trying new slugs?

[brian 50cal]

Me and a friend both have T/C Black diamond .50 cal.  We use 100 grains of loose pyrodex.  The difference is that he decided to change to the 44 cal. 180 gr.  XTP slugs w/sabots.  I am staying with the 240 grain 44 cal.  What are the pros/cons of going to a lighter bullet?  I am thinking it can increase the distance of our shot (because it is lighter) but I will lose the kintic energy that comes with a larger bullet.  Any advice.  I have been using this set-up for 5 years and am please, but will change it up if the end result can be improved.

[Stan M.]

I sighted in an Optima for a guy that  wanted to use the 180 gr. XTP bullets. I used 100 gr. of Pyrodex RS to get it on paper and shot a decent group with the 240 gr. XTP. Then I used his pellets and his 180 gr. and the groups was not near as good. I think the rifle would have liked a heavier bullet.
 I think one would be better off using a heavier bullet with muzzle loader velocities as far as energy is concerned. But that is my opinion and I haven't tried them in the field. I'm curious if anyone here could give some field results with this light bullet.
Good Luck,
Stan

[sabotmaker]

Me and a friend both have T/C Black diamond .50 cal.  We use 100 grains of loose pyrodex.  The difference is that he decided to change to the 44 cal. 180 gr.  XTP slugs w/sabots.  I am staying with the 240 grain 44 cal.  What are the pros/cons of going to a lighter bullet?  I am thinking it can increase the distance of our shot (because it is lighter) but I will lose the kintic energy that comes with a larger bullet.  Any advice.  I have been using this set-up for 5 years and am please, but will change it up if the end result can be improved.

When you go to a lighter bullet for a given diameter you may gain a bit of velocity but you will also loose some ballistic coeffecient and the lighter bullet is more affected by wind. You are not likely to gain any distance. At 100 yards or less there is no real difference in the trjectory of the two bullets you mentioned and either choice would be a good deer load. You are correct that you loose energy at distances with the lighter bullets. One very good reason to go to lighter bullets is for reduced recoil such as a load for a woman or child or anyone that is recoil sensitive. I personally would go for the 240 grain for it's retained energy and less wind drift. If I had a gun that shot much better with the 180 rather than the 240 I would shoot the 180. Ballistic coeffecient and/or retained energy mean little to nothing if you can't put the bullet where it needs to go.

[BS]

I have always reccomended the 200 xtp. It will shoot in any gun [nearly]! My 1 in 30 twist likes the 200s much better than the 240s.