Gentlemen,

Anyone have input on using the Barnes 300 Expander MZ in the 1:28 twist Encore??

I've used the older T/C Mag Sabots 44cal 240XTP on fox, numerous whitetail and two blackbear over the years. It has worked well on non-raking shots but I wish to switch to a heavier/tougher bullet that can handle bone.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
GVA

I use them in my TC Encore Katadin. I shoot the 300 grainers with 150 grains of pyrodex behind them. They group just over one inch at 100 yards. I get the same group and same point of aim with only 100 grains of pyrodex, but the chrono says I am going 170 fps faster with the extra powder.

This supprized me because I thought that with the short Katadin barell I would not get much more velocity with the exta powder.

I bought the gun last year and unsucesfully hunted during muzzleloader season last year up here in Maine. So I have yet to kill something with it. Sorry, I can't tell you about the terminal balistics. If they are half as deadly as other Barnes bullets I have used I am sure they will do the job.

iv taken 5 deer with this bullet and 3 tripple 7 pellets the 300 grain expander works flawlessly and really blows one hell of a hole.

Gary pop over to the www.modernmuzzleloader.com
forum,,there is a whole group of in-line shooters that test all kinds of slugs, bet they can help

quote:

Originally posted by GaryVA:
Gentlemen,

Anyone have input on using the Barnes 300 Expander MZ in the 1:28 twist Encore??

You might want to get a bag of "HPH-24" sabots from MMP. Easier loading than the supplied sabots; Encores tend to have tight bores.

That Expander is quite possibly the best ML copper HP on this planet. MMP also has a 3-Petal EZ-Load sabot that would work fine for your Expanders. At a store nearby, see if you can find Harvester Sabots. They load easier too. So do the Harvester Crush Ribs.

No.

The 3 Petal EZ is shorter than the HPH-24 (or HPH-12) and has not worked nearly as well with the 300 gr. MZ-Expander.

Gary, i use them in my Encore. I load them over 100grs of 2FF Triple Seven for 1 inch groups at 100Yards sometimes a little better. I havent tried them with over a 100grs of powder yet, but will in the next couple of weeks. Also i havent taken an animal with this load yet but hope to change that this season aswell. Karry

Thanks for the input.

I tried a few of the Barnes on paper at 100yds. I use 120grains Goex 2f w/ the XTPs which group around 1MOA. I tried 100grains Goex 2f w/ the 300 Expanders which stabilized(on paper) and grouped around 2MOA. Next time out I'll try 110 and 120grains. I had no problem loading the 300s w/ the supplied sabots and I suspect they will do best w/ the Goex in the 110 to 120grain load range. My concern is that this bullet will not stabilize on game. Years back I had experience w/ a long T/C full bore conical that barely stabilized on paper but would not on game causing the conical to go ass forward killing penetration. Hopefully this will not be the case shooting the Barnes thru a 1:28 barrel.

Thanks again,
GVA

The above 100gr Goex 2F/300gr Barnes load printed approx 7.5" (POI) lower than my old 120gr Goex 2F/240XTP load. I started to think that even at 120grains the Goex would be a bit slower than I'd like. So, I tried a five shot group using 100gr loose Triple7 2F w/ the Barnes Expander and it grouped POI the same as my 120gr Goex/240XTP load. I didn't use a chronograph but I'd guestimate that it must have been going somewhere near 1750fps which is far better than I was getting out of the Goex.

I'll tinker w/ the Triple7 and the 300 Expander to find a sweet spot. Then I'll try it on a deer or two before I use it on a bear.

Thanks Again,
GVA

UPDATE:

I tinkered a bit and found a consistent sweet spot w/ my 209x50 using the 300MZs:

- 100 grains loose T7-2F using a first generation (fully concave) breech plug and a CCI 209 primer. Load w/ the proper Barnes jag threaded slightly loose so it can turn w/ bullet.

Using this combination the 300 Barnes MZ w/ supplied sabot came alive. Starting w/ a clean barrel, I shot a three shot group at 100yds a tad over .5" tall and just under .5" wide. I canged targets and shot a second three shot group (4-6) into another approx .5" group at the same POI. I then took a third target and took one shot each at 25yds, 50yds, 75yds, and 125yds to check trajectory/POI. I then shot a third three shot group again at 100yds duplicating the first and second targets.

I used my normal routine of a damp (water/ballistol) patch followed by a dry patch between shots and I had no great difficulty loading the Barnes.

I'll go out Friday and chronograph this load but I suspect it is somewhere near 1750-1800fps.

GVA

I'm averaging 1803fps over the chronograph. I ran the numbers and this load should be running near 2200ft-lbs energy w/ an optimum game weight of 800lbs at the muzzle.

I plan to switch over to a Savage shooting the Barnes 300gr SSP for a dedicated bear muzzleloader. This should run near 3400ft-lbs energy w/ an optimum game weight over 1500lbs at the muzzle. It should be near 2200ft-lbs energy at 170yds downrange!

GVA

Gary:
Go over to 24 Hour Campfire, Campfire Forums, Muzzleloaders, I have a picture of a 300 MZ which I took out of an elk I shot a couple weeks ago, great bullet, better performance.

Jerry

Thanks Jerry! I didn't see what rifle you were shooting the Barnes out of. What barrel/twist did you use??

Thanks,
GVA