdown Bleed Bullet and a similar powder charge. I get about 1 1/2 inch groups that works at both 50 and 100 yards using that fast flat shooting bullet.
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