sabot grain weight?

[lonewolf_one]

Hi Folks,
          I'm new to the muzzleloading arena. I picked up a Knight disc elite and am in the process of collecting the accessories. Considering the wide variety of sabot manufacturers and the grain weights, I was hoping for a little guidance. I'll be using it for whitetails with most shots being less than a hundred yards. Is it that the heavier grain weights are for larger game? Or is it just a matter of experimenting to find the combination that the gun "likes"? I'd also like info on powder. I'm figuring that I'll use the pellets. What are the ranges for loads? Lastly the magnum sabots. Can those be used in any muzzleloader? What are the pros and cons to them. I'd appreciate any and all input.
Thanks,
joe

[simonkenton]

Yes, all in all, the heavier grain slugs are for heavier game, although plenty of guys shoot deer with the heavy slugs. If it should happen that your gun is more accurate with a heavy slug, then you should use it. But, I bet you can get accuracy with a 250 grain slug.
For whitetail at 100 yards or less, try the Hornady 250 SST.
I wish you would use the powder rather than pellets. Powder is cheaper. You are able to fine tune the gun with powder. It may be that you get 3 inch groups with 100 grains, but 1 1/2 inch groups with 90 grains.
If you have to use pellets, try 2 of the 50 grain 777 pellets. This is all the power you will need. I know a guy who killed a buck at 207 yards with 85 grains of 777 and a 245 grain slug.
Also, if you use 777, use the Winchester 777 primers.

[Redhawk1]

Try different weight and loads of loose powder to find what shoots best in your M/L. For deer I have used 195 gr. to 250 gr. saboted bullets with great results on deer.

[lonewolf_one]

Okay, I'll go with the powder for the reasons mentioned. What is the difference between the FF and the FFF?

[Redhawk1]

Okay, I'll go with the powder for the reasons mentioned. What is the difference between the FF and the FFF?

FFg is more course than FFFg. the more F's equal a more fine powder. FFFFg is for flash pans. I use the triple7 FFg with great results. I have heard of people using the triple 7 FFFg but the FFg is a lot more common.

[1marty]

as previous posts noted it is what your ML likes. After experimenting with various loads my Omega shoots best with 2 777's and a 295 power belt. Found the 245 grain wandered all over the place after the first shot but got excellent results with the 295. The trial and error aspect makes ML fun.

[slave]

Lonewolf-one,
I have seen enough to know each gun is its own best Judge of loads. We would all be more concerned if you posted that you wanted to hunt DG. But for deer in a .50cal any thing from a 195gr slug over a 80gr charge of t7 can get the job done @ 100 yds. Let your gun chose for you. All of my 50 cal with 1:28 twist rate shot beter groups with a slug of .451" diameter than they do with .429 or less. My Encores like 250 gr or heaver bullets. I have been able to improve my groups by adjusting the powder charge in 5gr or less incerments so I use loose powder. I have seen fffg and ffg provide diferent results with all else the same. I seen some bullets and sabots that seem to shot good in all guns with the proper loading procedure. And seen some that would be moa in one but will not stay on paper in another.

With that Knight I would grab me a lb of 7ffg and some 250gr & 300gr Shock Wave bounded with the new super glide sabots and a few different weights and styles that Barnes offers in the 245 to 300 gr weight ranges. I would also try the power belts. I have never had a gun that would shot them but I have seen those that will and if I get lucky and find one for myself I will be keeping it. They load that easy.   

And like he said its the trial and error aspect that makes it fun.

as previous posts noted it is what your ML likes. After experimenting with various loads my Omega shoots best with 2 777's and a 295 power belt. Found the 245 grain wandered all over the place after the first shot but got excellent results with the 295. The trial and error aspect makes ML fun.

 

[lonewolf_one]

Thanks for all the input folks... For now I'm going with the t7 ffg, winchester caps, and I have a few different grain weights and manufacturers. Hornady, thompson and powerbelts. We'll see what works best. Slave, I'm going to show my ignorance here. You said that everyone would be more concerned if I said I was going to hunt DG. Was that a typo, or does it stand for something?

[Busta]

DG = Dangerous Game