New to ML with 100 questions

[Newbutold]

Howdy. I just purchased my first ML, MR-X .50 and have lots of questions. I've chosen 3 different bullets to start with, Boredriver ELD-X 340 gr, POWERBELT ELR 330 gr, and POWERBELT AEROLITE 300 gr. Blackhorn 209, and CCi 209 primers. My first question, what woud be a good starting point for powder charge. I've read probably 100 threads on as many forums over the last couple days and just now stumbled accross this one. This seems to be the most in depth so far, so I "joined" hoping to get educated. I'm new, but old, so please be patient with me.

 

[ElDiablito]

Welcome to the forum First, Powerbelts have a terrible terminal performance reputation - no way I’d consider shooting them at anything other than paper. The Boredrivers are a good bullet.

It’s easy to overthink this stuff when you’re new. I’d get yourself a volumetric measure and start with about 90 grains by volume. See what your groups look like and then move up in 5-10 gr increments. The max volume charge in that rifle for Bh209 is 120 gr.

And, the most important thing - use a witness mark on your ramrod to denote “loaded.” This will prevent double loading the powder, bullet or both. (Load the rifle and either use a piece of masking tape or a silver sharpie to mark the spot where your ramrod is at the muzzle.)

What are the other 99 questions?

 

[dsotm]

Do yourself a favor and ditch the Powerbelts now

 

[Balderdash]

I've been heavy into ML for 25 + years. Have shot a lot of the available powder and bullet combinations out there. Feel free to PM me anytime with Q's; perhaps I'll have some experience that'll help.

Looks like you're on the right track so far. Are you using full diameter bullets by choice or by state mandate?

 

[Gila]

Another newbie here but I decided to shoot BH 209 with FTX 325 gr. In a .52 cal…I think by the manual I have more powder capacity then the 50. But being a reloader for CF rifles, I always approach max load until I see case pressure signs then back off a small amount and look at accuracy. Will velocity give a good clue for max load? Will be using a labradar.

 

[ElDiablito]

Will velocity give a good clue for max load? Will be using a labradar.

No, not really.

 

[Balderdash]

Max load should be established by either the powder or ML manufacturer. Then I let accuracy determine amounts. A few FPS one way or the other doesn't make as much difference to long range hitting as consistency.

 

[Newbutold]

I've been heavy into ML for 25 + years. Have shot a lot of the available powder and bullet combinations out there. Feel free to PM me anytime with Q's; perhaps I'll have some experience that'll help.

Looks like you're on the right track so far. Are you using full diameter bullets by choice or by state mandate?

By choice. I've been doing a lot of reading and as much research as I can. Not a lot of muzzy guys here locally to get advice from, a couple maybe, who admittedly don't know other than what works for them. I do appreciate any advice/help I recieve at this stage of the game. I will definitely be hitting you up for advice in the coming days. ML season opens 1/4 here in the buckeye, so this week will be range week for me.

 

[Balderdash]

By choice. I've been doing a lot of reading and as much research as I can. Not a lot of muzzy guys here locally to get advice from, a couple maybe, who admittedly don't know other than what works for them. I do appreciate any advice/help I recieve at this stage of the game. I will definitely be hitting you up for advice in the coming days. ML season opens 1/4 here in the buckeye, so this week will be range week for me.

In 50 Cals I generally run sabots unless otherwise mandated. But if you're getting the trajectory and accuracy you need from full diameter bullets, then there's not really a downside to them, especially with the BC's they're stating on some of them.

If your bore is a little larger than optimal for the bullets you've got,, which I've run into with several knights, Fury makes full diameter bullets available in several sizes. Likewise, their Universal bullet is generally a great bullet for getting great ignition with BH 209, which needs to be fully sealed up on both ends of the powder column to get the most consistent ignition.