First ML / Huntsman Projectile Opinions Wanted

[bfpgw]

An experienced ML user friend recommended Powerbelts and pellets.  Other posters here have recommended using powder and sabots, etc.  I believe the claims of ease of second loading a Powerbelt, but as a knew ML user I expect to get a lot of range time to become familiar with the new functions I need to learn as a new ML user.

That means I'm looking to minimize my range time cost with more economical ammo than Powerbelts from practice, etc.  I suppose sabots are the way to go, but need some help getting projectile and sabot selections for proper fit.

Any simple rules of thumb or recommendations for me?

BFPGW

[bjgolfnut]

Hey,
      I have a Huntsman and have used the following two loads.  777 Powder 70 grains under a No Excuse 460 gr conical, very accurate.  Also 777 powder 80 grains or Pyrodex P 100 grains under a Hornady XTP 250 gr. Hollow Point .45 cal in a .50 cal. Sabot.   To save on price, you can buy the Hornady XTP with out the sabots of about $14/$17 for 100 bullets, than buy the Sabots for around $6 for 50.  This would give you a total cost of around  $28/$31 which is not bad.   My last recommendation would be to go with Powder rather than Pellets, a lot less expensive.  Good Luck

[Lawful Larry]

My experience is that you will have to experiment, experiment and then experiment some more.  Buy different bullet and powder weights and configurations and go to the range and expect to spend the whole day doing some work.  This is the best advice I got and I am passing it on to you.  I used lead bullets, saboted jackets and the power belts.  They all performed differently.  One will work well in your gun.

Your gun has a definite like and you will have to find it by experimenting.  I is worth the effort and will pay off in the field when it counts.

Happy hunting.   :wink:

[bfpgw]

Thanks bjgolfnut and Larry.  Your responses echo the opinion I've been forming, but it feels better hearing the voice of experience specifically.

While browsing a catalog from Natchez Shooting Sports I began to believe if I were going to shoot sabot/bullet combos then a bulk purchase makes the most sense.  By the way, is there some art or calculations I will encounter when selecting a matched sabot and bullet?  I suspect these things come in slightly different diameters that the naked eye can't measure.

My local, trusted gunshop recommended I start with the easy stuff and experiment when I've gotten the basic ML drill down.  I'll go to the range this weekend and start the learning curve.

BFPGW

[Lawful Larry]

For now I would start with packaged saboted bullets.  The bullets that come with sabots.  Ask your local toy store guy to help you or get an old ML dog to help ya.  You can go and buy say Hornaday XTP bullets and then go and buy the plastic sabots separate.  But to do so would need a little help for a friend.  

It will take some work, but it is worth it.  Once you come up with a good receipe for your gun it all falls into place and your hunting experience will be a good one.  

Of course you will have to find that elusive creature and then pull the trigger.   :gun4:

[bjgolfnut]

Hey,
    Go here and take a look.  www.mmpsabots.com
The Black go with the Hornady XTP in .45 cal.  Enjoy.

[jbtazgrabber]

i used 80 grs. rs pryo. with 240 gr. xtp bullet buy hornady an sobot wally 800  ..for 20 rds killed 2 deer deed dead dead.. good groups at 50 yds. got a bullet out of the backside of a buck this year perfect expansion  ,.. i wont try any thing else i hunt with a 44 hef rifle never had a xtp let me down..only thing down are the deer right there in the same place you pulled the trigger at but they are on ground dead dead..

[Tcallbuilder]

I use the hornady XTP too but use the 300 grain with a 45/50 sabot over 85grains pyrodex
they will clover leaf groups at 50yrds and shoot inside 2in at 100
I have killed 2 deer using this load with the huntsman and bullet proformance is awsome!!!

Sabots and bullets bought seperate is probably the cheapist way to go.
the only thing you really need to remember is, some sabots are designed for .44cal bullets, and some for .45cal
they should be so marked on the package......something like .44/.50 or .45/.50

TCB

[tscott]

All this advice sounds good to me. I wait until after muzzleloader season and then stock up on 295 powerbelts. They have worked best for me.
I save a little on bullets, and on 777 powder...90gr. After a few years
with terrific results, I see no need for change. I'm sure that I'd find similar results with the recommendations. When I bought the gun it looked that the breech plug was designed for powder, thus I went that way.
Anybody with any problems with 2 50gr pellets, either 777 or pyro?
I'm thinking of going that way, if my pound of 777 powder ever runs out.
I hunt tomorrow, perhaps i'll get lucky again!

[bfpgw]

Sounds like sound advice.  I expect to start modifying my loads after these 24 Pyrodex pellets are gone.  

In another post I saw some bullets from "No Excuses" bullet company.  They appear to be very heavy, like 300gr to 495gr for .50 ML.  Sounds like these are bullets that use no sabots, but need a small fibrous wad between the charge and bullet.  Anyone else have experience with these?  I thought as long as I was shooting a .50 rifle I should try to get some heavy bullets to take advantage of the extra bore.  It doesn't seem too much trouble or cost to load the wad after the powder and these bullets are sold at about $20 per box of 100.

BFPGW

[TOMMYY01]

I have a sidekick, not a huntsman. I use 777 loose powder and PB 245s. I have my sidekick sighted in at 50 yds. and and am shooting 5/8 " high at 50.  :yeah:  Can't ask for better! And no scope. Since I hunt mostly around brush and inside the tree line, a scope gets in my way. Also, a few years ago an older man told me something at the range. If you can get the deer to come in close, the foot lbs and velocity will have a bigger impact and those long trips to recover your game will be kept to a minimum. :mrgreen: I do have a 30-30 Win. 94 AE with a 3x9x40 using 150 gr coreloks sighted in at 100 yds for the open stuff. :toast:  Just my :money:  worth.
                                                                     tommy

[tscott]

I would have never got the deer I shot with my huntsman last Sat.
in NC, if I did not have a scope to pick my spot to shoot through that labrynth of white oak scrub, the deer was feeding (on acorns) in.

[bjgolfnut]

Hey,
     No Excuse sells BIG conicals.  I use their 460's over 70 or 75 grains of 777 in my Huntsman and White Super 91 and get great results. If you are interested, here is the web address www.muzzleloading-bullets.com
     They are pre-lubed.  Great outfit to deal with.  When I say great results I mean groups inside of 1.5 inches in both rifles at 100 yards.  Took a large doe with a 460 last year at 70 yards.  I find they are easy loading also.  Try it, you'll like it :lol: .

[raynor]

I've been using cast 230 grain round nose bullets, the ones for shooting in a 45 ACP.  Put those in whatever you can find for cheap bulk sabots. I shoot  80 grains loose 777.   You should be able to find the cast bullets for around $25 for 500 and they shoot just as good as my XTP hunting load.

[TOGO]

My Huntsman's sweet spot was found using the 460gr no excuse bullet and 60gr. of triple 7, I get my rounds literally touching everytime at 100 meters, with a spit patch between shots, 70gr. of powder opens my groups to 3 inches and 80 will bring them out to 5 inches. I don't use felt wads, I would use them in other ML's with magnum charges.