What bullets do you shoot out of your muzzleloader

[bullseye]

Im pretty new to the muzzle loaders and havent been able to try shooting many different bullets.

Im shooting an Optima and it came with some 295 gr. Powerbelt hollow points. I was shooting at 50 yds to sight in and got it fairly close.

Then I bought some Powerbelt Platinum 223 gr. and shot them with 100 gr. of triple 7. I couldnt get them to group real consistent and I now attribute that to two things. 1st, I didnt have a good loading jag for those as I was smashing the tips, and also wasnt getting the bullet quite as tight to the pellet as I should have.

The other day I decided to try 150 gr. and man that flattened my shot out alot. At 75 yards I was now a good 12 inches high. I adjusted my scope and got it dialed in. My last two shots for the day were both bullseyes and a half inch apart. I was pretty surprised at the difference with the extra 50 grains of powder.

Anyways....these powerbelts seem to work nicely now that I figured out a good combination. I still need to try shooting 100, 150, and even 200 yds with it.

[Johnbear]

~S~


I havent bought any rounds for my ML yet. I started using them 3 years ago. A friend let me use a hawk. I was using miniballs with it that he gave me. My brother in law gave me a triditions last spring. With it he gave me enought rounds powder and all to last me a couple years. I dont know the brand of slugs. Just smomthing to think about when shooting. Someone at the club was telling me this. When you are sighting in between shots you should swab out the barrel between each round. Black powder is very dirty and the buildup in the barrel can affect each found. after each swab you shot fire a cap thru it to be sure the hole is clear.

I also noticed a huge difference in 100 and 150 grains

[bullseye]

Yeah, I run a patch through it every shot. I dont always fire a primer between shots, but usually poke my nipple pick through there to make sure its clear.

[woodwhore]

I have a stainless Encore and after alot of testing, I have found Hornady 300gr SST with the red sabot and 100 gr of American Pioneer FFG work best for me. I have it sighted in for 100 yds and my biggest problem is remembering to aim low at closer shots, about 4 inches at 50 yds. I also use an insert small rifle primer instead of a 209 primer, and that tightens the shot group quite a bit.
I dampen a patch and swab between shots at the range. I don't get the crust in the chamber with the American Pioneer as I have with Pyrodex 777.
I also have a TC Hawkins that I assembled from a kit, I use Am Pioneer FFFG 90 gr with a 275 Buffalo Bullet in a sabot. I use peep sight and shoot at 50 yds, limit of my eyeball/peepsight. More of a chore to clean, but it works if I do my part.
I use powder stick powder containers that I preload before heading out, alot less gear to lug about in the woods.
Good luck and be safe.

[jaceglarek]

Load with Blackhorn 209 and you can forget about that cleaning between every shot. I put 20+ rounds down my Triumph with no cleaning in between, and no change in accuracy or ability to load. I shoot 250gr T/C bullets with T/C Superglide sabots.

John