Muzzleloader New + Thor Bullets

[huntsd]

I will be buying a muzzleloader this year for the 2023 season. Never owned or shot one before. I live in the great state of CA where we have to run lead free. Looks like Thor is my only option? I plan on hunting CA and CO with the gun (maybe NV if lucky) for deer. So that means open sight only.

I only want to develop 1 load for the gun which has to be lead free (not an out of state lead load as well). Looks like Thor only makes 50 cal bullets? SO I guess I will go with a 50 cal muzzle loader. if I am wrong I would prefer to run .45. I am leaning towards the CVA accura mr-x.

Does anyone have a receipt for the CVA accura with thor bullets?

Any other suggestions? thanks!

 

[weisenbu]

Barnes bullets are lead free.

 

[Bluehawk]

+1 on the Barnes. I shoot 250 gr TMZ. Very accurate and I've dropped two dear in their tracks with one shot. Haven't shot an elk yet.

 

[ElDiablito]

If you want to only develop one load and plan to hunt CO you’d have to go with a full-bore bullet (no sabots in CO).

Thors are great, but, yes, at the moment only offered in .50. Another non-lead option is the Federal Copper BOR Lock if you can find any.

Buy Trophy Copper Muzzleloader Bullet for USD 33.99 | Federal Ammunition

Shopping for the Trophy Copper Muzzleloader Bullet - Learn more about the latest Muzzleloading and other hunting or shooting gear at Federal Ammunition.

www.federalpremium.com

 

[wgrkman]

Just FYI, in Colorado 50 cal is required for elk. I know the OP says deer but just figured it could sway your choice

 

[rlp10ml]

Cutting Edge Bullets have them for Muzzys: https://cuttingedgebullets.com/shop/cutting-edge-bullets/muzzleloader-bullets

 

[ResearchinStuff]

thors work well in my cva. I don't recall if there is an ignition restriction in colorado, but either T7 + a musket cap or blackhorn + 209 primer should work well depending on what's required.

50 cal is by far the most prevalent and most supported muzzleloader caliber, for long-term support it's your best bet by far.

 

[ElDiablito]

Cutting Edge Bullets have them for Muzzys: https://cuttingedgebullets.com/shop/cutting-edge-bullets/muzzleloader-bullets

Cool bullets but looks like they only offer saboted options. So would be a no-go in CO.

 

[ElDiablito]

I don't recall if there is an ignition restriction in colorado

No ignition restriction in CO

 

[huntsd]

Cool bullets but looks like they only offer saboted options. So would be a no-go in CO.

Good point. Looks like my hunt for a do it all load might not exist.

Can you use belted bullets in co? Kinda Confused here

Muzzleloader law breakdown throughout the western states

A state by state look

www.gohunt.com

 

[ElDiablito]

Yeah, no such thing as a perfect-for-everything-everywhere load.

Here are the CO regs

 

[huntsd]

Yeah, no such thing as a perfect-for-everything-everywhere load.

Here are the CO regs

View attachment 500814

Thanks. Wonder where gohunt saw that Powerbelts were legal

 

[ResearchinStuff]

powerbelts are typically considered a conical, and are commonly used in colorado. That said, I personally do not like powerbelts.

 

[triglet40]

cva optima with 290 grain barnes bullets is very accurate combination. using 2 white hot pellets.

 

[taskswap]

I haven't hunted the season yet, but I shoot muzzleloader here in CO for fun (and I shoot hunt-legal setups just in case I ever want to.) I have a 50 cal CVA Accura V2 that I'm really happy with. (An extra breech plug is a definite plus to have at the range BTW.)

I've shot basically every bullet made, searching for the best option. I will say PowerBelts are VERY easy to load compared to other options, although I don't get nearly the accuracy from them as other options. But I can see why folks love them.

I had a hard time loving the Thor bullets. I got their Sizing Pack as recommended and can't remember what colors I landed on but I think it was 0.500 being way too lose and .501 being frustrating to load. Maybe it was because my rifle is fairly new and the Thor bullets are harder than a traditional lead bullet? I'm not sure. I did have good luck with Hornady BoreDriver but that's just clad, it wouldn't work for you.

What I would definitely recommend is trying a number of different bullet options. If a normal rifle "prefers" some ammo over others, my experience has been muzzleloaders are like that but times 10.

If you can find them, give Federal B.O.R Lok's a go. I've read a ton of negative reviews on them but my experience was pretty good, and they're available lead-free. YMMV...

 

[Durran87]

I’ve been finding the BOR Loks at Walmart recently. I also have a gun between Thor sizes. .499 is definitely too small but .500 can be a real bear. Apparently my gun is .4995? If I coat the .500 in bore butter it helps a bit. They shoot great once I get it loaded. CVA optima V2

 

[bitterroot_reaper]

I’ve been finding the BOR Loks at Walmart recently. I also have a gun between Thor sizes. .499 is definitely too small but .500 can be a real bear. Apparently my gun is .4995? If I coat the .500 in bore butter it helps a bit. They shoot great once I get it loaded. CVA optima V2

.50 Universal Fit – Fury Custom Bullets

www.furycustombullets.com

Fury makes a .4995 bullet specifically for CVA, see the link above. Then you can find a CA legal bullet and load. Just keep a notebook for your load development.
I, personally, run two guns. One specifically for Idaho and one for everywhere else. I just keep my load data on the reloading bench and make up my hunting loads before I head out.

 

[Durran87]

Wow I guess I’m not the only one struggling with this!

 

[Alaska Bowman]

I have an Mrx in .50 cal. I shoot sub moa, with a 10fps SD using:

250gr. THOR hammer
80gr. (meticulously weighed) Pyrodex Select RD
CCI 209M primer

I'm currently testing Bh209 loads now but haven't found anything as good as above... yet

 

[bitterroot_reaper]

What is your Avg velocity and ES with that load? What are you getting for velocity with the BH209?