Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders 50 cal projectile recommendation

Hey all,
The last 2 VA black powder opening days have been good to me with beautiful bucks taken both days. I’ve been using a TC Omega for quite awhile, very accurate, have never missed a deer w it.
These last 2 however had zero signs of a hit, no blood, hair, nothing. Were it not for some dogged searching they likely would not have been recovered. Both were good shots.
I’m guessing the Hornady 250gr SST is not expanding.
What’s the leader of the pack that I should consider as an alternative? Thank you!!

Been running Knight 260gr HP sabots through my TC's for 30+ years now.
Blood trails have never been a issue.

Parker 250 or 275’s are quite good as well.

Harvester Scorpion PT Gold with a black Harvester Crush Rib sabot



I shoot the 300’s


https://harvestermuzzleloading.com/index.php/products/scorpion-pt-gold

I've used the 270gr. Powerbelt Platinum Aerotip out of a CVA Kodiak for 15 years. They've always exited and I've gotten good blood trails, though seldom needed it. I use 2 American Pioneer 50 gr. pellets and Win. 209 primers.

I did a search and Midway was the first place I checked, they have them in stock.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2427159844?pid=867138

Barnes 290gr T-EZ, Hornady 300gr .451 XTP in Harvester Crush-Rib.

Any XTP. they punch a better hole, and even if they fail to expand, you will get blood. I have found the SST to be unreliable. I also don't think their sexy shape to be worth much at muzzleloader velocities and ranges.

For shock transfer and penetration, I use a hard cast .452, 350 grain flat nose bullet. The flat measures about .340". Nothing kills full grown bull elk better, let alone deer. Catch some shoulder bone with it, and they typically drop at the shot. 100% exit holes.

For a conventional style bullet, I use the Speer 300 grain deep curl (gold dot) pistol bullet. Opens well at muzzleloader speeds, with high weight retention, and superb accuracy. This was going to be my dedicated deer bullet.

But.....about the time I started using these, Idaho changed the muzzleloader rules to full bore diameter bullets only. So, along with the hard cast bullets, the Speers weren't legal any longer.....no sabots allowed here.

Andy3

295gr Power Belt HP pushed with two 50/50 777 pellets.

Might look at the Hornady .458 300 gr HP rifle bullets with an orange HPH MMP sabot.

This has been my experience as well. No issues with XTP's, either 240 or 300s.

No reason the SSTs won’t expand with an appropriate powder charge. We’ve taken bucks from 140 to 205 pounds with them and the deer were down quickly. Entry and exit. That bullet is lead with a thin jacket and a tip to start expansion. Just curious what powder charge were you using and did the bullets exit?

On the other hand I’ve just tried the 200gr XPB Barnes. Wife shot a 140-150# buck with a weighed 60gr charge of BH209. I shot a 160# buck with a 115 volume unit charge. Hers was in and out the rib cage. Mine had a broken shoulder joint just below the shoulder blade and exited thru the opposite shoulder. Damage was massive. If you want a bullet to really destroy the internals try them. Personally I’m going to a heavier bullet not so destructive. Long winded reply but I’m sitting in a blind with no deer showing 😄

Nothing I have ever shot out of a ML has left a good blood trail. I shoot 300 gn Barnes Expanders and it kills the deer. If you hit the shoulder it tears them up but doesn't leave a trail I just listen for them to fall and thrash and look till I find them. I killed 2 this year and never found a drop till they hit the ground.

IF its possible to go wrong with a Hornady XTP, it wouldn't be far. I've shot deer with .40 cals, 180 and 200 grain, with complete success.
The 240 grain 44s do quite well too. My hands down favorite is the 250 grain .45 caliber. 11 deer at ranges of 15 to 150 yards with a chrono'd muzzle velocity of 1575 fps, from my Firehawk and 1610 from my Hawken. All save one were pass throughs and those 3 that weren't BOOMflops left blood paths.
The non magnum 45 cal 300 grain is also very hard on critters. In fact, one will be down bore on Saturday for the opener of bear season. Wrapped in a Harvester crush rib over 70 grains of 3f Swiss Holy Black. 1500 fps.
Hey Yooogiii...

You should check out the No Excuses full bore muzzleloader projectiles.

That is what I'm shooting now.....the newer 525 grain, .54 caliber. Very accurate and very soft. I shot a cow elk 2 months ago with one, at 14 yards. Recovered weight of the 2 pieces was 487 grains.....yes, the cow stopped the bullet. I push them hard, and up close, that's what happens. I'm going to try paper patching a hard(er) cast bullet this spring, and see if I can make that work. I use to shoot 425 grain, hornady great plains bullets....same thing. Accurate and soft.....great on targets, not so much on big game.

Andy3

I’ve used every thing up to 400 gr Buffalo bullets a 240-250 gr xtp will kill a deer every time and leave 2 holes

I’m using 100 grains of 777.
Both shots were pass throughs, one was at approx 80 yards, went in the left shoulder and exited in front of the right rear leg. Second was broadside at 30 yards.

It won't be in time for you this season but I just sighted my Optima V2 in with the Federal Bor-Lok copper 270 grain.

Antlerless season opens here next weekend for 9 days and we get an alternative season that I believe starts Christmas Eve and runs til Jan 4. I hope to kill 2 or 3 deer with this set-up.

Hopefully I can report some good results.

Was just shooting my Optima V2 today with two white hot pellets pushing a 300g XTP in a sabot.

Accurate, mild recoil, and all the deer I've shot with that combo died without drama.