Muzzleloaders

[hardwaterfishing]

I'm new to muzzleloading. I just bought a optima pro break 209 and I cant wait til opener, anyway, I was wondering what grain bullet and powder charge everyone uses for deer? thanks...

[xedge2002]

245 Gr Powerbelt hollow point bullets, 100 Gr triple 7 powder pellets. I think you can go up to 150Gr of powder but I was told you get your best groupings and most consistency using 100Gr.

I shot a big doe last year at about 15 yards and she made it about 10 yards before she dropped.

Congratulation on starting muzzleloading. Last year was my first year and it is addicting. I can't wait to go this year. I think I am looking forward to muzzle more than regular season deer.

[troutmaster]

250 grain sabots or 245 grain powerbelt aerotip, you can use 150 grain powder charges but you will be more accurate with 100 grain charges and you don't need more then that for whitetale anyways. hope this helps

[Johnny_Namakan]

Congatulations, blackpowder hunting gets addictive. I use 345 or 365 grain (somewhere in the mid 300's) powerbelts with 100 grain of pyrodex. I dropped a 6 pointer in it tracks at 136 yards last year. I got lucky on that one. When i closed my eye and took aim, the front sight covered the entire deer at that distance. i pulled the trigger and the deer didn't even take one step. Legs buckled and down for the count. I'm probably using overkill with the grain I'm shooting, but the way I look at it, if you can remain accurate at 100 yards with a heavy grain bullet like that, why not use it?

[tealitup]

I think I am going to use my muzzle loader for rifle season this year. It has been in the closet since summer (shot it a couple times) and am itching to harvest a deer with it.

[nolte]

I use 777 pellets and 245 grain, barnes spit fire. They seem to work the best out of the my TC Black Diamond. One thing I read is a few articles by guy named Chuck Hawk. Just search Chuck Hawk, muzzleloading and you'll find all you'll need to know on using barrel stuffers.

I see a few guys like to use the Power Belts. One thing to note is that they don't have very good accurace beyond 100 yards. Which the majority of guys don't shoot beyond anyway. They do load very easy though and I'm guessing that is why guys like them, me included. I've got some to use as a second shot if I need. A sabot bullet will be more accurate because it can trap the gas better. Also, there have been some great claims about Pioneer Powder. From the stuff that I've read it is very inconsistent when you use the chronograph and also has a very coarse consistancy. So be carefull what some store clerks or marketing adds will tell you, read up a bit first and then make your decisions.

[Neiko]

I use 295 Powerbelts and 90 gr of triple 7 powder. If you use triple 7 powder be aware that of the difference in measurement by volume versus pellets. I believe it is 15%. I like triple 7 because it is alot easier cleaning up.

[xedge2002]

One other tip I learned the hard way was when you sight in your muzzleloader make sure to run a couple of patches through it between shots to clean out the gunk. I was amazed at how the accuracy is affected by not cleaning it.

Anybody else have this happen?

[FarByondDrivn]

Don't know about bullet weight but can't agree more with 100 gr. of powder over the 150 gr. Every muzzle loader I've shot has been more accurate with 100 gr.

[InTheSchool]

I've got to check it out when I get home, but I believe that there is a warning on Hodgdon 777 granular about using more than 100 grains. I think you are ok to 150 grains of pellets (probably because the last one is burning outside the barrel). 777 is great stuff. Second shot is little lower than a clean barrel but then up to 9 more group real close (thats the most I've shot at the range at one time).

[HunterLee]

I vote for the sabots. I use 185 grain hornady pistol bullets with a green sleeve. Push that with 120 grains of pydrox powder. Get great groups and deadly flat. Shot a 10 pointer at bout 130-140 yds on the trot last year. Went 30yds. Shot few others with this load and its great.