Your Favorite Muzzleloader loads

[thatguy]

I just ordered my first muzzleloader (Thompson Center Triumph - .50, weathershield, black composite stock) and was wondering what powder (brand, loose or sticks/pellets), bullets (sabots or not) you use, and bullet/powder combo you have found works for you. I will be hunting whitetail deer here in VA.

From what i have read is sorts trial and error finding the right bullet/powder combo to get consistant accuracy and Im looking to learn from your experience.

thanks

Brian

 

[MDM]

I use 100 grains of Triple Seven (pellets) and a 240 grain Hornady XTP Hollow Point (.44 cal) in my T/C Encore. This combo is accurate in all T/C's I have ever shot in the Encore and Omega.

 

[Will_C]

I have used 110 grains of Triple 7 and a 200 grain Shockwave. I have shot three deer with that load. Three shot groups average 1.25". I plan to try 115, 120, and 125 grains to see if the groups tighten up anymore.
Good luck.
Will
P.S. I shoot an Encore.

 

[xlr82v2]

You're correct... it's trial and error finding the load that your gun likes. That's part of the fun of muzzleloading, or any shooting for that matter.

In my CVA Optima, I've found that 110 grains of Triple 7 loose powder with a Hornady green sabot and a .44cal (.4295) Sierra 240gr JHP have been giving me 1.25" groups at 100 yards. That's about all that the Hornady green sabots will take though... it's a pretty stout load.

Same powder charge and sabot with a .44cal Hornady 240XTP shoots to the same point of impact, but I could never get them to group quite as well. Still more than adequate for deer hunting though... groups around 1.5" at 100.

Also, the Winchester "Triple 7" 209 primers make a difference also. They're expensive, but 100 primers lasts quite a while with a muzzleloader.

With the Triple 7/Sierra 240JHP load, I took a nice 11 point buck at 157 yards 2 years ago.

In my T/C Hawken, 90gr of Triple 7 with a patched roundball touched off by a CCI #11M cap works pretty well too.

I can definitely recommend the Hodgdon Triple 7 Powder... it's good stuff.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Don't do like my friend "Ramrod Bob" who shot with the rod in...

 

[thatguy]

it appears that the Hornaday XTP is a very popular bullet - it was highly recommended by quite a few other ppl on another forum..

I have found about 3 different companies selling the XTP with different color sabots.. Is this the same XTP, but just being packaged with a companies own sabots?

Powder - How inconvenient is it to use loose powder? I can buy a 1lb can of loose for the same price of 100 pellets (6 oz or so)... It would also make it easier to tweak the loads..

thanks for the advise

Brian

 

[xlr82v2]

Yep, it's the same bullet, just packaged with different sabots. You have to watch though... some are .45 cal XTP's, and some are .44 cal XTP's (for a .50 cal muzzleloader), so you have to make sure that you don't get them mixed up if you have both kinds... but you'll know it if you do.

I don't think ithat loose powder is that inconvenient at all. I use "speedloaders" out in the field, which is basically a hollow tube with a cap on each end that holds your powder and sabot/bullet all together. Before you head out to the woods, you pre-measure your powder into the speed loader, then when it's time to reload, you just pour your pre-measured charge into the barrel, push the bullet/sabot out of the speedloader directly into the barrel with your ramrod, push the bullet home, and you're ready to fire again with a new cap or primer.

And like you said, with loose powder, you can tune your loads to your rifle... with the pellets, you basically take what you get, with whatever combination you can make with the 30 and 50 gr pellets that you have available at the time... when you have full containers of pellets, you have lots of options... as you shoot up the pellets, your available options shrink... Not so with loose powder. That only happens when you run out

I've never used the pellets myself, and don't ever intend to... but that's just me.

 

[Soundguy]

i use 90-110 grains pyrodex granules, and prefer copper jacketed sabot.. though, somethimes shoot patched lead round balls just for fun.

I have a knight per-cap gun and a hawkens flintlock.

soundguy

 

[RobertN]

I shoot two loads. A round ball with 80gr of FF, or a Maxi Ball and 100grFF. Use Pyrodex depending on powder availability locally.

There aint much in North America a Maxiball won't handle.

We shoot a pair of TC Hawken's, not those new fangled things

Ever wonder where the terminology "lock stock and barrel" came from? Black powder rifles, 'cause that is ho simple they are.

 

[xlr82v2]

I've gotta say, my TC Hawken, that I built from a kit, is my favorite smokepole. I really don't like taking it out in the woods very much, because the stock is just beautiful... lots of pretty figure in the walnut. But, it is a hoot to hunt squirrels with!! It knocks even those ferocious giant fox squirrels out of the trees with authority