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Post by magnumwheelman on Sept 8, 2015 15:10:39 GMT -5
so I shot at MRS cousins traditional Muzzleloader shoot this last spring ( 1st time in many years ) a couple years ago I bought a Knight Rolling block in line... stainless / camo dipped... this will be in MN in the late fall / early winter... a good chance hunting will be with snow on the ground... I'm curious what you guys would recommend for bullet selection??? last time I had it out, I bought either 44 or 45 caliber bullets & sabots ( there are a lot of choices here ) if I had more cold weather expirience, I might not be afraid of just shooting lead round ball... I did alright at the shoot, but those were with traditional percussion guns ( different twist rates, & times of the year / weather )... I'm both concerned about black powder ignition profile when it's cold, verses what I shot in May, & concered with my moose milk ( I actually have my own formula called monkey milk  ) freezing, & causing lubrication or ignition issues or using a traditional moose milk type formula & a patch, as opposed to a sabot & bullet... anyway curious what you guys use for bullets & why??? BTW... I'm in a drawing for a state park permit that is does only & includes a bonus tag... |
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Post by mart on Sept 8, 2015 15:24:25 GMT -5
I hunt and shoot blackpowder in the winter up here. Never had an issue with blackpowder igniting in cold weather. I only use round balls. I'm lazy. I buy the pre-lubed patches and have never had any issue with them freezing up. Most of my cold weather hunting is with a 32 caliber flintlock for snowshoe rabbits. I do shoot my 62 caliber quite a bit every winter at the range in cold weather but so far a moose, the rifle and me have not all three been in the same place at the same time.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Sept 8, 2015 15:33:53 GMT -5
I also have an old CVA 32 caliber flint lock... along with a 50 & 54 caliber tradional percussion guns & the newer 50 caliber in line...
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Post by cowboythunder on Sept 9, 2015 8:28:21 GMT -5
Generally speaking, a patched round ball works best out of a slow twist barrel (ideally 1:60 or slower) but every gun is different. I currently shoot a patch/ball combination from a slow twist .54 cal flintlock. I lube my patches with bore butter and have had good results in the field including the cold. Moisture is always my biggest concern regarding reliable ignition. A modern in-line typically has a faster twist barrel better suited to shoot a conical style bullet. If you go this route I would suggest looking at a lead powerbelt. I shot these with very good accuracy out of a 1:48 percussion rifle with excellent results on big game. They do not require a patch and seat directly on the powder charge. Also they tolerate a larger span of twist rates better than a sabot. If it weren't for my conversion to traditional muzzleloading, I would still be shooting these... My two cents
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Post by magnumwheelman on Sept 9, 2015 8:37:15 GMT -5
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Post by cowboythunder on Sept 9, 2015 8:59:16 GMT -5
Couldn't hurt to try them. I would prefer these over a sabot.
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diddle
.30 Stingray
Posts: 470 
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Post by diddle on Sept 9, 2015 15:45:43 GMT -5
As cowboythunder mentions, the twist rate of your barrel is the critical variable of the slug or ball decision. I'd guess that this barrel has a relatively fast twist -- I.e., 1:48 or faster. Most of my experience is with round balls and real black powder. They work fine in cold weather just don't use a water based lube. I have used vegetable shortening with great results. A 45 caliber RB barrel will shoot best with around a 1:60 twist. Smaller balls like a bit faster twist and larger ones like slower twists. A 45 caliber barrel with. 1:48 twist will likely shoot both balls and slugs OK but neither exceptionally well. Just in my experience, yours may vary.
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dmize
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 2,825
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Post by dmize on Sept 9, 2015 16:35:10 GMT -5
I shoot my brothers 50 cal Encore with Hornady SST's,T/C Shockwaves with 2 Pyrodex pellets.
In all honesty I have shot a bunch of different ones through that rifle and cant see where one shots a whole lot better than the other.
I would definitely give the Great Plains a try. Its the conical part that needs the fast twist not the bullet material.
I only use that rifle in the late muzzle loading season and only because it has a scope.
Regular season I use a 58 cal Lancaster cap gun. Patched round ball and 100 grains of Goex 2F. You have absolutely no reason to be worried about a traditional gun in cold weather and there are things you can do to keep moisture at bay also in wet weather.
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Post by zeus on Sept 10, 2015 6:30:36 GMT -5
My Knight loves the 385 Barnes spitfire. It's extremely accurate and hits HARD. Penetration will never be an issue. I've had a lot of the other popular bullets Come apart over the years. I started using the Barnes ML slug about 10 years ago and have never switched.
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dmize
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 2,825
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Post by dmize on Sept 10, 2015 9:31:30 GMT -5
Beware of the Power Belts.
I have used them with good success on Missouri whitetails,but only on broadside lung shots.
Having seen the results I wouldn't use them on anything any bigger or much of a quartering angle.
They act like a 50 cal V-Max.
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Post by zeus on Sept 11, 2015 7:28:59 GMT -5
Beware of the Power Belts. I have used them with good success on Missouri whitetails,but only on broadside lung shots. Having seen the results I wouldn't use them on anything any bigger or much of a quartering angle. They act like a 50 cal V-Max. +10. This is one of the ones I was talking about. I have seen a hem completely come apart on 40 yard lung shots. I was ever impressed. |
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Post by bisleylust on Sept 11, 2015 9:21:42 GMT -5
Don't dismiss the T/C Maxi-Ball (370gr. .50 cal.).
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Post by bushog on Sept 12, 2015 8:04:55 GMT -5
I agree about the Powerbelts. I couldn't even get them to shoot.
I use the Barnes Spitfire TMZs in 290gn with a full till of Blackhorn 209 powder. Developed the load for elk but it flies far and kills deer too.
Other choice I like is the Barnes 300gn original with the Crush black ribbed sabots. Higher B.C. bullet with about the same weight. Other guys around here swear by them. They shot very accurately out of my TC Encore.
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Post by bluecow on Sept 13, 2015 7:47:18 GMT -5
your rifle has a 1-28 twist. for the bullets that you are looking at i would start a 70grns a see how it shoots. remember that with M.L. your looking at mass and weight not high vel.
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Post by bigbore442001 on Sept 20, 2015 5:54:21 GMT -5
Hello:
Here in southern New England the muzzleloader is king of sorts. Many hunters will use a muzzle loading rifle over the choice of a shotgun with slugs. I shoot a TC Contender 50 caliber muzzle loader and have settled on using 100 grains of Blackhorn 209 powder under a MMP ribbed sabot and the bullet of choice is a 250 grain 451 diameter Hornady XTP bullet. I like this type of powder because it is very consistent from shot to shot. I know it is expensive but I use it for hunting only.
The load is very accurate and in the past I have cleanly harvested two wild boar in Florida that were close to 200 lbs. I have yet to take a deer with that particular load but I am hopeful.
I have had some experience with the Powerbelt bullets and I will stay away from them like the plague. I had taken one button buck with one and the load blew up on the deer like a varmint bullet. Also, any little twig seems to make the bullet explode. No way will I use those bullets.
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) freezing, & causing lubrication or ignition issues or using a traditional moose milk type formula & a patch, as opposed to a sabot & bullet...
