Inline -Sabots, Powerbelts or ???

[HKGuns]

Rifle: CVA Accura V2 pictured below.
Powder: 777
Load: 100gr (2 -50gr pellets)
Bullet Weight: 295gr

Experienced shooter, pistol and rifle, reload also for pistol, rifle and shotgun. I am new to muzzle loading this year primarily to extend deer season.

I started off shooting Barnes sabots. They shot fine, but the plastic seemed to leave excessive fouling in the smoke tube. Switched over to Powerbelts and they seem to leave less plastic in the barrel. They also seem quite accurate. Right now I'm thinking of sticking with the powerbelts, however, a guy at the range today said they're not known for accuracy.


I don't want to cast my own and I understand lead is an option. Am I on the right track, or am I missing something?

 

[scrat]

Thats about right. Whenever you shoot sabots or powerbelts. You still have to run a jag through the bore. Better to do after every shot. Its really up to you though.

 

[MCgunner]

I've seen some great one hole groups from Powerbelts fired in CVA inlines on this board, though I haven't tried 'em. I'd say they're quite accurate. I would also say for a full bore pill, they have good BCs so should shoot farther. I don't need to shoot farther where I hunt and shoot a Minie or cast Lee REAL. But, I might double my range or near so with powerbelts. I can't see over 150 yards down there, so I don't bother with 'em. There's no BP season here, I just like the rifle and wanna hunt with it.

Using 777, I scrub the bore after every shot even with lead, no plastic. Powder fouling ruins groups.

 

[frontiergander]

Powerbelts not known for accuracy? I think the guy at the range dont know his rear end from a hole in the ground.

I doubt there was plastic fouling, i shoot thousands of powerbelts each year. The powder you are using is very filthy and leaves crud behind in thick layers. You must swab between shots in order to safely seat the next round.

I own a v2 and the 295gr Powerbelts shoots lights out at 100 yards. Our go to load is 90-100gr Blackhorn209.

Pellet powder sucks but i know some like it because they think its easier to deal with.

Heres some pellet powder, Powerbelt and primer loads i worked up in my Accura when i was looking for the most accurate load when using pellets.
http://gandersmuzzleloadingblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/imr-white-hots-powerbelt-aerolite.html

http://gandersmuzzleloadingblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/hogdon-powder-testing-big-3.html

http://gandersmuzzleloadingblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/hodgdon-powder-testing-big-3-part-2.html

http://gandersmuzzleloadingblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/cva-muzzle-loaders-keepem-clean.html

 

[HKGuns]

Thanks frontier, I will give those a try, that is awesome. I didn't realize Triple7 was so filthy and thought it was plastic, but can believe that it was powder fouling my bore. His statement pretty much went against most of what I've read about the power belts, which is why I tried them. Looks like I'll stick with them as they did seem pretty accurate while sighting it in.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I buy my sabots in bulk...just the plastic sabot and no bullet. Then, I use a 250 lead bullet for .45LC. Fifteen years ago, I found a Lyman Cowboy Action bullet that worked very well, so I bought several hundred of them for a lifetime supply for my muzzleloader. I'm still behind the times and use powder form Pyrodex. Out of my Remington 700, the combo give me 100 yard groups with 3 shots nearly always touching. I have found no need to look further with other types of bullets or propellants, which I am sure cost a good bit more per shot to use.

 

[arcticap]

A percentage of deer hunters do complain that some of the weights of Powerbelt bullets don't seem to completely pass through deer at the same rate as the tougher jacketed bullets do.
Here's one thread where it's not very clear why there wasn't a pass through, probably just the angle of the shot causing it to hit the far shoulder.
But there's been enough complaints to take note, especially with the lighter weight bullets when they're pushed too fast.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/black-powder/352237-powerbelt-harvest.html

 

[red rick]

I used some Blackhorn for the first time today. What a big difference in loading, smoke and cleaning. I am sold. I was using Whitehots.

 

[jmstevens2]

I got some whitehots to try, but I like 209 or shocky's gold. Much cleaner than the pyrodex or 777.

I generally use Powerbelts, my .50 Knight likes 93 gr and a 245 gr powerbelt. It is just a little better with the knights (barnes relabled for knight) but not much.

Never had a plastic fouling problem, but they make some stuff to clean that out with. I would bet it was just the 777 crud. I muzzle magic a patch followed by a dry one in between shots If time.

 

[frontiergander]

heres a short video of my hunt using the 250gr powerbelt Aerolite. We also shoot these in the V2 with 110gr Blackhorn209 with great results on paper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmYgxUVAx14

 

[X-Rap]

I have used Powerbelts and 777 on 3 mulies and had great success. With iron sights I can shoot 3 shot groups well under 3" at 100. This year I put my buck down with the 13th consecutive shot without cleaning and it was at 130 yds.
I have heard that the Powerbelts didn't hold up on elk but from what I have seen I wouldn't hesitate. I shoot 295's with 100 grs. of powder.

 

[ssyoumans]

I'm happy with the "cleanness" of Blackhorn 209. Just appears to be a pain to ignite. Hornady 240gr XTPs, and 270gr Speer Deep Curls in green Harvester sabots. Very pleased and confident they will work. I already load for 44 mag, so using the same bullets just makes sense for me.

 

[theicemanmpls]

Isn't 777 corrosive?

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I'm still behind the times and use powder form Pyrodex.

Me too amigo.
I've used the Powerbelts and they were plenty accurate in my CVA Optima Elite, but they're too expensive. You can buy 100 .44 caliber XTPs for about $22 and 100 sabots for about $13. That's $35 for 100 bullets and they're plenty accurate. That's my medicine now. 90 grains of Pyrodex and a 240 grain XTP. Shot a doe last sunday at 67 steps. DRT

The plastic build up is no big deal. I use the T/C bore foam and then a copper brush after it's soaked in about an hour. Works like a champ and doesn't take that long either.

For the record, I shoot loose powder because I'm cheap. 100 pellets of Pyrodex are $30. That's 0.60 a shot if you only use 2 pellets. If you're a fan of wasting powder and like to use 3 pellets, that's almost a dollar a shot just on powder. A pound of loose powder is $20. Figuring for 75 shots out of a pound, that's 0.27 a shot. Pellets are more than twice the price of loose powder and it's not that much of a time saver IMO. It's not like you're gonna re-load a smokepole in time for a follow up shot if you use pellets.

I know it's splitting hairs to some people, but I love to shoot so I just naturally find the most cost effective way of doing it so I get more bang for the buck. Plus I get great groups with the loose stuff and sabots. If it aint broke, don't fix it. Your results may vary.

 

[jmstevens2]

Pellets are more than twice the price of loose powder and it's not that much of a time saver IMO. It's not like you're gonna re-load a smokepole in time for a follow up shot if you use pellets.

And using speedloaders, I doubt there is any time savings. I have used both with them and it is sometimes harder to put the pellets in in a hurry than pouring the powder from the speedloaders.