Muzzleloader folks - bullet preference please.

[ACfixer]

I picked up a CVA Optima V2 for muzzleloader season here, but I am completely new to this. Got some 209 caps on the way and I have some 777 pelletized charges. My question is mostly about bullets.

Powerbelt seems really available and easy to deal with, but I read not so great reviews about the actual effectiveness in the hunting realm. Any experienced suggestions here? A number of sabots are also readily available locally if that is a better option.

Whitetail deer, 100 yards or closer. Also, my gun can handle "magnum" (3 charge = 150g) loads. Any favorite load and bullet combos you guys might have?

[THBailey]

There are lots of options. We use Harvester Crush Rib sabots and 45 cal Hornady 300gr XTP bullets where sabots are legal and TC Maxi-Balls when we hunt Oregon where the sabots are not allowed. Both over 100gr of Pyrodex RS. For extensive discussion of various options check out: https://www.modernmuzzleloader.com/

[ACfixer]

Thank you Mr. Bailey, I will look into that site today. Virtually all bullet options and inline guns acceptable here in Tennessee.

I finally found some 209's today at Academy so I'm ready to go. I have some 777 pyro-pellets and some 40 cal 295g powerbelts so that should get me started shooting anyway.

[sacrvrrat]

I prefer full bore bullets. Lehigh defense with some blackhorn 209 worked well for me last year. Tough part is still finding a lot of this stuff. For under 100 yards most things will work fine.




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[ACfixer]

^^^ Thank you. Not restricted to lead-free out here... but I am not opposed to it either of they create a great wound channel. the reviews I have read on nearly all the Powerbelt bullets have been less than stellar, many accounts of no blood trail etc.

This is a follow up to my crossbow thread, assuming I don't get my buck with an arrow I certainly want the option of a muzzle loader as the next in line. I've got two extraordinary bucks visiting my property, I want to eat one of them.

[stevie]

Check out Rokslide, lots on info:

https://www.rokslide.com/forums/forums/muzzleloader.91/

[nugentfan]

I used Powerbelts for one hunt 17 years ago and I have moved my muzzleloader supplies to Nevada so can't check what I was shooting.
The hunt was muzzleloader Roosevelt bull in Washington. The Powerbelts load very easy, were accurate but the ones I used were too soft for elk. They mushroomed out like a pancake and lacked penetration. Yes I killed my bull but it was much more difficult than what it should have been. Not talking trying to break big bones or too light bullets either, this was under 100 yards, broadside into the lungs for several of the shots. If I had to guess I'd say I was shooting between 345-380 as that is my typical go to for elk. Moved to "No Excuses" when I changed to White muzzleloaders but haven't used on an elk yet.
Years ago my buddy who had the same T/C inline as I did loaned his rifle to a friend for a NB whitetail hunt. Neither had much experience with front stuffers so I went to show them what needed to be done and help work up a load. They were shooting some kind of Barnes sabots which were super accurate but good luck with dirty bore loading.

[ACfixer]

Check out Rokslide, lots on info:

https://www.rokslide.com/forums/forums/muzzleloader.91/

The hunt was muzzleloader Roosevelt bull in Washington. The Powerbelts load very easy, were accurate but the ones I used were too soft for elk. They mushroomed out like a pancake and lacked penetration. Yes I killed my bull but it was much more difficult than what it should have been. Not talking trying to break big bones or too light bullets either, this was under 100 yards, broadside into the lungs for several of the shots. If I had to guess I'd say I was shooting between 345-380 as that is my typical go to for elk. Moved to "No Excuses" when I changed to White muzzleloaders but haven't used on an elk yet.

Thanks for the excellent feedback guys, this is what makes Calguns great. Nugentfan, your experiences with Powerbelts are exactly what I have been reading. I may be stuck with them, not as big of a deal on the 100 acres I hunt in Virginia but anything I shoot on my property here I want DOA ASAP. I guess using a sabot round isn't the worst thing, I doubt I'll get a followup shot and it's only a few hundred yards from my house. I can clean the thing and go back out that evening.

BTW, I've seen Ted eleven times. Given the chance I'll make it twelve.

[THBailey]

I will throw in another 2 cents worth. We hunt with a clean barrel. These guns tend to have a different POI after the first shot, ie: from a fouled barrel, hence the concept of a fouling shot. Trouble with hunting with a fouling shot is a boom in your hunting area first thing in the morning, then having to clean the gun that evening for a re-do the next day. Hunting with a clean barrel we just deprime at the end of the day and reprime in the morning. Sighting in to hunt with a clean barrel is a pain as you need to clean between every shot, as well as in the field after taking a shot.

And finally, under the heading "but I am completely new to this", after shooting at a critter take the time to reload before moving to find it. Even if you saw it fold up like it was struck with Thors Hammer. Nothing worse than getting 20 or 30 feet from your "dead" deer just to see it hop up and limp off while you hold an empty gun. Good luck, these front stuffers are a lot of fun.

[nugentfan]

Thanks for the excellent feedback guys, this is what makes Calguns great. Nugentfan, your experiences with Powerbelts are exactly what I have been reading. I may be stuck with them, not as big of a deal on the 100 acres I hunt in Virginia but anything I shoot on my property here I want DOA ASAP. I guess using a sabot round isn't the worst thing, I doubt I'll get a followup shot and it's only a few hundred yards from my house. I can clean the thing and go back out that evening.

BTW, I've seen Ted eleven times. Given the chance I'll make it twelve.

Awesome! You have seen him more than I have but I actually hunted with him and let me tell you that was an experience! And yes we'd go hunting or concert again in a heartbeat.

Back to the PB's while my gun could shoot magnum powder charges I was as I recall 100 grains of 777 so not shooting way too fast velocities for the soft lead, or obviously it still was? Somewhere I have several flat pieces of lead pulled from that bull and none of the shots exited. He was on a peninsula with private ground on the other sides of the river and I was afraid we'd lose him but nope. Did some crazy fast speed loading though to get him anchored. On a deer I assume the results would be better but then again if you have big whitetail and or happened to hit bone who knows. I have several packages left and they will never be hunted with in any state even if legal.
I bought a test pack of Thor's for Cali but this summer has not been contusive to load development. With the heat and smoke I don't even want to go outdoors. Also I have killed elk with T/C bullets in the past with no issues, maxi hunters I believe.
All my BP stuff got moved to Nevada at my dad's house(mine now) where I can shoot off the porch so can't check now.
Good luck and kill a big one this year or how many can you shoot there?
nugentfan

[ACfixer]

Awesome! You have seen him more than I have but I actually hunted with him and let me tell you that was an experience! And yes we'd go hunting or concert again in a heartbeat.

Back to the PB's while my gun could shoot magnum powder charges I was as I recall 100 grains of 777 so not shooting way too fast velocities for the soft lead, or obviously it still was? Somewhere I have several flat pieces of lead pulled from that bull and none of the shots exited. He was on a peninsula with private ground on the other sides of the river and I was afraid we'd lose him but nope. Did some crazy fast speed loading though to get him anchored. On a deer I assume the results would be better but then again if you have big whitetail and or happened to hit bone who knows. I have several packages left and they will never be hunted with in any state even if legal.
I bought a test pack of Thor's for Cali but this summer has not been contusive to load development. With the heat and smoke I don't even want to go outdoors. Also I have killed elk with T/C bullets in the past with no issues, maxi hunters I believe.
All my BP stuff got moved to Nevada at my dad's house(mine now) where I can shoot off the porch so can't check now.
Good luck and kill a big one this year or how many can you shoot there?
nugentfan

I can shoot two bucks in Tennessee and another two in Virginia on some land I leased there. Pretty cool because it allows one to fill a tag with any ol' buck, then be patient for the mac-daddy. I can shoot one doe with a rifle or muzzleloader in TN, and an additional 3 doe with archery gear. VA is different on that... but I won't be killing a bunch of gals regardless, maybe one for freezer fodder.

Back to Nugent... Did you pig hunt with him or deer?

[nugentfan]

Sweet! nice to be a place where there is real deer management. In my experience generally whitetails eat better than mulies plus getting more than one a year is beyond awesome.
My hunt was the family property near Irons, MI for whitetail. The hunt became secondary which for me is like not possible and I only filled an antlerless tag and not my buck tag. Being within two feet of Ted doing an acoustic concert for a few guys.. priceless and I was literally an arms length away. Stranglehold with no electricity mesmerizes you. For real.