can a 50. cal. BMG bullet be fired in a muzzle loader?

[Jeff-B]

a friend was asking and i kinda got curious about it..is it possible? just the bullet,no shell....could it just be stuffed down the barrel of a 50. cal m/l with a patch or would it need a 54. or 58. cal with a patch or sabot? they weigh about 660- 700 gr.  
  anyone ever tried it or know / herd about the results of someone trying?

[Blaster]

Jeff-B, the diameter of the .50BMG bullet is .510 so that rules out the .50 Muzzle Loader.  Someone else will have to comment it's possible use in the .54 and .58's.
Also, these projectiles are really way too heavy for a ML.  Anxious to hear the responses on this question of yours.  Blaster (Bob in CO)

[Mark whiz]

about the only way to do it would be to wrap the bullet all the way up to the start of the ogive with patching material and use a wad below the bullet for chamber sealing.  So we're probably talking a .58cal rifle here.

However, with that said, there is not a muzzleloading barrel in existence that could handle the pressure that would be created by launching such a heavy bullet.  It would probably take at least 200gr of powder to launch it and I would hate to think how many 100,000s of pounds of pressure would be created by that load.  One sure as heck wouldn't be standing upright after he fired it.  :eek:

[DannoBoone]

I've fired a 505gr Minnie out of a .58 Zouave over 110gr FFg Black Powder.
That's PLENTY brutal enough!!  :shock:

[Robert]

[quote="
However, with that said, there is not a muzzleloading barrel in existence that could handle the pressure that would be created by launching such a heavy bullet.  It would probably take at least 200gr of powder to launch it and I would hate to think how many 100,000s of pounds of pressure would be created by that load.  One sure as heck wouldn't be standing upright after he fired it.  :eek:[/quote]

I am going to have to disagree here.  I use slugs in my 58 that are over 500 grs, and 425 grs in my 50.  Sure..these kick....but nothing nearly like a high-powdered rifle.  I don't see any harm in firing a 600 gr bullet with a proper load....It aint like the 'load' needs to equal 50BMG velocities.  
  The questions for ME....are 1. If 'paper patched' will it be accurate? 2. Black powder rifles usually have a deep button rifling for cast bullets, will THIS be accurate with a jacketed bullet?  3. Rate of twist would probably need to be faster for the longer/heavier bullets.  4. If bullets are  resized to fit 50 cal bore, forcing a copper jacketed bullet down a 'mild steel' barrel intended for 'soft lead'. ( I have heard horror stories about Wheel Weight alloy ripping out rifling).
  So....theoretically....I would say it WILL work.  BUT...why bother?  There are excellent bullets available for a 50 that are well designed and perform well for target shooting and hunting purposes.

[Redhawk1]

[quote="
However, with that said, there is not a muzzleloading barrel in existence that could handle the pressure that would be created by launching such a heavy bullet.  It would probably take at least 200gr of powder to launch it and I would hate to think how many 100,000s of pounds of pressure would be created by that load.  One sure as heck wouldn't be standing upright after he fired it.  :eek:

I am going to have to disagree here.  I use slugs in my 58 that are over 500 grs, and 425 grs in my 50.  Sure..these kick....but nothing nearly like a high-powdered rifle.  I don't see any harm in firing a 600 gr bullet with a proper load....It aint like the 'load' needs to equal 50BMG velocities.  
  The questions for ME....are 1. If 'paper patched' will it be accurate? 2. Black powder rifles usually have a deep button rifling for cast bullets, will THIS be accurate with a jacketed bullet?  3. Rate of twist would probably need to be faster for the longer/heavier bullets.  4. If bullets are  resized to fit 50 cal bore, forcing a copper jacketed bullet down a 'mild steel' barrel intended for 'soft lead'. ( I have heard horror stories about Wheel Weight alloy ripping out rifling).
  So....theoretically....I would say it WILL work.  BUT...why bother?  There are excellent bullets available for a 50 that are well designed and perform well for target shooting and hunting purposes.[/quote]

I agree with Robert.

[AndyHass]

This twist in all factory MLs is way too slow.  The bullet will keyhole at 20 yards.  I have tried a .308 bullet out of a ML w/sabot, and this is what happens.  A BMG bullet would be even more unstable than a .308.