A little about the Hornady FPB 350 grain ***NEW Range Report Added***

[duckaroni]

They load pretty easy in my NEF.

Just need to be straight to get started, then they just slide down real easy.

Only shot them at 50 yards so far. Managed a 1/2" 3 shot group. This was with 75 grains of triple 7.

[Busta]

If you guys want them to load easier??? The next time you have your breech plug out of your rifle, push one of the bullets into your bore upside down (you will be pushing into the hollow cavity of the base) far enough to swadge the rifling kerfs into the base, then either push it all the way through or push it back out the muzzle from the breech end. The majority of the bullets length has a diameter of only .497", that will fit in any .50 caliber, it is only approximately the last .125" of the hollow base that is flared out to .507". Now simply align the bullets rifling kerfs in the base with your rifling in your barrel right-side-up, now tell me how easy they load?

If you like the results, push your whole pack of bullets through in the same manner. The next time you go to the range they will all be pre-rifled for easy loading. Just remember if you are using different rifles, the rifling diameter and width of lands and grooves will be different from a different make, like a T/C and a Knight for instance.

Try it, you may like it.

[7-30 Waters]

Busta:

That is a super idea.  I tried to load some today in my daughters new Genesis.  I crushed the tip of the first one and decided to rethink my process.  You just solved my problem.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

thanks, 

[glwenzl]

I must have a bigger bore dia??? These things loaded great for me once I figured out it was a precision fit and they had to be started very straight.... In my riffle (ML-700) if you have to force them something is very wrong these things load just like they shoot…. Very welll!!!

[glwenzl]

I only shot 15 of these things (but bought 60 more!) and at first I had a hard time getting them to go and was a cussing them but once i figured out that if I got them started straight (in my Rem ML 700) that they would just slide right in with almost no effort. I just used my fingers to push them in as far as I could reach then the ramrod took em home nicely... Maybe some bores are different sizes???

[Busta]

Yep, starting them straight is everything. I tried them in a tighter bore with a sharp crown and they were not nearly as accurate, but I think they were getting slightly distorted. Just use the method in my previous post for the tighter bores, I think you will like them much better if you do.

[12ptdroptine]

OK so what is the drop with this bullet with ...120gr of 777 or 120 of blackhorn? I am looking for the magic load..For me so far it is a 250grsst and 100g loose 777...But I would like to get away from sabots and corrosive powder..And with a 350 gr bullet... How is the recoil?

[alsaqr]

Sighted in my Encore with the 350 grain FPB bullets for elk hunting this weekend.  Am using 120 grains of 2 F Goex Pinnacle and a Winchester shotgun primer. 

Have shot three 3 shot groups at 100 yards with no swabbing between shots:  This is the beauty of Goex Pinnacle.  Accuracy is not fantastic but it is adequate-about 2.25-2.5."   

[pshootr]

cmon guys your not shooting a 50 cal sniper rifle!a 2 inch group at 100 yds is pretty damn good with a piece of lead that big!be realistic are you really gonna shoot at an animal 200 to 250 yds away with a smokepole,not too many of us will!COME ON GUYS!!!!!

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

200 is doable. A 350gr slug would be a challenge.   My brother in law this sept. went on his first ever muzzleloader hunt, spent a few hours on the range messing with the scope on my Accura and the next day he took a buck at 175 yards. Of course with was with a 250gr thor conical not 350gr.  The rifle holds a 1 1/2" 3 shot group @ 200 yards so why the heck not. If you got a good rest and know what the bullet drop is, go for it.

[alsaqr]

Killed this boar hog in 21 September with the .50 Encore and the 350 grain FPB bullet.  Distance was about 70 yards.  Bullet hit the hog in the chest missing the heart.  He flopped but needed a coup de gras to stop the suffering.  Powder was 120 grains of 2F Goex Pinnacle.