sabots vs minies for hunting ?

[7mmstalker]

Planning to use a TC 50cal. (GrayHawk) for deer hunting this fall. How would a 44 or 45 pistol bullet , 270 - 300grains compare to a minie of 385-400gr. for accuracy?
I am wondering about long range , 150 - 200 for me!
A lot of reading on this issue basically has me convinced that there is not a clear-cut advantage to either. Most seem to get a favorite load for a certain rifle, and I don't see a popular favorite.
The rifle shoots both, just so-so. Perhaps my abilities are lacking more than anything else. Years of using rifles with scopes and better triggers has me struggling to see better accuracy beyond 100 yds.
WA. state does not allow any optics during BP hunts. Steel sights only, tried a peep sight, but it was terrible in low light.
First time hunting with my smokepole, though I've used it on paper a good bit, probly less than 200 shots, but more than 100.
Is 200 yards a reasonable range for this rifle?

 

[arcticap]

No, that's not reasonable without a premium fast twist barrel like this hunter named idahoron uses. His Renegade has a GM 32" 1 in 18" twist that he shoots paper patched bullets with.
He's one of the most successful long range hunters that uses paper patched conical bullets and a sidelock that I ever see posting.
Read the following threads and then look up some of his threads where he reports about his harvests. He's pretty dedicated about trying out new bullets and perfecting his paper patching technique. No one learns to shoot big conical bullets overnight as accurately as he does, unless using an inline rifle shooting saboted bullets maybe.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/black-powder/310210-paper-patching-bullets-hunting-part-1-a.html

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/black-powder/310211-paper-patching-bullets-hunting-part-2-a.html

Here's another of his guns with a 1 in 28" twist:

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/black-powder/329439-new-hawken-i-got-today.html

And an antelope that he shot at less than 100 yards:

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/black-powder/331046-another-antelope-down.html

If you want to shoot large game out to 200 yards, better get another barrel or gun.

 

[Jaymo]

Wow, he's getting sub-MOA groups. Impressive. I wonder if Green Mountain makes barrels for left handed TC rifles?
I'd love to have a barrel like that for my Renegade or New Englander.

 

[junkman_01]

Wow, he's getting sub-MOA groups. Impressive. I wonder if Green Mountain makes barrels for left handed TC rifles?
I'd love to have a barrel like that for my Renegade or New Englander.

From what I have heard, GM is not making ANY muzzle loading barrels right now. They intend to move their operation and have suspended ML barrel fabrication until after the move.

 

[7mmstalker]

Thanks for the insight.
This is not what I was hoping for, but credible advice to move forward with.
I do like this sidelock TC as-is. My wife is using an older Knight MK85, it is in real good shape and has a better trigger, and maybe better barrel? I'll borrow it when we aren't hunting together. This helps me narrow my focus on load testing for the inline, and use the GrayHawk for hunting the many thick and brushy areas.
Perhaps the Knight will have a bit more potential?

 

[Jaymo]

My TCRenegade has the double set trigger, which is good, but nowhere near as good as the one in my Miroku/DGW Tennessee Mountain Rifle flintlock.
My TC Thunder Hawk has a Timney trigger. Fantastic trigger. The only problem is, it's an inline. I prefer traditional sidelocks.

 

[MCgunner]

If you like the Hawken style and want to shoot heavy conicals or sabot .44s, my Cabela's Hawken Hunter Carbine, still available, has a 1:28 twist, double set trigger, nice adjustable rear sight, and shoots 2" 100 yard groups with either the 385 grain Hornady great plains Minie or a 240 grain Hornady .44 caliber XTP in sabot. It's got a 20" barrel and carries well in the field and even at 6 lbs, the recoil is quite manageable. It's got a sporting type stock with a recoil pad, not all THAT traditional, but it's for the hunter specifically. Another thing I like about it is the chrome bore.