There is a couple of us going to Northeast Colorado on a blackpowder deer hunt this year and I am looking for a good bullet to use in my gun. I have a new Traditions Pursuit rifle 50 cal., 28" barrel coming. I used a Powerbelt 45 cal HP 2 yrs ago to harvest a good 6x8 Mule deer. I made a heart shot and he went about 25yds. but there was no blood trail. The hunting regs. say no sabots so that leaves not much to choose from that I have found. I looked at some T/C maxi balls but the guy at Cabelas said that they did not shoot good in inline guns. Thanks for any help, Steve

T/C Bonded Shockwave/Hornady Bonded SST...250 grain...great bullet for big game.

i shoot the shockwaves, so thats not much help to you. i hate powerbelts for the exact reason you mentioned, no blood trail. imo they are too soft. you could try a heavier pb and see if it works. hornady also recently introduced a full size muzzeloader bullet.
you could always try the lead maxiballs and see how they shoot. they have been killing game for years and years.

You could try the http://www.harvesterbullets.com/sabertooth.htm or the new Hornady as mentioned by coopjd.

Or you could go with some all-lead conicals from Bull Shop or NoExcuses. You would need to slug your bore and ask for proper sizing though.

quote:

I looked at some T/C maxi balls but the guy at Cabelas said that they did not shoot good in inline guns.

That is a troubling statement, as far as I am concerned... I have shot Lyman Maxis that I cast myself into 3-1/2" groups at 200 out of a .504 White. So to say they don't shoot well in in-lines is a blanket statement that is just itching to be disproved.

But UC is exactly right. You need the correct diameter for everything to work like it is supposed to!

Alot of newer manufacture inlines have a faster twist than is needed for conicals.Thats not to say they wont shoot .Im sure the employee was trying to point you to in stock merchandise that they make a good profit on.
I have just purchased a t/c maxi ball mould and mould handles for $33 total,including shipping.
Once my small supply of sabots runs out,I will switch back to 370 gr maxi ball conicals.much less expensive than $20 for 20 bullets.

I have a couple of inlines that shoot conicals really well...one is a 1-28 50 cal. and one is a 1-24 54. cal

Here you go....And they work great.

http://www.prbullet.com/colcon.htm

I have a Traditions in-line that shoots the old Thompson Maxi-hunter conicals really well. They are a lot less expensive than the new stuff. They load much easier than the sabots and are devastating on Whitetail.

Pure lead bullets work well at lower velocities but once you start pushing past 1,800fps, you need to look at jacketed bullets contrary to what some manufacturers may have you believe.

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I think that I will buy me some T/C's and just try them myself. One reason I was looking for an alternative is I get a real burr up my butt having to pay $1.20 per round and all you get is a soso bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by S.S.:
Thanks guys for the suggestions. I think that I will buy me some T/C's and just try them myself. One reason I was looking for an alternative is I get a real burr up my butt having to pay $1.20 per round and all you get is a soso bullet.

That's why you should try the Precision Rifle Colorado bullets. They are way above so-so.
http://www.prbullet.com/colcon.htm

One of the issues with shooting conicals vs sabots is that they are traditionally about twice the weight and very recoil heavy and offer poor ballistics compared to the lighter bullets in sabots.

wuss.

You can't use the recycled milk jugs for big game in Colorado.

quote:

Originally posted by sheephunterab:
One of the issues with shooting conicals vs sabots is that they are traditionally about twice the weight and very recoil heavy and offer poor ballistics compared to the lighter bullets in sabots.

I was surprised when my pet conical load chronographed only 1200 fps.Decided to up my powder charge.