[buck]

Hey Y'all, Im a long time reader, but newly resisted. You guys have a great community here and im excited to help where i can.
I drew a dedicated deer tag this year and will be trying out muzzleloader hunting for my first time ever. Iv mostly hunted with my bow and sometimes my rifle.
I am going to purchase a CVA Accura LR, but I don't know yet what bullet i should shoot? My buddy shoots powerbelts and a guy at sportsmans recommended Thor bullets. Any thoughts for me?
I think I am going to use Blackhorn 209 if anyone has any thoughts here as well.
Also it seems some people measure the powder by volume and some by weight. Im guessing by weight is a little more consistent, is this correct?

Anyways, thanks for the help and any pointers you guys are willing to share.

 

[PBH]

I switched to the Federal muzzy bullets last year. I've only shot targets with them so far, but they have significantly improved the accuracy of my Winchester muzzy rifle. I was previously shooting Powerbelts, and just never had any confidence in hitting a target with them -- I was always crossing my fingers...

You'll need to shoot multiple different bullets to figure out what your rifle likes. Good luck!

https://www.federalpremium.com/muzzleloading/11-PMZ50TC1.html

 

[buck]

PBH, Thank you for the information! I will definitely add those Federal bullets to my list to try out! Thanks for adding the link as well.

 

[Critter]

While hunting in Utah I have been using Barnes TEZ bullets. They group well and I have had complete pass through on the deer that I have taken.

For Colorado I have been using Thor 300 grains for elk and 250 for deer.

Powder is up to you. I get my best grouping with the Thor's using plain old Pyrodex but swapped over to 209 for my Utah hunt last year.

 

[High Desert Elk]

Been shooting precision rifle bullets and BH 209 for an upcoming youth muzzy antelope hunt in early August. Fouling shot is about 3 inches from susequent dirty shots. Dirty shots cut the same hole when I do my part.

 

[brisket]

Barnes Spit Fire TMZ/TEZ.

https://www.barnesbullets.com/muzzleloaders/spit-fire-tmz/

If the TMZ is a little tight, try the TEZ, it's the same bullet with a thinner sabot.

 

[RemingtonCountry]

I can't say enough good things about Barnes TMZ and T-EZ, both have exceeded every expectation I had for them. Some take it to the next level and shoot Cutting Edge, Harvester, or Parker Productions but I have never felt the need.

 

[derekp1999]

I shoot 300gr Hornady XTP-MAG bullets in TC Super Glide sabots (yellow). Buy them separately and you'll save yourself some cash rather than buying the "pre-assembled" 20 packs. From Sportsman's Warehouse I buy a 50ct box of bullets from the reloading section for $19 and then a 50ct package of TC Super Glide sabots for $10... 50 bullets for $30 is better than 20 bullets for $20.

This has been my go to round for the last several years... shoots great and performs very well terminally. I'm more than comfortable with this combination out to 250 yards.

My son shoots the 250gr Hornady XTP in the same TC Super Glide sabots and those are even cheaper at $29 for a box of 100 and they shoot just as good with a bit less recoil. Get a box of those and two packs of the sabots and you have 100 rounds for $50... not bad.

 

[Lone_Hunter]

+1 on Barnes TEZ

 

[taxidermist]

This question has been debated many times here. Lots of different recommendations as well.


Not ALL ML shoot the same projectile/powder combo the same. (I own 7 and a couple wont shoot what my CVA likes)


I have great accuracy, and DOI shots using a .44 300gr. Hornady XTP bullet with 110gr. volume of 777 powder. Killed Elk at 220yds. and deer at 250yds. When I say "killed" its just that! dropped them in their tracks and didn't have to track.

 

[byuduckhunter]

I have had good success with Thor bullets. Killed a moose with it with 90 grain 777. Complete pass through but it was at 40 yards. Exit hole was about 2 inches wide. I was sold when i was at the range and hit a rock behind the paper target and split the boulder in half and the bullet had retained almost all it's weight.

Having said all that I drew a Monroe muzzy elk tag this year and I ordered a box of Barnes TEZs and look forward to seeing how they shoot. I've never hunted where sabots are legal until now. If for some reason I can't get it to group I will have no reservations with using thors. I will also be using 209s and BH powder so I'm excited to see if all the hype is justified.

 

[DallanC]

44cal 240 gr XTPs for deer, 300gr XTPs for Elk. They work unbelievably well, and super accurate in allllllll my guns. I love them in Hornady green sabots over 90 grains of RS for deer, or 110 grains of RS for Elk.

I buy bulk handloader boxes, 240s come 100 per box, 300s are 50 per box.

-DallanC

 

[DallanC]

Powder is up to you. I get my best grouping with the Thor's using plain old Pyrodex but swapped over to 209 for my Utah hunt last year.

Me too... I'm on the fence about sticking with BH209 or going back to pyro. I still had to swab between shots with BH209... sucked. RS was still more accurate. I did crono BH209... fractionally better than RS but nothing close to book #'s.

That #### peppered the hell out of my crono though... it was not getting a full clean burn.

-DallanC

 

[buck]

Wow, I cant thank everyone enough. This is a lot of great information! Just like some of you have said, different combination work better in different guns, so i figured i would use this info to point me towards a few different options to try out and i definitely got that. Thank you guys so much. I can't wait to hit the range and start putting some rounds into paper to see what works best.
Im excited to hunt the muzzleloader season and see what its like, as i said i typically hunt with my Bow when the bucks are easy to find, hard to shoot. Or with my rifle when the bucks are hard to find AND hard to shoot haha.

 

[buck]

Question, is there a like button or something similar to let everybody know i read and appreciate their responses, or do i need to reply to each one?

 

[Critter]

Question, is there a like button or something similar to let everybody know i read and appreciate their responses, or do i need to reply to each one?

Right hand side just under the post if you are using a computer

For a phone it is usually right at the bottom of the post

 

[buck]

Right hand side just under the post if you are using a computer

For a phone it is usually right at the bottom of the post

Well look at that... I don't know how I missed that. Thanks Critter!

 

[buck]

I shoot 300gr Hornady XTP-MAG bullets in TC Super Glide sabots (yellow). Buy them separately and you'll save yourself some cash rather than buying the "pre-assembled" 20 packs. From Sportsman's Warehouse I buy a 50ct box of bullets from the reloading section for $19 and then a 50ct package of TC Super Glide sabots for $10... 50 bullets for $30 is better than 20 bullets for $20.

This has been my go to round for the last several years... shoots great and performs very well terminally. I'm more than comfortable with this combination out to 250 yards.

My son shoots the 250gr Hornady XTP in the same TC Super Glide sabots and those are even cheaper at $29 for a box of 100 and they shoot just as good with a bit less recoil. Get a box of those and two packs of the sabots and you have 100 rounds for $50... not bad.

Thanks for the advice on the cheaper way to do it. Im always down to save a little more money for the next adventure... Thanks!

 

[DallanC]

Wow, I cant thank everyone enough. This is a lot of great information! Just like some of you have said, different combination work better in different guns, so i figured i would use this info to point me towards a few different options to try out and i definitely got that.

Make some Smokepole friends, see if they cant send you some different bullet / sabot combos to try before you commit to buying large amounts of bullets that might not shoot well.

I detest barnes, but I know there is a huge number of people who love them. I love XTPs, seen some amazing results... know of very very few people that dont like them. Powerbelts have a reputation for failures when hitting heavy bone as the lead is too soft.

/shrug

-DallanC

 

[DallanC]

Get a box of those and two packs of the sabots and you have 100 rounds for $50... not bad.

After the sandy hook shooting and the subsequent run on shooting ammo and components, those hornady sabots were SUPER hard to find. I ended up finding a online website that was clearing otu old stock and I ordered 8 packs. More than enough to last my hunting career. They screwed up the order... sent 8 packs and a knife I didnt order... I reported the knife and asked if they wanted me to send it back. Soemwhere wires got crossed, and they sent me 8 more packs of sabots.

I now have 16 packs of hornady sabots here at the house... lol. And they never got back to me to send back the knife (really neat ceramic blade).

-DallanC