Krypt Keeper

i shoot 90gr Pyro RS pushing a 200gr regular shockwave in my TC .45

8mm/06

Thanks again for all the additional replies. So far the gun groups unbelievably well with 100 grains of 777 from 2 50 grain pellets and pushing the standard 225 Powerbelt Aerotips. Three separate 3 shot groups averaged almost exaclty 1". I don't even get that from some of my centerfires, so it will be interesting to see what happens when I start tweaking the loads with loose propellant to fine tune loads.

But good groups don't always don't bring down game ... good groups from good performing bullets bring down game (as long as I do my part and shoot where I'm supposed to), so I'm perhaps even more interested in terminal performance as I am interested in groups. I'm interested in both and really appreciate everybody's input especially about bullet perfomance on game (in addition to paper punching).

I'll try some loose Pyrodex (have a big bottle unopened so far). I've been going with the convenience of the pellets just to get some experience with the gun.

Semisane, thanks for the tip on the lower powered loads with the 357 bullets. A question for you though. Your target mentions the MMP Blue Sabot identified further as .355/.357. Exactly who makes that Sabot? Where did you obtain it? And how much are they a bag of 50? 100?

I plan to look into the Bullshop bullets (already visited their site) and will pick up some Hornady bullets, both XTP's and SST. They have grouped well in my pistols and I have heard decent results about them in muzzleoaders with sabots.

Thanks again, and anybody with a pet load that has been performing good kills on deer from a .45 muzzleloader, I'd love to hear your load and set-up.

oldsmellhound

Sounds like you are on the right track. The 225 powerbelts should do okay on game, especially if you keep the powder charges moderate. But there are better choices out there.

I've taken 5 deer with the 200 XTP and 2 deer with the 200 SST/Shockwave. Terminal performance was similar, meaning very good. Based on my limited experiences, I would say the
SST penetrates a little better than the XTP, but the XTP opens up a little faster at lower velocities.

Personally, I think both are very good bullets and all 7 deer have been 1 shot, 1 kills, with all deer except 1 fell within sight. One ran 70 yards with an XTP in it, but that was a liver shot.

This year I took a buck with the 185 Lehigh and was very impressed with it's performance, but they are pricey. They shot about the same as the SSTs and XTPs, 1.5" groups at 100 yards.

I would encourage you to try out a couple different combos. Good luck!

Grouse45

http://lehighbullets.com/products.asp?cat=23

If your 45cal ML has a 1/20 twist, i dont think you will find a better bullet then these. I would use the 200grn for sure.

Semisane

See the blue sabots here. http://www.mmpsabots.com/

You'll be surprised at how flat shooting that light load is. I did a trajectory study with two shots each at 20, 30, 40, 50 & 60 yards, and got this.

kb1

this is the first(and only) deer i've shot with a .45
entrance

exit

this was from a 1/20"knight disc using 110g vol. BH209- 200g sst
in a smooth harvester sabot ignited with win.209 primer........karl

8mm/06

I'm not really sure what the velocity of my Traditions Loads are. if I'm besting 2300 fps then the bullets you linked here should work. Anybody know the veloctiy of my Traditions Loads when using 100 gr of 777 and pushing these 225 Powerbelts? Or with 275 gr Powerbelts? Or 100 gr of Pyro?

Grouse45

You dont need the velocity with a 1/20 twist. 100grns of 777 is just fine.

8mm/06

So the sentence in CAPS on the Lehigh site that refers to using thier 200 grain bulletts only if you are achieving 2300 fps or better won't apply to my gun because the 1:20 twist will stabilize the bullet in flight? AND a velocity under 2300 fps will still allow the bullet to mushroom or perform properly? Good to know, if that is the case.

But just for curiousitiy, since I don't have a chronograph, does anyone know, or know of a link, that spells out common velocities for 100 grains of Pyro pushing a 200 grain Lehigh out of a traditions 28" barrel with a 1:20 twist? A ballpark would be nice to give me a starting idea.

oldsmellhound

Yes, the faster twist you have should (in theory) stabilize the Lehigh with lower velocities. You can buy a sample pack to try out for sure. With 100 grains Pyro the bullet should still work properly at normal ML ranges.

With 100 grains T7 loose, that bullet should be moving in the 2,000 fps range. Pyro is not as powerful, I'd estimate 1,850 - 1,950 fps with 100 grains loose Pyro. Just an estimate.