[bernie]

I have shot a Remington .50 cal. 700 ML for many years now and dearly love this rifle as a deer slayer. I have normally used a sabot with a 230 gr. .45 Remington Golden Saber and it is devastating on deer when they are hit with it. Also, at my range, I can consistantly hit with it out to 150 yards with no problems whatsoever. My range layout has the wind pretty typically at my back with not much even then.

One of my deer stands sits on a power line right of way that runs across the top of Crowley's Ridge. even on a still day the wind fairly "howls" through this power line right of way.

I have missed two deer in the last couple of years at approximately 120 yards. When I say missed, I mean that I did not cut a hair on the deer. However, I am shooting into the wind.

I suspect that the hollow point cavity may be causing excessive drag or instability when shooting into the wind.

Is there a better bullet that is readily available and will not cost an arm and a leg to shoot?

Thanks for any input.

[smokemaker]

I'm a big fan of Hornady's SST and Buffalo's SSB. Comparing the two- The SSB is cheaper to shoot, easier to load, and is all lead, but still aerodynamically shaped. I shoot the 300 grains SST's because the 375 grain SSB shot too low out of my Omega with iron sights. Now buffalo has a 285 grain SSB, and I'm going to get around to ordering some one of these days. Of course there's always powerbelts. I don't shoot them, but some guys love the darn things.

Hope I helped.
Jeff

[P95Carry]

I have no pic handy but I cast a Lee Minnie - it's nominally 375 grain.

The sprue cut on top is approx 1/4" wide and so flat but ballistically it seems to do well - certainly not badly affected by wind. If I am remembering right I have used that out of my in-line New Frontier, with a modest 70 grains BP.

I loaned it to a buddy last season and he took a good whitetail at approx 80 yards.

[Mark whiz]

I'll give a 2nd to the 300gr Hornady SSTs/ TC Shockwaves. Those things shoot REALLY well out of my Knight over 80gr of 2fg 777 powder. You also might try the 348gr Aerotip Powerbelts - they can group pretty darn well, depending on the gun.

[bernie]

I appreciate all the input here, but I shoot my muzzleloader alot and these bullets cost a little more than I care to spend if I can help it. I have however thought of a possible solution.

See if this might work.

I may dust off my old bullet casting equipment, and get some new molds for a 225-230 gr. .452 round nose bullet and cast a pure lead version. I think it would be very economical, and provide better aerodynamics than the hollowpoints in the wind. I also think that in soft lead it would be a great deer stopper.

[rick_reno]

The best bullet I've found for my 50's is the Buffalo Bullet SSB - it's a 375 gr. saboted boatail. It's incredibly accurate and it's repeatable accuracy. I have to order them from Cabellas - no local shop carries them.

[Mark whiz]

bernie..............

What you're wanting to do in casting bullets will work - but it may not be what you want to do for hunting needs.

Since you are talking about a distance & wind elemnet to your hunting........the standard solution is better ballistics - I.E. longer, more aerodynamic bullets. That's why the SSTs or the Buffalo SSBs are good choices.

I agree with the soft lead concept, which is why I have been using Precision Rifle's pure lead ballistic tips (QTs) for hunting.............. they are VERY accurate and really bust game. But they are even more expensive than the SSTs.

Since you have the casting equipment, it sure don't hurt to try it out - but I doubt you'll see any better accuracy than your Golden Saber load, probably a tad worse. NOW if you can get a rifle bullet mold over 300gr that will fit a sabot in your .50cal - THEN you might have a winner. I believe you can get sabots for .478 diameter bullets and some have posted good results with them.

[P95Carry]

Does no one at all, like a simple, cast, pure lead 375 Minnie?

I am surprised, because while grouping may certainly be less tight than some of the ''mega-bucks'' offerings, they seem Ok to me and hit hard too!

[mtnbkr]

I use 45cal Hornady XTP 300gr bullets in a sabot for my 50cal Rem 700ML. I load that over 100gr worth of Pyrodex pellets. I haven't shot it out to 100yds, but at 50yds, I get 1" groups for 2-3 shots. Dunno about the terminal ability since the deer don't cooperate for me during BP season.

Chris

[bernie]

I have used traditional minie balls, but they are a little bit messier to deal with and I like the higher velocity and flatter trajectory of the sabots and bullets.

mtnbkr, I do not have my rifles information handy, but could the 300 gr. bullet handle a 120 gr. powder charge of Pyrodex? My manual is nowhere near me at the moment.

[mtnbkr]

Honestly, I don't know. My manual is packed away downstairs somewhere. I've never tried to go higher than 100gr.

Chris

[Mark whiz]

I used to shoot 400gr sabots out of my Knight USAK with 125gr of Clean Shot (which is the equivalent of 115gr of Pyro RS) without any problems.
Now I use 100gr of 3fg 777 for the same 400gr sabots to get to 1500fps - and this load too would be the rough equivalent to 120gr of Pyro.

so yeah - it's safe..................but that 400gr load kicks like a mule on crack too. :eek:

I use 80gr of 2fg 777 with 300gr sabots (XTPs, SSTs, and several PR bullets) - which is the rough equivalent of 95gr of Pyro RS and runs right at the 1500fps level out of my 22" barrel.

I just shot a box of 370gr MaxiBalls last week - and the accuracy wasn't bad.......about 1.65" at 75yds using 85gr of 2fg 777 (about 100gr RS).
I've really gotten to like the 460gr conicals from No Excuses - they shoot really well with 90gr of 2fg 777.................they group well and pack quite a punch. But I don't believe any of the conicals would be best for hunting past 100yds..........the groups tend to open up quickly past that point.

[1911 guy]

I use a .50 cal with a 1:66 twist and patched round ball :evil: Never had a deer walk away from one. Might not be high tech enough, though. I may need to find a tactical mold to cast for this years hunting.

[Flyboy]

I've always shot 370gr T/C Maxi Balls in my .50. That, atop 70gr of Goex FFFg (yes, triple-F), and my cheap $100 muzzleloader is a tackdriver at distances farther than I can see without my glasses. And, now that you can buy Maxi Balls pre-lubed, I don't even have to get my hands dirty.

At least, not until I get home. :neener: