Mule deer muzzleloader load info

killshot824

killshot824

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Feb 8, 2012
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Headed west for a december muzzlelader hunt this year and was curious what load combos people are using out there! Im shooting a CVA optima .50cal with 28” stainless barrel! Ive never really shot it past 150yrds so im curious what guys are using to shoot decent 300 yrd groups! Any and all info would be greatly appreciated! We will be mule deer/whitetail hunting by the way!
 
JimP

JimP

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Mar 28, 2016
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Where are you planning on going out west? In some states a 300 yard muzzle loader shot with open sights is going to be a hard thing to do. But in states that allow scopes not so hard. Also different states have differ requirements on powder and bullets which will also have a effect on the rang that you plan on shooting.
 
Colorado Cowboy

Colorado Cowboy

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Jun 8, 2011
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JimP said:
Where are you planning on going out west? In some states a 300 yard muzzle loader shot with open sights is going to be a hard thing to do. But in states that allow scopes not so hard. Also different states have differ requirements on powder and bullets which will also have a effect on the rang that you plan on shooting.
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Yep, make a huge difference.
 
W

westcoastmountainman

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May 14, 2018
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Here in Oregon, you can use a scope but can't use the pre measured powder pellets, it's either pyrodex in some counties or original black powder. You can't use an in line muzzleloader for traditional hunts, you have to use either a flintlock or cap and ball. What state are you planning to Hunt in.

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killshot824

killshot824

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Feb 8, 2012
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Sorry guys guess i should have specified.... we will be hunting northwest nebraska and as far as i can tell reading the regs there arent any limitations on scopes or the use of an inline!
 
Gr8bawana

Gr8bawana

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Aug 14, 2014
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killshot824 said:
Sorry guys guess i should have specified.... we will be hunting northwest nebraska and as far as i can tell reading the regs there arent any limitations on scopes or the use of an inline!
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That's funny, to us guy who really are "out west" Nebraska is back east. :rolleyes:
Just bustin your chops.
Good luck on your hunt.
 
B

Big Chief J

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Feb 25, 2016
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I've had good accuracy out to 100 yards with 100 grains Pyrodex Pellets and a sabot/.44 cal 250 gr XTP. That's shooting out of NEF Huntsman. I started experimenting with 50 grains (volume) of BH 209 and the same sabot/bullet combo and the 100 yard groups are good too.

I only use open sights so I can't speak of the groups at longer range.
 
W

westcoastmountainman

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May 14, 2018
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Big Chief J said:
I've had good accuracy out to 100 yards with 100 grains Pyrodex Pellets and a sabot/.44 cal 250 gr XTP. That's shooting out of NEF Huntsman. I started experimenting with 50 grains (volume) of BH 209 and the same sabot/bullet combo and the 100 yard groups are good too.

I only use open sights so I can't speak of the groups at longer range.
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An old buddy of mine used around 100-150 gr pryodex with 165+ 30 call bullets in sabots. Used to kill deer around the 200 yard mark.

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W

westcoastmountainman

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May 14, 2018
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Sportsman's Warehouse used to sell pointed lead 50 Cal bullets specifically for in lines. One of the guys behind the counter swore by them. He used the with good results in his cap and ball Hawkins.

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Hilltop

Hilltop

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Feb 25, 2014
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Many different loads will accomplish what your looking to do. The trick is finding what your gun likes to shoot. I am comfortable to about 250 yards with 150 grains (3 pellets) Pyrodex and 250 grain Powerbelt aero bullets. Past 250 yards, the bullet drop really increases making exact yardage crucial. 0-250 yards is reasonably flat and easy to keep on target.
 
Roboz

Roboz

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Mar 10, 2011
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I am working up loads for my optima v2 as i get time but the barnes TEZ and 70 grains(weighed)100 volumetric of BH209 are showing good signs to 200 yards right now, my next step is increasing powder by 2-5 grains at a time till i find the sweet spot. This should get you a good start.
 
H

HighPlainsHunter

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Mar 1, 2018
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With elk, antelope, sheep, mule deer, and gobs of turkeys NW Nebraska can certainly be a fun place to hunt. I have done quite a bit of muzzleloader hunting in that region and also shoot a CVA. I started with power belts but the issue is they are near full bore diameter so you can get bullet with at better BC by going to a sabot. My gun likes the Hornady SST 250 grain .50 cal sabots with a 90-110 grain charge of Blackhorn 209 or 777. To reliably ignite Blackhorn 209 you need a modified breech plug if you have an older gun, or if you have a newer version they make a special breech plug. I have a thread in the muzzleloader section on this modification.

Don't always assume more powder is better.

Be careful with wind on longer shots, it pushes these big fat muzzlelaoder bullets around pretty bad.
 
DH56

DH56

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Jan 17, 2014
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I have been using BH 209 since 2011 and won't use anything else. Clean shooting and consistent. I shoot a 50 caliber Encore and have it shooting well out to 250 yards with no issues. I killed a beautiful Whitetail in Kansas that scored just over 170 inches with it at 115 yards, and several other whitetails with it as well. At long distances is shoots the 250 grain shockwaves the best with 95 grains of BH 209. It likes the Hornady 240 Grain XTP's real well too, and I only use 80 grains of BH 209 with those. They pattern real well and have tight groups within 1" at 100 yards.

I agree with HigplainsHunter on the thought process that some may think more is better. You really just need to try different combinations of powder and bullets to see what your gun shoots the best, and in most cases with me, less is better.

Also make sure your set up is compatible as well- read the information on the breech plugs that qualify.

http://www.blackhorn209.com/
 
T

Tim McCoy

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Dec 15, 2014
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westcoastmountainman said:
Here in Oregon, you can use a scope but can't use the pre measured powder pellets, it's either pyrodex in some counties or original black powder. You can't use an in line muzzleloader for traditional hunts, you have to use either a flintlock or cap and ball. What state are you planning to Hunt in.

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Scopes in an OR Muzzleloader hunt, you sure?
 
T

Tim McCoy

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Dec 15, 2014
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Oregon
westcoastmountainman said:
On an in line yes. Traditional muzzleloader no

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Scopes are not allowed during Muzzleloader only seasons in OR, except permitted visually impared hunters, in line or traditional matters not. I just checked the regs as it has been that way for years, to make sure it did not change. It has not.

Further, the tipped bullet you showed earlier, would also be illegal to hunt with in OR during Muzzleloader only seasons. You can use what ever you want on a Muzzleloader during rifle seasons. You may want to check the OR regs page 19.
 
Umpqua Hunter

Umpqua Hunter

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Tim McCoy said:
Scopes are not allowed during Muzzleloader only seasons in OR, except permitted visually impared hunters, in line or traditional matters not. I just checked the regs as it has been that way for years, to make sure it did not change. It has not.

Further, the tipped bullet you showed earlier, would also be illegal to hunt with in OR during Muzzleloader only seasons. You can use what ever you want on a Muzzleloader during rifle seasons. You may want to check the OR regs page 19.
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Tim's right on. No scopes in Oregon during muzzleloader only hunts.
 
Umpqua Hunter

Umpqua Hunter

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Roboz said:
I am working up loads for my optima v2 as i get time but the barnes TEZ and 70 grains(weighed)100 volumetric of BH209 are showing good signs to 200 yards right now, my next step is increasing powder by 2-5 grains at a time till i find the sweet spot. This should get you a good start.
Click to expand...

Roboz is giving you some good info with your rifle CVA. I killed an antelope at 200 yards with a similar load in a CVA Accura.

If you are hunting states with minimal muzzleloading restrictions, you can build an extremely accurate muzzy with plenty of energy to kill an elk at 500 yards. We have one we had custom built for hunting AZ, UT and NM. My wife shot a 1/2 MOA group at 300 yards. A good starting point for these is:

Arrowhead Sporting Goods for components: http://www.arrowheadsporting.com

Bestill Creations to build a rifle: https://www.facebook.com/Bestill-Creations-Custom-Muzzleloaders-583021805207339/

Kinetic Performance for bullets: http://www.kineticperformancellc.com

Swinglock sizing dies: http://www.swinglock.net

Blackhorn 209 powder
 
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