Cost of modern bullets compared to lead ball

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Well for taking deer at 300 yards with a .50 caliber, one would like to know the weapon used, it's barrel length and twist rate as well.

If you have yet to choose a weapon, a .45 caliber Whitworth Rifle or a .577 Parker Hale Enfield Naval Rifle each have the ability to shoot over twice your required distance. The former would be my choice for an off the shelf weapon.
 
I am thinking 300 yards for deer hunting in Michigan is an unusual shot so more realistically max range 100-150 yards.

I am thinking of purchasing a LHR 1120LS package and shoot a 245 grain Spitfire MZ bullet using 150 grain powder charge (two pellet mag. load).

If I could only match the performance of my 35 or 308 Remington with a 200 grain blunt nose core lock bullet. Three hundred yards would be a bit of a stretch for the 35 but not for the 308.
 
I thought you were looking for a real muzzleloader, a traditional one. Don't be fooled into thinking that a sidelock, wood stocked, open sighted muzzleloader cannot do what you want it to do. They still hold records that the .308 has yet to equal, let alone surpass. But if such is what you're after, I have no experience in that area and defer to others to assist you. That new Whitworth from Pedersoli, seems mighty tempting to me though as I enjoy long range shooting.

If interested, you'd do well to read about Col. Berdan's shooting demonstrations after the outbreak of the War of Northern Aggression. Another informative tome by Ned Roberts is "The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle". Roberts is the guy credited with the .257 Roberts centerfire round.
 
swathdiver said:
I thought you were looking for a real muzzleloader, a traditional one. Don't be fooled into thinking that a sidelock, wood stocked, open sighted muzzleloader cannot do what you want it to do. They still hold records that the .308 has yet to equal, let alone surpass. But if such is what you're after, I have no experience in that area and defer to others to assist you. That new Whitworth from Pedersoli, seems mighty tempting to me though as I enjoy long range shooting.

If interested, you'd do well to read about Col. Berdan's shooting demonstrations after the outbreak of the War of Northern Aggression. Another informative tome by Ned Roberts is "The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle". Roberts is the guy credited with the .257 Roberts centerfire round.
Click to expand...
I have looked at the Whitworth from Pedersoli...Nice weapon.
 
Jacketed with sabot. I am looking at the CVA .50 Caliber 295 Grain PowerBelt AeroTip Bullet, T/C Shockwave Bonded Core Bullets 300 gr., and the Harvester Muzzleloading Scorpion .50 Caliber Sabot 300 gr. bullets. UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT VERY FOND OF HOLLOW POINT BULLETS.

I that wasn't enough, I am finding conflicting reports on all these bullets.
 
Maybe look at Thor full bore bullets. I don't know how common they are but I've read of a few happy people.

And what about SST's from Hornady? And their FPB looks promising.

I'm guessing you want more than a common pistol bullet in a sabot?
 
Zombie thread comes alive...

And no discussion anywhere on rate of twist which is pretty much what determines what bullets will be stabilized. Go figure.
 
If you've read the thread he mentions 300 yds as a max range. Everything he speaks of says inline, which we all know are fast twist, right?

But then IdahoRon uses a Great Plains Hunter with paper patched .500 cal 440 grn Lee bullets out that far...
 
my cost per shot for a .54 cal. Using 55 grains
of Wano fgg,Target load is about 46c / shot including self cut patches.percussion cap,and self cast lead ball.
Powder is dearest a t 23c / shot with cap at 14c.
I estimate 280 shots from a kg of powder.comparitively powder is very dear locally at $68.00 kg.

This is in Aussie currency
Cheers blue smoke
 
personally I don't understand people that buy a muzzle loading black powder rifle then want to use modern components in it.
Blackhorn isn't really Black powder, and isn't really a typical substitute eithet, more advanced.
Then buys a 50 caliber just to load up a sabotted round to shoot a 40or 45 caliber bullet so he can get more velocity and possibly range and accuracy.
Then wants to question where he can buy said bullets cheaper than what he is paying.
Click to expand...

I understand it perfectly.
Most people these days who shoot muzzleloaders do not do it because they like muzzleloaders. They do it because it allows them to get into the woods for a couple of extra weeks and increases the chance they will put venison in the freezer.

If there was no such thing as a blackpowder season, most people would not own one.
So they don't care if the components are modern.
They don't care if Blackhorn isn't real BP. And they certainly don't care about keeping it "traditional" by using only patched round balls. They will use anything that gives them a greater opportunity to get a deer.

When you go out with your traditional style muzzleloader with real BP and patched round balls do you wear moccasins and fringed buckskin garments that you made yourself from hides you tanned? No? Why in the world would you shoot a traditional BP rifle and then wear modern leather boots and machine made clothing?

And you drove your truck? You didn't ride a mule? That's just not traditional at all. You may as well just not participate in BP at all if you're going to drive a truck.

;)
 
Oh, and to the OP. I was on a quest like you not long ago.
I just decided to bite the bullet and pay for Power Belts. I know they're expensive, but they work great for me and I'm tired of wasting money trying out different stuff that didn't work as well.

I use the 295 grain HP bullets and killed a doe at 170 yds last year. The bullet hit right where the crosshairs rested.

I just wait until season is over and WalMart generally puts them on sale. I had nearly a full box of them last year, but went ahead and bought another when they went on sale because I think they were like $12 or $15 or something like that. Still a dollar a bullet I know.
 
Here in Michigan, a lot of folks hunt deer with muzzleloaders during the regular firearms season since center fire rifles are not allowed in the southern half of the lower peninsula to hunt deer.
 
Which is ridiculous as these are equivalent to a 444 Marlin or 45-70 Gov't once a modern bullet in a sabot or conical is loaded.
 
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