New to muzzleloader.

[EricBender208]

I’m brand new to muzzleloader/ black powder. I have a bighorn in .52 cal. Can’t find bullets for it, honestly I don’t even know how to load it so I’m looking for insight on what I need to get. Needs to be Idaho legal.

 

[ElDiablito]

That’s gonna be tough. Bullet options are limited for .52. That’s a very uncommon caliber. There are a couple sabot/bullet options but I’m not aware of many (any) ID legal options. You may have to buy a mold and cast your own lead conicals.

 

[KenLee]

.52 Cal 530gr Traditional Hunter | 10-Pack

52 Cal./530gr. Traditional Hunter.10/pkg.

parkerproductionsinc.com

with 100gr of triple 7

 

[EricBender208]

That’s gonna be tough. Bullet options are limited for .52. That’s a very uncommon caliber. There are a couple sabot/bullet options but I’m not aware of many (any) ID legal options. You may have to buy a mold and cast your own lead conicals.

i honestly don’t mind that idea. May have to give it a whirl.

 

[Felix40]

No excuses is discussing making a .52 bullet if there is enough interest. Maybe send him an email and express interest.

Parker is the only other one I’ve seen.

 

[CorbLand]

Loads for .52 Knight Bighorn- Idaho

I finally managed to draw an antelope tag here in Idaho. My cherished Thompson Center Omega is not legal here, and I just ordered a Knight Bighorn with Western ignition. I was leery about buying a .52 caliber but could not pass up the deal. A Green Mountain barrel and Timney trigger for...

www.hunttalk.com

This guy has the same gun and needed Idaho compliant. Looks like he had good luck with the Parker bullets.

Parker is probably going to be your best bet. They are an Idaho based company.

 

[prcwv]

So haven't used a muzzleloader since I was 13 or 14. No dummy to guns I usually bow hunt in muzzleloader season but been wanting one. So I got a Accura LRX .45 cal 4 containers of Blackhorn 209. Pretty sure I'm going to use some type of full bore bullet. Gonna do the varaflame large rifle conversion got plenty of magnum an military primers which is probably what I'll use. Open to suggestions on bullets, loading, cleaning. So much stuff out there I'd rather spend money an buy once. I am going to swap the factory rail with a Williams that accepts their peep sight so if I venture to other states that allow the gun if a scope isn't allowed. Primarily shooting whitetail in hopes of going to Midwest atleast after some muleys maybe elk one day if I'm lucky. Any advice is appreciated. I've researched too much an yeah you know how that goes

 

[farmermail]

Pay attention to twist rates. Round bullets, slower twist. Conical, faster twist. I think that gun has a 1 in 28 or 1 in 26. Double f (ffg) for sure, given the mass of bullet. ID changed rules this year (2024), jacketed bullets are allowed, still no sabots though which pretty much eliminates solid copper in my opinion.

 

[prcwv]

Pay attention to twist rates. Round bullets, slower twist. Conical, faster twist. I think that gun has a 1 in 28 or 1 in 26. Double f (ffg) for sure, given the mass of bullet. ID changed rules this year (2024), jacketed bullets are allowed, still no sabots though which pretty much eliminates solid copper in my opinion.

Yeah it's 1 in 28. I may end up shooting some custom bullets. I wish they made the sst in a non sabot for 45 cal. Not quite as many options as I thought there would be. But I got a damn good deal on the gun with a scope which I may change anyways. I was going to try Shooters World Black Powder Substitute till they did this short run of Blackhorn 209

 

[ElDiablito]

Yes, fewer bullet options for a .45 vs a .50. Not sure what plug they’re putting in those CVAs - you’ll likely need to buy the Blackhorn breech plug if you want to shoot Bh209. Yeah, I’d ditch that scope and mount the next one about an inch closer to the barrel.

Which custom bullets are you referring to?

 

[prcwv]

Appears to have the regular 209 plug. I'm going to get the Varaflame conversion an use Large Rifle Magnum primers I trust them more an have plenty. Yeah I'm probably changing the rings out too they just look chinsy. I'm not sure how scope will do it's a bushnell banner I believe a shotgun scope it's got a diamond recticle in it. Gun new was 725 at shop an it was on used rack for 500 an I looked it over good couldn't find a mark an if ot was shot was very little it was clean an breach looked new as well as threads. Said was an older man that buys an trades stuff in a lot. Parker, Pittman, Arrowhead, Fury

 

[ElDiablito]

Zero advantage to the Variflame system as far as I can tell. Personally, I’d just get a Bh209 plug for half the cost. I’d stick with 209s - easier, simpler and just as reliable. (BTW, I have over 30 muzzies of several brands and I shoot everything from black to smokeless and bullets from 175 gr to 600 grs and #11s/209s/LRMPs.)

LRMPs have a slightly hotter flame temp but only about half the flame volume of a 209.

Muzzies can be really hard on cheap scopes, I’d upgrade to a decent scope for sure.

You will most likely need an adjustable sizing die to size jacketed .45 bullets for your bore if shooting bullet-to-bore. And your barrel may or may not be consistent enough to do that. Some are and some aren’t. You’ll have to experiment.

I’ve used all the bullets you mention - I’d start with the Furies. Great shooting bullets and cheaper than many of the others. Good luck!

 

[prcwv]

Zero advantage to the Variflame system as far as I can tell. Personally, I’d just get a Bh209 plug for half the cost. I’d stick with 209s - easier, simpler and just as reliable. (BTW, I have over 30 muzzies of several brands and I shoot everything from black to smokeless and bullets from 175 gr to 600 grs and #11s/209s/LRMPs.)

LRMPs have a slightly hotter flame temp but only about half the flame volume of a 209.

Muzzies can be really hard on cheap scopes, I’d upgrade to a decent scope for sure.

You will most likely need an adjustable sizing die to size jacketed .45 bullets for your bore if shooting bullet-to-bore. And your barrel may or may not be consistent enough to do that. Some are and some aren’t. You’ll have to experiment.

I’ve used all the bullets you mention - I’d start with the Furies. Great shooting bullets and cheaper than many of the others. Good luck!

Biggest reason I thought of Varaflame was because of trying to hunt down good 209 primers cause I have plenty of everything else. Usually can find Winchester 209 but ive not had good luck with their stuff recently ammo wise. Yeah I know recoil can be harsh idk if the Crossfire 2 will even like it. It's getting upgraded rings an base for sure. I'm not planning on muzzle break but if I do that's kinda why I was leaning towards the full bore over sabots. Seems that sabots work but people prefer to stay away from but I have no preference I just don't want to waste a bunch of hard to find blackhorn. I wondered about the sizing die.

 

[ElDiablito]

Yes, Hodgdon recommends full strength (preferably mag 209s) in their ignition guidelines for BH209. They don’t mention LRP/LRMPs. And “tight fitting sabots” for best performance. I shoot both sabot and sized jacketed bullet. Lots of advantages to sabots for hunting.

https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Ignition_Guidelines.pdf

 

[prcwv]

I've seen some of the remington Premier 209s other than that everyone has 777s locally anyways. I like to shop local but pur local place prices stuff to where it's cheaper online sadly.

 

[ElDiablito]

I've seen some of the remington Premier 209s other than that everyone has 777s locally anyways. I like to shop local but pur local place prices stuff to where it's cheaper online sadly.

Yeah, don’t use the 777 209s with Bh209 - those are “low powdered” for use specifically with 777 powder. But Remingtons, Win or Cheddites would be fine.

 

[prcwv]

Yeah after reading that link you sent me sounds like has to pretty well be a magnum primer. Local shop has the 209 plug I may get it an the varaflame an just try each if I can ever find any good 209s. Not gonna have much time to hunt this fall cause of work so I'm trying to get ahead an have stuff ready for the little time off I'll have I can hit the woods. I over prepare if anything but like I said I've got to the point in life I'd rather spend decent money once an be done. I've seen the Cheddites a lot wasn't sure why they were so plentiful.

 

[farmermail]

For those muzzleloading in ID, 209's are still not allowed unfortunately.