What is the ELD-M, Berger, TMK of muzzleloader bullets?

[Brandon.miller.4]

As the title states, what's the most violent muzzleloading bullet? Looking for maximum expansion on game and largest wound channels. 50 cal muzzy fyi.

 

[Chris in TN]

Pittman aeromax? Arrowhead NSR? Parker?

I can’t handle the recoil so I shoot saboted .40 Fury 225s in a smokeless .45. 59 grains of imr4198. That’s my ‘hot’ load. 2550’ from a 23” 1-18” mcgowen barrel.


ETA: with my kids hunting now I don’t even use that load anymore. We hunted with 33 grains of N110 this year and a Hornady SST.

FWIW the Hornady xtp pistol bullets will expand violently when pushed north of 2000’.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Pittman aeromax? Arrowhead NSR? Parker?

I can’t handle the recoil so I shoot saboted .40 Fury 225s in a smokeless .45. 59 grains of imr4198. That’s my ‘hot’ load. 2550’ from a 23” 1-18” mcgowen barrel.


ETA: with my kids hunting now I don’t even use that load anymore. We hunted with 33 grains of N110 this year and a Hornady SST.

FWIW the Hornady xtp pistol bullets will expand violently when pushed north of 2000’.

Why not stick with the fury for the kids. IMO it’s a much better bullet than the sst

 

[Chris in TN]

Why not stick with the fury for the kids. IMO it’s a much better bullet than the sst

The Fury weighs 225 grains. SST weighs 200 (this is 40 caliber saboted in a .45).


I agree that the Fury is a better bullet. But deer aren't that hard to kill. The SST works fine for what we do with it.

ETA: My oldest hunted with my old .50 and 33,0N110 and a 250 grain hornady 452 XTP this year. Very good deer killer at the short ranges we hunt. Possibly better than the SST, IMO, if the shot is close enough to keep the speed up - which most of our muzzleloader shots are .

 

[Pickettpuncher]

I guess I’m just not a fan of a sabot, and don’t like an sst lol. I do understand trying to keep the recoil down. I’ve been working on it with mine.

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

This would primarily be for western hunting. Idaho and possibly other states. What is your argument for or against sabots?

 

[LCguy]

Here's a Barnes I found on the off-side hide of a bull elk after a 127 yard shot. Not a super hot load either, 90 gr/v of Triple 7 FFG.

The more important question is which bullet shoots best out of your specific gun? You could buy the most expensive bullet out there, but if it doesn't group our of your gun, it's useless to you.

 

[Caseknife]

Idaho is not very liberal on Muzzy, might want to check the regs.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

This would primarily be for western hunting. Idaho and possibly other states. What is your argument for or against sabots?

Sabots are the weak link. You can push a sized bullet harder. If you’re not pushing it tho, it doesn’t really matter. At one time, a sabot also limited your options, but fury has stepped up along with Pittman. Once I had a die it was really a no brainer.

 

[Chris in TN]

This would primarily be for western hunting. Idaho and possibly other states. What is your argument for or against sabots?

My sole argument for sabots, given current technology, is to shoot smaller diameter bullets so I can get better BCs relative to recoil.

A Fury 40/225 in a sabot, from a .45, can be effective at far greater distances than I will shoot, without beating you to death. I can get 2550' r maybe 2600' with moderate recoil. Step up to 250-325 grain bore diameter bullets at the same speeds for similar trajectories and recoil gets serious.

Take away the concern for recoil and I have no other argument to make. Bore-diameter projectiles can be pretty awesome, once you get past the recoil. And they'll certainly be more accurate when you step on the gas. Sabots start getting wonky above maybe 2600' at best.

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

Idaho is not very liberal on Muzzy, might want to check the regs.

Idaho has changed their regs. I hunted prior with their old laws and had to use full bore lead. New regs allow for 209 primers, sabots, jacketed bullets, etc.

 

[jonnyviceroy]

Pittman aero max. Absolutely devastating wound channels. Largest I’ve ever seen of any projectile. 40 cal 228’s