tradition in-line

[jls]

Just picked up a new .50 Tracker, plain vanilla, no frills in-line. Got it at close-out price but don't know anyone who has owned one. Any one want to comment, good or bad is welcomed.

[Double 30]

My first inline was a Tracker 209 .50 cal. and I would have happily used it 'till death do us part, but my youngest daughter started deer hunting...There is nothing fancy about the Tracker, but they are excellent little rifles!The load I used , and my daughter still uses, is 40 gr of 3f Triple 7 and a T/C Cheap shot 240 lead h.p.& sabot. Muzzle velocity ( chrono'd) is 1300 fps.That load has taken 9 deer with 9 shots at ranges from 15 feet to 115 yards and all save 2 were pass throughs.No deer went more than 60 yards after the hit.
 The only problem, and it turned out to be a blessing actually, was the primer holder on the breechplug fractured.I cut the remnants off and drilled and tapped it for a 1/4-28 musket nipple and( no other modifications,)accuracy improved by 50% ( no, I'm not kidding). She groups  right around 1 - 1 1/2 inches for 3 at 100( swab between shots).
  Since then, I've had a number of inlines BUT if I could've found another Tracker when my daughter started hunting, its what we'd both be using now.Enjoy it .Its one of those rifles that proves the point that inexpensive and cheap are not always interchangeable terms.

[jls]

thanx amigo, I can see the primer holder being an issue what with the bolt slamming forward the way it does. you've given me a fix should it go south on me. now to get out and work up some loads. many thanx!

[saltysenior]

mr.double 30..you are shooting 40gr of powder. w/a 240gr. bullet w/ good results in a .50....i'm leaning to hunt w/ 100gr.of pellets pushing out a 180gr h.n.sabot in a .45...am i missing something ,as i am new to in-lines......and do not understand this big difference in loads.....w/ my older  t/c hawkens you sat in a tree w/ 90 gr. pushing a ball that sat in a poly patch....pretty simple , but now ?... you seem to be somewhat knowledgeable of black powder loads...what would you suggest that i start with ?  or am i,my by reading all this stuff, making something simple,a big concern?...ps i will not shoot over 99.9 yrds.

[Double 30]

JLS , You're welcome! Enjoy the rifle.If it were mine I'd go with the nipple conversion right away and get a spare 209 plug.You'll find the regular cap on a nipple seals the breech end much better than a 209.Next time you have your plug out , stick a 209 in it and see how much space is open on the front end of the primer.You can get alot of moisture in there.caps do a much better job and are legal everywhere a percussion rifle can be used.
     Salty,
  Thanks for the vote of confidence! When I decided to go muzzleloader, I looked carefully at what ranges I'd be shooting and decided that 100 yards would be my longest most of the time.Also, I was rear -ended a few years ago and as a result recoil and I are not friends. I figured that 44 magnum pistol ballistics are fine under 100 yards so that was my goal and it worked very well.
  One of the beauties of inlining and sabots is a very extensive selection of fine bullets.You may find the selection is better if your shooting a .50, but there are some superb .40 cal/10mm bullets out there. T/C makes a Cheap shot for .45's and I'd start there.I have found the Hornady XTP line to be excellent and I'm not alone in that opinion.One of the nicest things about them is Hornady publishes ,for each bullet,the velocities required for expansion.I believe that energy transfer is as critical as the amount of energy the bullet is carrying.Using the XTP's you can match your load to a bullet easily.For instance, my Black Diamond XR .50 LOVES the 300 grain non-mag .45 XTP at 1600 fps.This bullet will expand from 800-1700 fps.If I want more power the mag version of that bullet will expand from 1100-2100 fps.
  Regarding powder, Triple 7 is an excellent black powder substitute which is denser and more powerful than black.My deer load in my Black Diamond is a 45 cal 250 gr XTP in a Harvester crush rib sabot and 60 gr of 3f Triple 7 lit with a musket cap.Velocity is 1540 fps ( that bullet is rated to 1600 fps).That 60 grain charge measure by volume, only weighs 45 grains on a scale.This makes it an economical powder as you  get more shots per pound.It takes 70grains of Swiss 3f black to get the same velocity.Actually , I've gone back to (Swiss) black powder for my loads as its more accurate in my rifle.
  Regarding your .45 and loads,I dont have a 45 but I have helped a couple guys sort theirs out.I'd start with a T/C cheap shot and 40-50 grains of 3f Triple 7.Ought to be fine for your 99.9 yard range.You can then buy the prepackaged bullets and sabots until you find what she likes and then buy the bullets and sabots seperately and in bulk.Its ALOT cheaper that way.Another great trait of muzzleloaders is they are increadibly versatile.A careful choice in bullet and powder charge can have you shooting squirrels and turkey one minute and a moose the next,with equal effectiveness and accuracy.It takes ALOT to do that with a breechloader.You first need to determine what you want to do,to what you want to do it,how far away you're willing to shoot and develop your load from there.You dont have to pour 1/2 a can of powder down bore to kill a deer , but if it makes you feel good then charge on.I've found that muzzleloaders are alot simpler than most people think.Let me know if I can be of any help. Good luck!