Nope. Load up some speed loaders to take to the range or field and it's no problem.

I used to be a proponent of the pellets because of the "easier in the field" thinking. Other than not having the bullet in the same tube with the easy loader, there is no advantage. Making the first one counts is what's really important, therefore, being able to modify the charge at your discretion to get better accuracy is far more important IMO.

There will never be another pellet dropped down the tube of my ML.
BH209. Done.

I don't consider it a pain at all. As stated, have you 3 to 4 speed loaders loaded with powder and you can reload as fast as pellets in the field. And I have never found any pellets that you don't have to swab between shots. With BH 209, you don't have to swab between shots.

AND, you are locked in to very specific powder charges with pellets. With powder, you can experiment. Some guns may like 95 gr instead of 90 or 100.

+1.......I have found that as little as 5 grains can make a difference in accuracy, loose powder gives you the flexibility to match the powder to the projectile.....I have a TC Triumph and use BH 209 (110 grains)/standard Winchester 209 primers with 250 grain TEZ's and it is a real tack driver....buy a few speedloaders and don't look back

Ok.....Let's say that I am sold. Because I am due the previous research that I have done and then the 24hr Camp always is my deciding factor. I appreciate it.

So here is my new combo:
Barnes 290 TMZ (or TEZ depending on loading in my barrel)
BH209 powder (we'll experiment for charge amount)
Standard Winchester Primers (I had heard good things about them during my research as well).

So you guys mentioned speedloaders.
Any suggested brands/models?

Thanks again. You guys always seem to get me on the right track.

T/C makes some red ones that will hold the powder in the top (with a flip cap) and bullet in the bottom, with a plunger to get the bullet in the bore. I haven't used it with sabots but I'd think it would work.

The ones I bought, I got a while back and the cap to the powder compartment had a little indentation to hold a #11 cap. I cut that off flush with a razor blade and it now holds a 209 primer. I'm guessing the new ones hold a 209 as they are.

Ok. I will look into it. Thanks.

If anyone else has some more recommendations, I would happy to hear it.

Here are the ones he is talking about:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0027586215467a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=speed+loader&sort=all&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23

I use the also. I also have only used them with conicals, but I dont' see why they wouldn't work with sabots

loose powder isnt a pain. ive actually dropped more pellets in the last 2 weeks than ive spilled loose powder in the last 10 years.

theses are very popular with the guys that shoot loose powder.
http://thepowerbeltforum.powerguild.net/lanes-powder-tubes-f6/lane-s-powder-tubes-t395.htm

I have an Optima Elite and the best and easiest load for me so far is 2 - 50 gr Triple Seven Magnum Pellets,Triple Seven Magnum primers,and either 250 grain CVA Slick Load Sabots or 250gr barnes TMZ (a little tight going in ).Both will shoot 1"-1 1/2" groups consistantly at 100 yards.