Best full caliber .50 cal muzzleloader bullet- Colorado

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Looking at potential fall muzzleloader bear hunt in CO. However, sabots are prohibited. I'm shooting a .50 cal CVA Accura v2, and wondering if anybody has a full caliber bullet recommendation- powerbelts, Thor, etc...

 

[TN VOL]

Have always had great results with 295gr powerbelts out of my CVA Optima

 

[bbrown]

No Excuses 420g worked great on my moose this year.

 

[Carr5vols]

No Excuses 420g worked great on my moose this year.
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100% agree

 

[JasonWi]

I’ve had really good accuracy and quick kills on two deer with 460 grain no excuse bullets. The 420s would be a great choice

 

[ArcherAdam]

I have yet to shoot them however the all copper Federal borloc caught my eye. There was a video online that tested these as well as others through water jugs. They held up really well. I picked up an optima last year for expanded opportunities like in Colorado. These are what I would be trying first.

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[Slugz]

Best Muzzleloader Bullets | Thor™ Bullets - Official Website

The Best Muzzleloader Bullets on the Market - Thor™ Bullets - Bore Specific Black Powder Bullets

thorbullets.com

For combo accuracy and toughness tough to beat the above.

What ever you choose your accuracy will be a ton better if you get the correct size for your barrel

 

[browning2480]

I have yet to shoot them however the all copper Federal borloc caught my eye. There was a video online that tested these as well as others through water jugs. They held up really well. I picked up an optima last year for expanded opportunities like in Colorado. These are what I would be trying first.

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These. We have used these Federals, between 4 guys and killed many Muledeer and Elk over the last few years.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

For the no excuses bullets, what size powder charge are ya'll using to get those massive 420 and 460 grainers moving? I currently shoot 90 grains of BH.

Both the Thor and No Excuses bullets advise to buy a sizer pack first. I've never heard of this before now. I just always used sabots or back in the day patches and round balls. Are these really worth it or just a scam for an extra $5?

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

These. We have used these Federals, between 4 guys and killed many Muledeer and Elk over the last few years.

How are the blood trails with the Federals, and how much powder are you pushing them with?

 

[JasonWi]

For the no excuses bullets, what size powder charge are ya'll using to get those massive 420 and 460 grainers moving? I currently shoot 90 grains of BH.

Both the Thor and No Excuses bullets advise to buy a sizer pack first. I've never heard of this before now. I just always used sabots or back in the day patches and round balls. Are these really worth it or just a scam for an extra $5?

The sizing pack was worthwhile IMO. My knight DISC extreme is a .503, while my hunting partners knight UL is a .501".

He uses 85 grains of Triple 7 and I use 90 grains of Triple 7. We haven't chrono graphed either load, but they leave a pretty massive blood trail you can follow at a quick pace. I have a video from last years buck that looks like a red paint can was tossed around

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

The sizing pack was worthwhile IMO. My knight DISC extreme is a .503, while my hunting partners knight UL is a .501".

He uses 85 grains of Triple 7 and I use 90 grains of Triple 7. We haven't chrono graphed either load, but they leave a pretty massive blood trail you can follow at a quick pace. I have a video from last years buck that looks like a red paint can was tossed around

Thank you for the information. I've used all lead sabots from Precision Rifle in Canada for years, and they mushroom/pancake very well and deliver good blood trails.

I'm guessing the trajectory on a 420 grain conical is like a rainbow out to 150. What's your experience been? 150 is likely my absolute max with open sights anyways.

 

[5MilesBack]

For the no excuses bullets, what size powder charge are ya'll using to get those massive 420 and 460 grainers moving? I currently shoot 90 grains of BH.

I had to drop down to 70gr by volume of BH before I started seeing decent accuracy with the 420's out of my Accura V2.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I had to drop down to 70gr by volume of BH before I started seeing decent accuracy with the 420's out of my Accura V2.

Oh geez, that's a pretty light charge for such a large bullet. Probably adequate for a deer or black bear inside 100 yards I suppose. Have you killed anything with that load?

 

[JasonWi]

Thank you for the information. I've used all lead sabots from Precision Rifle in Canada for years, and they mushroom/pancake very well and deliver good blood trails.

I'm guessing the trajectory on a 420 grain conical is like a rainbow out to 150. What's your experience been? 150 is likely my absolute max with open sights anyways.

I haven't shot it past 100, so can't give any firsthand experience on that. The 100 yard groups are between 2-2.5" depending on which of us is shooting. I'm not seeing anything accuracy wise that would prevent me from shooting further...we just hunt in thicker terrain so don't have the need to.

I think a person could shoot a much lower powder charge and get great accuracy and terminal performance without the heavy recoil. Only reason I'm shooting mine where I'm at -- is the accuracy has been great and figure if it's not broke, don't fix it.

 

[cnelk]

420gr No Excuses - 90g Pyrodex P - CVA Accura V2 for me this past fall

Bears dont have thick skin, just thick hair

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

420gr No Excuses - 90g Pyrodex P - CVA Accura V2 for me this past fall

Bears dont have thick skin, just thick hair




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Thats a great buck man. Well done!

 

[browning2480]

How are the blood trails with the Federals, and how much powder are you pushing them with?

Never had to follow a blood trail. My 17 year old shot two elk this year. A Bull and a Cow. Both DRT. We should 110 grains of 777. Another guy we hunt with uses Blackhorn but not sure how much. I have personally seen 8 animals, Muledeer and Elk killed with them in the last couple years. We have only found a couple bullets. Both perfect pedaled mushrooms like a copper bullet should be.

Lots of good bullets mentioned here. This is just the one we use

 

[5MilesBack]

Oh geez, that's a pretty light charge for such a large bullet. Probably adequate for a deer or black bear inside 100 yards I suppose. Have you killed anything with that load?

I set up the gun for my 15 year old daughter for elk sighted at 50 yards. During the rut I don't anticipate her needing to shoot past that. That 420gr bullet shouldn't have any issues even at slower speeds. Her sister used a 338gr Powerbelt Platinum on her bull a few years ago at 30 yards, but there was literally not a single drop of blood out of that hole.......even after he fell. I have no idea how that is possible. But I definitely wanted to change things up for next time.

 

[wweaver]

The Federal Bor-lock is a good bullet if your muzz shoots them well. 270 grain is the copper one and 350 is pure lead for other states. The heavier no excuses are great also. Not as flat shooting but for iron sights your shooting a long way anyway.