muzzel loading new be

[zacharoo]

I am 63 years old and know nothing about muzzle loading. I have a chance to buy a CVA wolf 50 caliber cheap from an old friend. I have a lot of 45 cast bullets in .454 dia. from 250 to 285 grains. Some hard and some soft cast. HP and solid. I will get at 150 sabots for 50 caliber with .451 to 452 dia. bullets. what should I size down to with these bullets for the best results. .451 or .452 dia. I will have and older 1.5 x4.5  power BSA scope with it what should I do??
Zacharoo

[flintlock]

Here is the Harvester link, they say either .451 or .452 on their sabots...You could call or just size some for each and shoot them and see how they shoot...
http://harvesterbullets.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=3
 
If you cast and size your own bullets, this will be a fun hobby for you...I think I would start with a basic sabot for .451s and see how easy they load and how they group...If they need to be tighter, then try some .452s...

[zacharoo]

I don't cast my own I have traded and stockpiled a lot. A Cajun tryes to be ready!!!!
Zacharoo

[lefty_red]

Harester or MMP has sabots to fit the 454 bullets.


Lefty

[lefty_red]

But the bullets in the sabot need to be soft, pure lead soft.


If too hard, the MZ does not have the velocity of smokeless ammo and will not humanely kill an animal.  The bullet will just punch through and not expand.


Also, I use the regular Harvester Crushed Rib sabot in .451" and a pure lead SWC in .454" and it works great.  But my bullet is only 255gr.  Larger bullets, over 300gr, might need the .454" sabot.


Lefty