VariFlame and Plastic Carriers + Favorite loads

[culprit]

Just wondering if anyone has tried the variflame primers w/small rifle primers and the standard plastic carriers from NEF?  Just got back from the range today and was amazed at my huntsman 50/243 combo.  I was able to shoot T/C Maxi-hunters under an inch at 100 yds. I am interested in shooting conicals though and like the performance of the T/C rounds.  Anyone have info on actual deer performance with Maxi-hunters?

I've tried a bunch of rounds with the NEF and it seems to like 90 grns of T7 and the maxi-hunter.  I've tried XTP sabots in both 240, 300 grns and the Powerbelt 295. 

[zermatt7]

Dave,
I havent tried the rifle primers, but I did get a box of the Remington 209-4 410 shot gun primers...They have a weaker charge and are "supposed"  to eliminate the crud ring....Let me know if you want to try a box. I'll send 'em to you gratis...You should know what gratis means since your in a masters program. 

I dont want to sound negative but you aren't goiing to beat an under 1" group @ 100yards...Thats great shooting.

What grain Maxi hunter are you using, and are you using 2F or 3F 777 ?

Eric

[crosscut]

Culprit,
Great shooting! I think you've found your load. Those Maxi-hunters should work great on deer.

I saw the Variflame in Cabelas shooting catalog and wondered how it would work. Glad to see someone tried them out. Let us know how they work with the sabots if you try them.

[Critter]

The Maxi Hunter kills whitetail very very well.  I don't know the exact number I've killed with them but it's quite a few.  An inch group at 100 with the Maxi Hunter is a match made in heaven.

[culprit]

Just ordered some "No Excuses" bullets for both .50 cal and .54.  I also have on order from "Track of the Wolf" the subwads.  I'll be interested in seeing how they shoot as well.  I do agree that the Maxi-hunters are "the" round for this year.  I shot two deer with the 240 XTP's last year and when properly hit they don't go far for sure.  One blood trail looked like I murdered a family of elves in the woods.  I had about 9 blood sprays about three feet in diameter. 

I was using FFG T7 powder on the last load workup.  I'll try the Variflame primers on the next trip to the range.  I forgot I had them in my muzzleloader box until cleaning the gun.  I'll let you all know how they work.

[slayer]

In my Sidekick, I use the Veri-Flame, Small Pistol Primers, 90 grains Goex FFG. 245 Grain Ball-Et. The Ball-Et is better in 1:48 twists and slower, but with the 1:28 at 90 grain FFG, I keep my shots at 50 yeards and under, after that it gets a little squrrelly, but I love the Ball-Et, so I sacrifice distance for the ease of loading and such. Next spring, I am going to try some Maxi Balls. I love to shoot patched round balls at 50-70 grains FFG for fun. Jack.

[culprit]

Went to the range with my "no excuses" bullets and they seem to be undersized for my bore.  I tried the .54 cal bullets first and they slid almost down to the powder without the ramrod.  I could not get an acceptable group with the .54.  I then tried the bullets in my huntsman .50 cal with the subwads and 90grns of T7 FFFG.  It also seemed that the .50 cal bullets were undersized but not as bad as the .54 cal.  I do like the "no excuses" design and wish they fit better.  I'll use maxi-hunters this year as they are a perfect fit for both guns and pre-groove the bullet nicely when loading.

I know "Busta" is a fan of the "No Excuses" bullets.  Any suggestions?  Thanks.

[Busta]

Went to the range with my "no excuses" bullets and they seem to be undersized for my bore.  I tried the .54 cal bullets first and they slid almost down to the powder without the ramrod.  I could not get an acceptable group with the .54.  I then tried the bullets in my huntsman .50 cal with the subwads and 90grns of T7 FFFG.  It also seemed that the .50 cal bullets were undersized but not as bad as the .54 cal.  I do like the "no excuses" design and wish they fit better.  I'll use maxi-hunters this year as they are a perfect fit for both guns and pre-groove the bullet nicely when loading.

I know "Busta" is a fan of the "No Excuses" bullets.  Any suggestions?  Thanks.

culprit,

Did you get the .503" No Excuses? You don't want the .500" ones he makes for the tighter bored rifles, they will be way too small for the Huntsman/Sidekick. The .503" bullets are what you call a slip fit bullet, and are suposed to go down the bore easy. They slightly engrave into the rifling on the way down, but will obturate (belly out) fully into the rifling upon ignition of the charge. You can load and shoot this type of bulet all day long without swabbing. Some like to fire a squib load (30-40 grains of just powder) before loading to foul the bore. Take one of those bullets and push it through a clean barrrel without the breech plug in place and then check it for rifling marks. It should have slight rifling markes in the bullet about .0005" to .001" deep.

Doc White designed the White rifle to shoot this type of bullet. My White's are very accurate with these bullets. They are what some people call over bored, the 50 cal is actually a .504" and the 45 cal is a .451". If you want to make them fit a little snugger in your bore, try laying the bllet on its side and rolling a bastard file over it a couple times. This will give the bullet a knurl effect and more bite into the rifling. It does scare people when they see how easy this type of bullet loads, but as long as you get a little bite into the rifling and the bullet stays on the charge, you will be in seventh heaven. I carry my rifle around all day in Colorado and have never had a bullet slide off the charge, I do check it a few times each day just to make sure.

[slayer]

I use the Vari-Flame, Small Pistol Primers, 470 grain Maxi Hunter(discontinued weight-only have 10 left ) and 100 gr Goex FFG. These 470 will pound you like all get out!! Jack.

[culprit]

Next time I get to the range I'll give that a try.  Thanks.  I did have a misfire from the Variflame primer carriers.  I will not be using them this year though.  It really smacks the snot out of a regular 209 primer.

[slayer]

What brand of pirmer did you have a misfire with? I use the CCI`s, both small pistol and small rifle, not one misfire yet, but that is with testing with Black and Pyrodex. I tried some Winchester 209`s(not 777 primers) and they give much more kick with the same loads!! Jack.