Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Max load the same regardless of projectile?

Just getting into muzzleloading and have a quick question. The manual for my muzzleloader states gives a max load of 105 grains of FFF and 110 of FF for round balls. There is a note at the bottom stating that the max load is the same for conical bullets.

I bought some saboted bullets and was wondering if it is safe to use the same amount of powder they list for both conical and round balls. Is the max load the same for all projectiles in a given gun?

sounds like my traditions. Never start off with a max load as your rifles sweet spot may be in the lower 80-90 range.

I always start out with 70gr in a new rifle.

What rifle are you shooting?

I'm away from home right now, but if I remember it's a tradition's woodsman. I'll start out with 70 grains, but is it safe to work up to the same max with sabots as I can with round balls?

the woodsman hawken i believe has a 1:48 twist, its more suited for patched round balls or conicals.

when switching to sabots/conicals its a good idea to stay 10-15% below max load.

I'll take a load that offers the best accuracy over FPS.

Wisam, shooting max loads is not the objective, accuracy is. Any load you put in your frontstuffer from around 70 grains on up will put meat on the table, assuming it's .50 cal or larger. Less will do for smaller bores. You recall what black powder cartridge guns did to the buffalo, right?

I believe BP rifle manufacturers giving a max powder charge their
rifles can be safely shot is totally irresponsible. A 200gr bullet
being shot with 150gr Pyro will produce much, MUCH less pressure
than the same charge with a 250gr bullet. There are those who
shoot 400+gr bullets out of the .50 ML's. It could be suicide to
use a 150gr charge under a very heavy bullet in some of these
ML's.

The heavier the bullet, the less powder should be used. This is
true also with CF of the same caliber/cartridge. It is simply
common sense considering the pressures involved. Any CF reloading
manual gives specific loads for light - heavy bullets. Where
is such a thing for ML's?? A max load should have included the
weight of the bullet, and I see that nowhere in any ML manual.

The manual that came with my Investarms Hawken lists different powder charges for different weights of projectiles. Basically, what you said - the heavier the bullet, the lighter the powder charge. 100gr with a patched round ball - 80 with a 385 gr conical. That said, I usually use a 240 - 250gr saboted XTP with 100 gr. T7. Drop to 85 with a 385 gr. Great Plains. I think the all lead Great Plains does not perform as well when pushed harder. The jacketed bullets can be pushed harder.