Last year I purchased my first muzzleloader a encore. I tryed many different loads.I just couldn't get any thing to group.It seem the best was using a 435 gr. I now have a ammo can of several bullets. I called Thompson several times
ashing for some help. and was going to send it back to them when I saw their Shockwave bullet. I ordered some went to the range and was excited about how they shot.They shot so well that the guy next to me was very surprised at the grouping also.
I will be elk hunting this year and would like to use these. I'm worried that 300gr may be border line of being heavy enough. I know the closer the shot the better. Would anyone know how effective these may be out to 150yrds.Fps is 1985. BC.240 SD .175
Thank you
Matt

I don't know these bullets specifically, but at that velocity with that BC, I'd stick to 100 yds or less. Shouldnt be much of a problem. Is this for a .50 cal?

Brent

Brent
Yes it is for a 50 cal.
Thanks for the reply.
Matt

As the guy next to you, yes, I was impressed with the Encore. Nice to see you here at AR Matt

Jim

Matt,
Using "point blank" software, you have over 1600 foot pounds of energy at 150 yards, that should still be good for elk. And if your fps is repeatable, then you could sight about 1.5 inch high at 50 and 100 yards and have a "hold dead on" to 150 yards. What is your powder charge to get that FPS?

Bus H
Thanks for the reply. The 1985 fps is a average from ten shots. I used 130 gr, pyro pellets.
Thanks
Matt

Matt,
Thanks for that info, I happen to be using the same charge on the 250 grain shockwave, just have not had a chance to chrono yet. I am shooting an Omega, 50 cal and getting 1.8 inch 3 shot groups at 100 yards. I will be trying the 300 grain shockwave and the hornady SST this weekend, might up the charge a bit to see what happens to the pattern, of course I am hoping for sub MOA

Matt,
Well I didn't get the sub MOA, but with 140 grains the groups went down to 1.25 for the 250 grain and 1.4 for the 300 grain. The Hornady SST was not as good, I guess the omega likes TC bullets. Now I have to chrono this load to decide which bullet I will take to Idaho for mule deer

Bud I tried the 250 SST in the encore and got pretty fair results,wanted to see just what I would get.I usually use the 195 gr barnes or the 200 gr sst.I used T-7 and pyro select @100 grsfor testing the 250.
Someone posted on one of the boards that the shock wave and the sst were the same bullet just different color,I believe they are right and after receiving a box of the 200 gr shock wave bullets yesterday pretty sure of it because sst doesn't come in 50 cal 200 gr and the shock wave was a 40 cal bullet in a 50 cal sabot.Will test these as soon as I can.
Back to the 250,including a pic the top 3-shot group is with T-7 less than an in and the bottom 4-shot less than 2 in,I think a lot of that was me because they are in a straight line across the target.If you want to use the sst or shock wave You may want to try dropping the charge to 115 grs with the pyro or T-7.Good luck on your hunt whatever you choose.

Owensby,
Got to chrono the loads today, the 300 grain is an average of 2015 and the 250 grain averages 2125. The gives me 1700 ft pds. at 150 yards with the 300 and 1500 with the 250. I think I will take the extra 200 pounds
As for the SST Vs the shockwave, I thought the same thing, that only the tip is a different color, but in my gun, the 300 gr SST was consistant 2.5 inches and the 300 gr shockwave was consistantly under 1.5 I do not know why, but there must be some subtle difference.

Don't really know Bud,but there must be some difference somwhere.Maybe the sabots are different,I was told that hornady changed to the mmp sabots after the shot show this year but don't really know that either.
I have some of both in the 200 gr.when I get a chance I will see if they shoot different to.
Good luck on your hunt hope you get a big one.