Maxi-ball vs. Great Plains Hunter

[shaggy430]

I hunt with a .54 cal Knight muzzleloader and in the past I have used round balls with no problems other than difficult loading. I tried Power Belts a couple of years ago and got excellent accuracy, but I'll never use them again on an animal. They are too explosive for hunting and I lost a deer that should have been dead to rights.

Who has had good results on deer and up to elk sized game using the T/C Maxi-ball or the Hornady Great Plains Hunter and which would you recommend?

Please remember, I am talking about a .54 caliber so my options are limited and I am not interested in using sabots.

 

[MCgunner]

My two hunting front loaders both shoot the Hornady Great Plains accurately. I have het to shoot flesh and bone with it, though, but I just can't see how it could NOT work, I mean 385 grain of .50 caliber lead. Jeez, if any deer or hog walks away from that, I don't wanna tangle with him, anyway. I say go with what's accurate between the two.

 

[Flyboy]

I use a 370gr .50cal T/C Maxi-Ball on deer. Goes in one side, out the other. Bambi doesn't wander far.

70 gr. of FFFg, BTW. My rifle seems to love the finer powder.

 

[exbiologist]

I'm going with the 430 grain maxi balls this year, but this'll be a first for me with a muzzleloader on elk.

 

[MCgunner]

70 gr. of FFFg, BTW. My rifle seems to love the finer powder.

I've been shooting the FFFg version of 777, 80 grains behind either a 320 Lee REAL or a 385 Great Plains with great success in my CVA Wolf. It seems to work well. I wish I could get true BP more easily over the counter around here cause it'd sure ignite better in my Hawken side locks without having to put powder under the nipple to insure ignition and no hang fires. I have these converters that allow firing small rifle magnum primers instead of caps, but some state laws require caps only. But, for hunting, ain't that hard to prime under the nipple and, well, we don't have a special muzzle loader season anyway in Calhoun County Texas. I sure wish we did, though.

 

[Jefferson Herb]

I use 370 maxi in .50 w green mt 1-28,100gr ffg cronographs 1200+ in cap lock. I hav'nt dialed in Lyman GPH .54 Flintlock yet,but have a maxi mold.


Gun Nut: You have the mold,and someday buy a gun for it.

 

[375shooter]

I hunt with a .54 cal Knight muzzleloader and in the past I have used round balls with no problems other than difficult loading. I tried Power Belts a couple of years ago and got excellent accuracy, but I'll never use them again on an animal. They are too explosive for hunting and I lost a deer that should have been dead to rights.

Who has had good results on deer and up to elk sized game using the T/C Maxi-ball or the Hornady Great Plains Hunter and which would you recommend?

Please remember, I am talking about a .54 caliber so my options are limited and I am not interested in using sabots.

I have no personal experience with either, but I bet either one will work perfectly. Shoot both and choose the one that's the most accurate.