Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Do any of you guys use pistol bullets in your muzzleloader

I intend to move up to the 300 gr. XTP next year. I am a new muzzleloader guy this year and worked up an extremely accurate load with the standard .45 caliber .452" 250 gr. XTP for my TC Impact. Using the black crush rib sabot and 95 grs. of Blackhorn the load was three shots inside an inch consistently, but I learned it might be several hundred feet over the velocity threshold that bullet was designed for.

Apparently it was, I shot a small buck directly on the shoulder broadside at about 100 yards. Evidently the bullet completely came apart and totally shredded both shoulders with no exit on the offside. The little buck ran about 150 yards before dropping. I hunt deep woods big timber areas and use the gutless debone & quarter method to backpack my meat out so I didn't open the chest wall but from the exterior the offside shoulder looked as if shot by a 410 shotgun and a load of #6's. No exit through the hide. Rather than cut the velocity (estimated 1,850 fps) I think I will move up in bullet weight and maybe try the "MAG" version of the XTP.

MOGC, I really like the 300 XTP's. I think moving to the 300's will be a good move. Funny thing is that I shot 2 deer with a 45/70 last year using a 300 grn coke lokt. Heart shot a big doe and she ran 200 yards spraying blood. The other was a lung shot and she ran 100 yds before piling up. My daughter shot her first buck ever this year with my muzzleloader and a 300 XTP - Heart shot at 65 yards and he dropped as if he had been hit by a hammer. I am getting a faster velocity with the Ml than with the 45/70.

Crank em,
You using the "MAG" or standard XTP in the 300 gr. weight? I have an old Marlin 1895 .45-70 that I have killed considerable deer with. I figure a 300 gr. MAG XTP about 1,800 fps should duplicate the factory offerings in that weight for the .45-70. Not a bad place to be for deer...

Im using the standard XTP, but now considering the MAG

My sons killed 3 deer last season with 300gr .452 XTPs over 56gr of BH209 (80gr equiv.) including one that dressed at 172. All within 50 yards and all pass throughs with plenty of destruction inside. You got to be careful not to exceed the velocity window to avoid excess expansion and poor penetration. My loads probably were right about the top of the window at about 1600-1700 fps.

The .452 240 gr XTP Mag is plenty big enough for deer.

Agree with Triple while I like the 300 gr. XTP and have killed 3 deer with the reg. .45 cal.... Ive killed at least 40 deer with the 240 gr. xtp from 5 yds to 165 yds with 85-100 gr. pyrodex rs and all were pass throughs and dead with in 85 yds most within 35 yds..