where to begin again?

[Big Al in Nebr]

Been out of muzzleloading for awhile due to family commitments, but I'm slowly getting back in touch with my roots.  I have a .50 T/C SS Thunderhawk.  The last time I hunted with it I was using T/C Maxi-Hunters with 90gr of Clean Shot.  Things sure have changed and I'd like to catch up.  I would appreciate any recommendations of powder, bullets and sabots that you could give me to try.  (I've never fired a sabot round)  I plan on spending a lot of range time trying different reciepes until I find a good one.  Please keep in mind that this gun uses percussion caps, unless you have some suggestions on how to change that also.  Thanks!

[Reese]

Nothing wrong with using percussion caps.  I have two open breech inlines that I tested with 209 conversion kits and I prefer the #11 ignition.

I use Triple Seven with #11 caps and I have had no problems with CCI, CCI Mag, Remington (40% hotter ones) and RWS 1075+.

With a .50 cal muzzleloader I like to use Hornady .452 250 gr XTP or SST and a Harvester smooth black .50/.45 cal sabot.

I use Triple Seven FFg and have no problems igniting 90 grs or less in 22" and 24" barrels.  More powder seemed to be a waste for these two rifles, a Ruger 77/50 and MK-85.

[rt_con]

+1 to what Reese said.

My buddy shoots one and it shoots great with 85grs of 777 and the 300gr Hornady XTP (.452) and Harvester short black sabot.  Don't get the XTP mag.

Rob

[Reese]

I edited my post above because I had a typo;

Hornady .252 250 gr XTP

and it should have been;

Hornady .452 250 gr XTP

The XTP works very well.  I have shot seven deer from 20 to 150 yards with it and it has done a great job for me.

[DennyRoark]

Start again right where you left off.  Just got back into T/C Hawken after 10+ years and it still works for me!

[Big Al in Nebr]

Thanks, I'll give those a try.  Dennyroark, I might just do that, deer seemed to die just fine before, just want to play around with sabots and see if I'm missing something.