Author Topic: magnum loads (Read 816 times)

Raging480 · « **on:** July 16, 2003, 11:44:16 AM »

I would like to hear opinions on this please. Are 150 grain charges necessary for the likes of Whitetails and black bears, within say, 125 yards? Obviously I'm speaking about inlines that are able to take the magnum charges.

John Traveler · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2003, 12:11:15 PM »

When you consider that the all-time classic .45-70-405 black powder cartridge has killed every known game animal in North America, the answer would have to be a qualified, "NO!". You certainly don't NEED "magnum" BP loads to kill deer at 125 yards.

Heavier powder charges give more velocity and flatter trajectory, of course. That translates to more striking power for jacketed sabot bullets, and yes, probably improved killing power too.

Underclocked · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2003, 06:43:28 PM »

NO.

I think 120 grains of powder is a "magnum" load. I rarely go beyond 100 grains of any kind of bp or sub. 85 grains of T7 FFg is plenty to push my 400+ grain conicals right along and I'm reasonably certain no animal on this continent would care to meet one of them.

150 grains of powder is RARELY, if ever, burned in the barrel of a typical muzzleloader. The return for your punishment would not be equitable.

HWooldridge · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2003, 05:50:39 AM »

The important thing is to hit the animal in a vital area and cause a quick kill. A deer hit in the lungs with a .54 ball will not care whether it was propelled by 60 or 120 grs of powder plus black powder has an upper limit on velocity anyway, so you get decreasing returns after a certain point. John's comment about the 45-70 is very valid but consider the quantity of men and game killed by the venerable 44-40 WCF and the point becomes even more apparent. Better to work up to a load comfortable to shoot that provides top accuracy then make a good stalk and clean kill.

denvas · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2003, 07:14:42 AM »

There is a big controversy going on around the net right now about certain brands of muzzleloaders not being qualified to handle loads of up to 150 grains. To me this is a lot of fuss over nothing. In the last 25 years I have handled and written about most of the muzzleloaders that have been seen on the market, and quite a few that never made it past the experimental stage. What I have found is that if you spend the time developing an ACCURATE load for your firearm, read here not the fastest, choosing the proper projectile and learning where to place a fatal shot on the animal in question, then I have found that such loads over 120 grains are not only a waste of powder and are not needed, but they usually are much less accurate than lesser loads. After all shouldnt our goal be to place the shot as accurately as possible in the animals vitals? Who cares how fast the projectile is going before it find the target! If you can not shoot a faster load accurately isnt that a waste of time and effort? Most of the barrels of todays inline designs, no matter which manufacturer the firearm in question is from, are simply too short to take advantage of such big loads; i.e. there isnt enough barrel to completely burn all of the powder and then turn it into the gases needed to push the projectile down the bore of the barrel in question.

kevin · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2003, 12:58:58 PM »

Denvas , you and I think directally alike, thats scares me , hehe,any way its my opinon that 150 grains is a bit much in any gun,a fellow also said something about shot plasement and knowing your rifle, (thank you for saying that) I've been saying the same thing over and over on this site, seems others feel the same, any how what ever you do read what
the manufacturer say to use in the rifle you bought or are thinking about buying , most manufacturers have a web site you can go to to ask questions, I would encouerage you to do so, be safe and keep yer powder dry.
Kevin[/b][/i][/quote][/code][/list][/list]

Raging480 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2003, 04:08:21 AM »

Yeah, I should have thought about it more, before asking that question. I bought a T/C Omega towards the end of last year, and I have been spending the summer expiramenting with different loads. I have been using Pyrodex and 777 pellets, and I have been shooting 300 grain xtps, Powerbelt bullets, and I plan on trying a few more saboted projectiles. Man, is it fun. My gun is shooting everything pretty accurately, about 4" at 100 yards. Well, I was using 2 pellets for my shooting, and towards the end of my day at the range, I loaded 3 pellets of Pyrodex, and a 348 grain aerotip powerbelt. Accuracy did not decrease, my second shot flew right through the center of the target. The recoil was significant, but it is nice to know that I have a "monster load." I really like shooting 100 grains, the kick is less than a shotgun. I have heard from a few people that powerbelt bullets do not penetrate very well, resulting in poor blood trails. Does anyone here have any experience with this? I have been shooting these more than sabots, but I may lean more towards Swift A-frame or Winchester Platinum tipped and Hornady xtps if they aren't good game takers.

RandyWakeman · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2003, 02:23:15 PM »

No issue with 348 gr. Aerotip or 405 gr. Powerbelts.

kevin · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2003, 03:05:24 AM »

I have an issue for the power belts-- they work excelllently, first and fore most they were desined for regular muzzlloading rifles with a 1/48 and 1/32 twist rifles and have heard of 1/20 and faster getting and knocking down elk, the problem lays with some folke driving these bullets at hyper velosities the power belts even state if you were to open the packege and read the direction up to TWO pyrodex pellets.
I have taken two does with a 285 grain hollow point bulltes at 75 and 92 yards (power belts) which did complete pass threws one bullet was not recoverd and the other mushroomed and was imbeaded in a sweat gum tree about an inch in and was dug out and weighed retaining 278 grains of weight and in my book thats efective.
also a 231 lb. hog was taken and the bullet also did a complete pass through going through it shoulders and dropping were it stood,, ive also killed many more deer with round balls, the real moral of the story is go out and practise practise untill you know were your bullet hits and get your guns sited in no matter what you shoot with.
Kevin