Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Montana Legal Muzzleloader

These all pass muster;
Z. H. Sell 3 by Steve Zihn, on [bleep]

TM Rigby 5 by Steve Zihn, on [bleep]

Wes's 1 by Steve Zihn, on [bleep]


Becker 2 by Steve Zihn, on [bleep]

RP Carolina by Steve Zihn, on [bleep]

Badwolf - Could you give me a good starting point load for the Great Pains bullet?

I built an Invest Arms 50 cal Hawken last year for the muzzleloader season. I’m running the Hornady Great Plains 385gr, very accurate in the 1/48 twist. I tried 777 loose powder, but had too many miss fires and hang fires. Pyrodex seems much better. I run 90gr behind the Great Plains bullet, 100 gr is max.

Thanks! Much appreciated! Just the powder and then the bullet? No felt wad or anything?

The Great Plains don’t use a patch, the base is hollow and they expand to seal to the bore.

Assuming Pyrodex RS? What brand percussion cap are you using?

I run a whites red hot nipple and cci magnum primers. I think real BP ignites much easier and the stock nipple and regular primers will be fine.

My boy and I have been hunting with muzzle loader hunting about 5 years. A traditions deer stalker 50 cal. that we built. 385 grain great plains bullets shot the best of about 5 bullets tried. It shoots a consistent 2.5" three shot group at 100 yds. We started with pyrodex but I would NOT use it in extremely cold conditions. (20* and below) We hunt Idaho and montana. The first year we had 2 separate miss fires on two separate 6 point bulls at 50 yds. It was a heart breaker. The temp was 10* with pyrodex. Freshly loaded both times. Caps fired, pyrodex didn't ignite. These miss fires happened 3 days apart. Never had miss fires on 50+ rounds before when the temp was above freezing when we were preparing for the hunt. We remedied this problem by going to strait black powder. We also put on a red hot nipple, just to be safe. We tested this by loading the rifle and leaving it outside in sub zero temps for a couple days, then firing it off. It has gone off every time. I hope this saves somebody a missed opportunity.

That Pyrodex is some terrible stuff. Never seen where it cleaned up any easier than real black and damn sure isn't as consistent.

Real black ignites super easy and is very consistent.

atse - What charge of which type of black powder are you using with those Great Plains bullets?

80 grains of Old Eynsford black powder. We shot to 90 grains, but 80 gave the best accuracy in our rifle.

Thank you!

Hi, I have one shot 777 80 gr with patch round ball. It is a 54 cal. Also have 2 54 renegades I shot any where from 60/90 gr of black power, pryodex, or 777. They are a accurate rifle but only shot round ball. I would probally start with 70 grains of powder and see how it does. Be safe and have fun

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]
simple 54 cal hunting rifle by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]

Simple 54 cal hunting rifle (2) by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]
This one is 54 caliber and is for sale now.
$1400

80-90 gr P pyrodex behind a TC maxiball oor maxi-hunter whichever shoots best