Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Knight Mountaineer load recommendation?

I have a new Knight Mountaineer .50 I'll be hunting with for the first time this season. I've accumulated a pretty good stock of BH209 and Federal 209A primers. I bought some Hornady SST "Low Drag Sabot" 300 grainers (.452).

This is the first time I'll be hunting with BH209. Can anyone let me know where to start? I anticipate this will be principally a tree stand gun and where I hunt I might, on a good day, be able to get a 150 yard shot.

Thanks in advance.

I would change out the sabots that come with the SSTs. Those are for tight bores. Get either MMP HPH-24 sabots or Harvester smooth black short sabots for a better fit. As far as powder load. Best guess is about 110gr by volume of BH209.

I run two 50 grain pellets of 777, so 100 grains with the same Hornady SST bullet / red sabot - in multiple Knight rifles in .50 cal.

This load is typically a 2-3 inch load between a group of LK-93s, Bighorns, old Orange Disc 22 inch barrel converted to the Red Plastic Jacket, and DISC Extremes with 26 inch barrels.

I'm finding that 90 grains volume of BH209 is giving me a similar grouping and zero holds - but I haven't played as much with the BH209.

Thanks.


Forgive me, I don't understand the "those are for tight bores." I've never changed out the sabots that came with the bullets I shoot. I typically shoot a Traditions Pursuit XT .50 with Hornady XTP 240 gr (.430) over two 777 pellets (or 2 Pyrodex pellets) and never any problems loading them unless I don't swab the 777 crud ring after a few shots.

And just to be clear, this is what you are recommending?

https://mmpsabots.com/store/black-hph24-sabot50-pcs/

90 grains seems to be the concensus so I guess I'll start there. Ive got some other bullets I can try, too. But I really want to give the SSTs a whirl. I've read good things about them. But I'll use whatever ends up being most accurate.

A) Traditions often have tight bore and Knights dont.

B) BH209 does best with a snug fitting sabot. The red SST sabot is nothing more than a red MMP 3P EZ sabot. Its only about .500 loaded OD. The HPH-24 and Harvester EZ Load short sabot are both around .503-.504 loaded OD.

C) No need to swab with BH209 so you want a sabot that fits right clean or fouled.

Yes, thats the MMP sabot or you can use this one too...Im fond of the Harvester because its shorter than the HPH-24. I think Cabelas still sells them too. NOT THE CRUSH RIBS.

Part# H5045SB
https://www.harvestermuzzleloading....cal-300-grain-or-less-bullet-pack-qty-50

Okay, thanks. I'll order some of those.

Just a FYI, i have a custom built 50cal with barrel lands right at .5005...just a hair under .501 and the Harvester EZ Load shoots excellent even with REALLY hot loads. Knights typically run about .501-.502 on the lands but new barrels may be on the lower end of that range more often. The SST is about .452 or slightly more and with the Harvester sabot it comes out to about .504. With a .451 bullet its about .503 which is what i use in my custom 50cal. So a .003 over land fit is right in the ballpark for best accuracy.

One thing you may notice is in really cold temps the Harvester sabot will feel tighter because of the polymer they use. The MMP wont feel like it got much tighter but it does not tolerate heat as well. Such as warm barrel heat. Both sabots hold up well to hot loads if needed but the only time i use the HPH-24 is if im using longer bullets. The Harvester is more versatile if you also want to shoot shorter 250gr bullets.

A really good bullet that is about the same price or less are Lehigh but you have to buy them in 50 packs now. They are solid copper. Fury also makes a killer bullet and its cheaper than both the SST or Lehigh. Fury starts at $47/50 and they are bonded jacket bullet. Dennis makes a great bullet.
https://www.furycustombullets.com/product-category/black-powder-muzzle-loader-bullets/

I'll keep that in mind, too. Thanks. Looking forward to coming up with this coming season's load.