The Accurate Reloading Forums
More power
08 November 2010, 03:20
larryshoresMore power
I shot a really nice whitetail buck (8 pt, scores 140) Friday afternoon which was our last day of muzzleloader season It was only about 100 yards away. I hit him perfectly. However the bullet did not exit. There was virtually no blood for about 30 yards. When he started bleeding, there was a fair amount of blood. The far shoulder was smashed.
I had a difficult time at first trailing the deer because of the lack of blood. Actually, I was a bit concerned.
The lack of complete penetration on the deer will make me more careful in the future about the distances I shoot with the muzzleloader.
I was wondering if there is a muzzleloader that will shoot more than 150 grains of powder?
Thanks.
08 November 2010, 03:32
Idaho RonWhat was you bullet? I use a Paper patched 500 S&W bullet I make out of a Lee C-501-440-RF mould. These come out at 460 grains and I have never seen one inside an animal. They plow through animals like they were made of butter. One buck was shot quartering to my buddy. He hit the buck in the shoulder and the bullet exited out the rear leg on the opposite side. I don’t know what your bullet is but I don’t think powder is the problem. I think your problem is the bullet. I only use 80 gr of Pyrodex P with my paper patched bullets. Ron
08 November 2010, 04:07
ted thornYou have plenty of power you need a better bullet.....what are you shooting?
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08 November 2010, 05:02
admiralcouldn't agree more with Idaho Ron and Ted. you don't need 150 grains of powder, you need a bullet with some mass. muzzleloaders will never be centerfire rifles. there's a thread on this same page with a gentleman who killed a dandy buck but his sabot 175gr. bullet from his .45 Knight didn't quite get the job done on the first shot. a 350gr. or bigger bore size lead bullet would have clobbered his buck first shot.
08 November 2010, 05:40
larryshoresI left them all at the camp. I think it is a Hornady 265 grain soft point in a sabot. I will look through by bag to see if I brought them home.
Make no mistake, this bullet wrecked this buck. He sure as heck didn't go far. However, when it would not fully penetrate at 100 yards, I am not about to try it at 200.
08 November 2010, 06:23
larryshoresI just found them. Actually, they are 300 grain Hornady bullets in a sabot.
08 November 2010, 06:34
DoublessSounds like the Hornady SST. I would recommend you get some Lyman Harvester bullets and try then. Also, there are a fair number of us that cast our own, and we might be willing to get you a handful to try...
I have been very leary of bullets with plastic tips. I think they open too violently, and stand the chance of coming apart inside the animal. Sounds like that is what happened to you.
08 November 2010, 08:22
ted thornStay away from power belts...they are just a soft lead hollow point with a splash of copper plateing
They are realy soft!!!
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08 November 2010, 08:37
jbi shoot 300 gr hornady bullets over 80 gr of fffg goex,and have always had complete penetration.
Perhaps your problem is too much velocity.
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08 November 2010, 14:24
larryshoresIf we were talking center fire rifles, I would probably agree. However, muzzleloaders are relatively show even with 150 grains.
Thinking back, my kids shot a nice buck the week before from only slightly shorter distance. Perfect shot. He used the same load. The bullet blew right through. His buck went about twice as far as mine, yet there was little blood.
The bullets are in fact the Hornady SST-ML.
09 November 2010, 00:46
Red C.I used to use Thompson maxi-balls in my .45 caliber muzzle loader and they always made a complete pass through. The past two years I've been using Hornady XTP bullets with sabots and this year I didn't get a complete pass through with it. However, the deer fell in its tracks, so there was no problem, but I may need to rethink the projectile I'm using.
Red C.
Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion.
09 November 2010, 01:42
buckeyeshooterget the barnes expanders in a sabot if you want complete penetration with expansion. Xtp's have always worked well for me but the expanders penetrate better.
09 November 2010, 05:00
larryshoresNo one has commented on whether there is a muzzleloader that will shoot more than 150 grains.
09 November 2010, 05:07
John SI don't know about a ML that can safely handle a 150gr charge of BP, but there are several MLs on the market that shoot smokeless powder...and they deliver quite a lot more velocity with any given bullet than a 150gr charge of BP. I use a Savage 10MLII with smokeless, and the 300gr SST or a 300gr Barnes Original. Both deliver pass throughs up to 200yds each and every time from broadside or quartering shots when started at 2300fps. If your state allows smokeless to be used I would look at one of them.
09 November 2010, 06:37
ted thornquote:
Originally posted by larryshores:
No one has commented on whether there is a muzzleloader that will shoot more than 150 grains.
Yes there is get your wallet out $$$$$$$$$
http://www.ultimatefirearms.com/
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09 November 2010, 06:43
larryshoresThanks and ouch! That is serious money to spend for something I would hunt with maybe 4 days a year .
18 November 2010, 00:42
L. David KeithLarry, Howa makes a unique M/L and it shoots 200 grains; uses pistol cases for the primer (if I recall) and is supposed to shoot out to 500 yards. Never owned one, just handled them and talked to a few guys about it. I have a friend out west who shoots large game out to 300 yards with his (can't remember the brand). He owns Ultimate Muzzle loading products (bullets, etc). I'll send you Gino's number if you want to email me.
Congrats on the buck,
David
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