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Post by jbird on Oct 21, 2020 12:28:52 GMT -5
I have a CVA wolf and I have shot 100 to 150 grains of pyrodex pellets thru it with 223 grain power belt bullets and have had no issues regarding pass-thru that I can recall.
Technically you want that energy to stay in the deer - thus not exit. But I fully understand the value of 2 holes in a deer vs one and being able to track it.
Have you tried to see what your bullet velocity is via a chronograph? You might be getting a poor bullet to barrel seal and reducing your bullet speed and as a result it's energy and ability to penetrate. Just a thought....
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Post by buckert on Oct 21, 2020 12:59:06 GMT -5
I have a CVA wolf and I have shot 100 to 150 grains of pyrodex pellets thru it with 223 grain power belt bullets and have had no issues regarding pass-thru that I can recall. Technically you want that energy to stay in the deer - thus not exit. But I fully understand the value of 2 holes in a deer vs one and being able to track it. Have you tried to see what your bullet velocity is via a chronograph? You might be getting a poor bullet to barrel seal and reducing your bullet speed and as a result it's energy and ability to penetrate. Just a thought.... Thanks for the tips and feedback. I haven’t thought about the bullet velocity. I’ll look into this idea.
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Post by buckert on Oct 21, 2020 12:59:37 GMT -5
Thanks a lot everyone for all of the great feedback! This is a pretty awesome site!
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Post by buckert on Oct 21, 2020 13:01:10 GMT -5
I’ve got a CVA Optima muzzleloader as well with the thumb hole stock. I shoot 110 grains of blackhorn with a Barnes TMZ Spit-fire 250 grain bullet. I’ve literally never had a deer run after being shot with this combo. They have all been dead right there. All shots have been within 50 yards as well. Dave do you also aim for the top of the shoulder like Span mentioned or are you going for the conventional lung shot?
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Oct 21, 2020 15:27:51 GMT -5
I’ve got a CVA Optima muzzleloader as well with the thumb hole stock. I shoot 110 grains of blackhorn with a Barnes TMZ Spit-fire 250 grain bullet. I’ve literally never had a deer run after being shot with this combo. They have all been dead right there. All shots have been within 50 yards as well. Dave do you also aim for the top of the shoulder like Span mentioned or are you going for the conventional lung shot? I still aim right behind the front leg.
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Post by sculver7 on Oct 22, 2020 6:40:57 GMT -5
Powerbelts = junk Barnes = rule
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Post by esshup on Oct 23, 2020 21:24:42 GMT -5
I use the same hold whenever I can for what I call a high shoulder shot. Just behind the shoulder blade, high enough so it spines them or it's just below the spine. Savage Muzzleloader, Barnes all copper bullets. In any of my big game hunting I want a pass through, 2 holes let more blood out than one.
As for the Barnes, I used a .243 and shot a buck at the base of the neck/shoulder. The bullet exited the scrotum of the deer and it didnt' take a step. If an 85 grain bullet can do that, then any of the ML bullets should do it too.
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Post by welder on Oct 24, 2020 4:28:53 GMT -5
What is the secret to loading traditional style sabots? They have always been so difficult for me to load,powerbelts were an easy choice.
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Post by BOBinIN on Oct 24, 2020 5:28:16 GMT -5
I would say it's getting the right combination of bullet/ sabot. Look for help from someone with experience in your area that can help you get the right combination. Make your bullet choice first then determine the best sabot fit for that bullet and your bore diameter. Check out www.mmpsabots.com for some guidance. Good luck, BOB
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Post by firstwd on Oct 24, 2020 6:53:11 GMT -5
What is the secret to loading traditional style sabots? They have always been so difficult for me to load,powerbelts were an easy choice. I always started the sabot first just passed the start of the bullet cup, then dropped the bullet in. Once it's seated the bullet is against the base of the cup.
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Post by esshup on Oct 24, 2020 13:29:01 GMT -5
MMP makes different sized sabots for different bullet diameters, and look at harvesters crush rib sabots. www.harvestermuzzleloading.com/index.php/products/crush-rib-sabotsI'm used to shooting a Savage Muzzleloader and they need a lot of resistance to get a proper burn of the smokeless powder, so all my ramrods have the "T" handle on them. I use a short starter rod first, get the sabot/bullet about 4" down the bore and finish with the power rod.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2020 14:52:08 GMT -5
Muzzleloaders make me crazy. They`re difficult for me to figure out, from loading them consistently the same with the same pressure and seating the bullet to the same place, to cleaning the barrel between shots for accuracy off the bench. I just don`t do well with them.
I shoot a Barnes 250 grain Boattail bullet, with 3 50 grain 777 pellets and CCI M 209 primer. It groups ok, and the kills I`ve made with it have been short blood trails.
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Post by esshup on Oct 24, 2020 18:46:32 GMT -5
Muzzleloaders make me crazy. They`re difficult for me to figure out, from loading them consistently the same with the same pressure and seating the bullet to the same place, to cleaning the barrel between shots for accuracy off the bench. I just don`t do well with them. I shoot a Barnes 250 grain Boattail bullet, with 3 50 grain 777 pellets and CCI M 209 primer. It groups ok, and the kills I`ve made with it have been short blood trails. That's why I have a Savage Muzzleloader. No cleaning between shots, nor is there cleaning needed the whole season if you verify the point of impact before season starts. They are just like taking care of your 30-06.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2020 18:55:09 GMT -5
Muzzleloaders make me crazy. They`re difficult for me to figure out, from loading them consistently the same with the same pressure and seating the bullet to the same place, to cleaning the barrel between shots for accuracy off the bench. I just don`t do well with them. I shoot a Barnes 250 grain Boattail bullet, with 3 50 grain 777 pellets and CCI M 209 primer. It groups ok, and the kills I`ve made with it have been short blood trails. That's why I have a Savage Muzzleloader. No cleaning between shots, nor is there cleaning needed the whole season if you verify the point of impact before season starts. They are just like taking care of your 30-06. Then there's the whole thing of knowing when you need to shoot the load to clean and reload due to potential moisture issues. I'd love to get a smokeless muzzleloader, but it's not in the cards for me.
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Post by mission5 on Oct 25, 2020 8:46:04 GMT -5
I quit hunting with muzzle loaders after a couple bad experiences. Wasn’t getting pass throughs and we had deer running a long ways after pretty decent shot placement. Not even sure what bullets we were using as it was about 10 years ago but it was bad enough for me to quit using it. I’ll take a look when I get home. We started at 100 grains of pyrodex and moved to 150 with the same result.
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Post by steiny on Oct 25, 2020 11:58:19 GMT -5
Sounds to me like your current system is doing the job, killing all of those deer dead and you've not lost any. Shoot them in the base of the neck at 40 yards and you will typically drop them on the spot.
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Post by jajwrigh on Oct 25, 2020 14:17:52 GMT -5
Ditch the powerbelts!
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Post by bullseye69 on Oct 25, 2020 14:47:52 GMT -5
Get some barnes bullets and the correct mmp sabots to go with them and then work up a good load.
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Post by saltydog on Oct 26, 2020 7:49:26 GMT -5
Guys I have used powerbelts in my Knight MK 85 since forever. I have never lost a deer using them and most of the time I never had to track one far. Its very accurate, It shot so good that I sold my rem 1100 with a hastings slug barrel and never have used a slug gun since. Which ones you using? www.midwayusa.com/powerbelt/b?bid=2427Im using the green tip 245 gr
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Post by greghopper on Oct 26, 2020 8:21:28 GMT -5
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