I did a search in this forum to find what bullets will consistantly shoot well and what bullets everyone prefers. I believe I am more confused now than before!

Everyone has their own opinions, and each gun is picky, may or may not shoot one particular round well.

I am just starting muzzleloading, I have an Omega in the mail to me now. I will be hunitng Mule Deer in about 5 weeks with this gun and I need to get a reliable load. The shot distance on this ranch could be up to 200 yards and these deer are huge in body size.

Powerbelts, Barnes, Dead Center ... which one should I try first? Any bullets to stay away from? Which bullet would you start with in your testing if you were in my shoes?

Am I wrong to think that possibly I would want a pretty stiff load, like 3 - 50 gr pellets of 777? I want good trajectory, but decent accuracy as well.

Thanks.

If the ranges are that long,maybe you should have got a Sharps. derf

Wendell,

I think that the consensus is that Powerbelts are best for your application. I'd prefer them because they aren't sabots. Make sure that they are legal in that area then go to it. I'd use Pyrodex as well. I've no love for 777. The main thing to concentrate on in loading (I guess you'll be starting with 3 50 gr. pellets) is consistency in seating of the bullet. That does a lot for accuracy and accuracy is what you need at 200 yards.

The trouble I see with shooting plastic down the bore is that often it seems the plastic is a worse fouling than the BP. Some people clean between every shot when shooting sabots, PBs, etc. and I just had to ask why. They all told me the same thing, that the plastic crapped the accuracy for the next round. They would not shoot the plain old lead conicals though, they aren't "cutting edge" enough.

I shoot 295 gr. Powerbelt hollow points in front of 2 pyrodex pellets. If I do my part, I can expect three shot groups of right around MOA. This is in an Encore, off a bench.
I have found no other bullet that shoots near as well.
Good luck

I shoot the 245gr aero tip power belts in my 209x50 mag encore with 100 and 150grs of pyrodex pellets. The accuracy is there. My friends gun was off last year during our muzzle loader limited entry either sex hunt for elk. Missed 3-1 bull 75yds-2cows 40 and 64yrds with an old 40 in barrel Hawkin I think is was. All were head and neck shots. I took him up the last day and it was snowing-6inches on the road, and was watching the hill side when comming around the corner I saw 60-70hd on the hill side headed to the right. closest one was 212 yds. I told him to aim at the middle at the top of its back,when the bullet hit, it hit with a crack. It dropped in it tracks. The aero tip 245 gr with 100gr pyrodex pellets had hit it in the neck bone. Skinned around the neck, the bullet was hanging on the inside past the 3-1/2 mangled mass of busted bone. After getting on back home, we found a rock at 214yds about the size of an elk, he shot at it the bullet hit 3-1/2 ft to the right and over a foot high. Luck was on his side that day and he learned his lesson. He had just put on new buck horn sights. The front sight had slide off to the one side about an 1/8 of an inch. That bullet is funny how it slides down the barrel and when the powder is ignited the bullet expands and grabs the riflings. You could see them on the remainder of the bullet. All along I thought he was shooting the 295 gr bullet. Thats why when Wal mart got rid of muzzle loading stuff after the hunt I went around to all local store and bought all 245 aero tips they had for $4.00 and cents a card of 12. ended up with over 20 cards.

in all cases, the thompson maxi balls shoot great...

i've heard many people say, if it won't shoot those, it won't shoot anything but shot.

www.customcastbullets.com

when you find a bullet your gun likes
jeffe