Lead Alternatives for Muzzleloaders

Being new to muzzle loading, but also living in a state with a lot of lead-free areas, I was curious as to peoples experience with lead alternatives for use in muzzleloading rifles. I am new to muzzleloading, and have a 50 caliber Thompson/Center Hawken rifle. Does anyone have any success stories with ammunition combinations? I have found two possible alternatives, the first are the these lead free round ball shots (http://www.tomboboutdoors.com/index.php ... le-loading) and the second are the powerbelt copper bullets of various shape and grain. Any advice would be appreciated.

Try Barnes Bullets...all copper. A lot of shooters here use them..

I spoke to a Thomson/Center technician that said not to use anything with a plastic sheath in the 50 caliber Hawken. Is there a reason for this?

I shoot sabots all the time out of my T/C Hawkens. I do on ocassion use a bore brush and solvent to make sure there is no plastic build up. And I never had one. But I don't understand T/C's aversion to using a sabot in a 1-48 twist barrel. Other then, it was made to shoot roundball and things like maxi ball.

As for lead alternatives... there are Barnes all Copper bullets, Thor all copper conicals, Lehigh all brass bullets. And I am sure some of them would shoot very well out of your T/C Hawkens. Might have to experiment mind you. But there should be something that works fine for you.

I normally shoot a 240 grain Hornady XTP in a Black Harvester Crushed Rib sabot out of mine with very good results.

Barnes for me but I have only shot them out of 1:28 inch twist barrels. Are you sure those powerbelts are all copper or just copper coated?

ALL Powerbelts contain lead.

Barnes, Copper Only Projectiles, Cutting Edge Bullets (some are also brass) and Thor are the main copper options at this time. Thors do not use a sabot. They are a solid copper conical.

Lehighs are UNSC36000 brass which still contains lead.
http://www.suppliersonline.com/propertypages/C36000.asp

Copper 60 - 63
Iron 0.35 max
Lead 2.5 - 3.7
Remainder Each Zn

Principal Design Features Brasses (Copper-Zinc-Lead Alloy), Free-Cutting Brass. Highest machinability of all copper alloys, the standard against which all metals are judged.

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IIRC Cali laws prohibit lead over .25% in nearly anything. Your laws may vary.
http://www.weareleadfree.net/about_lead ... california

PowerBelt bullets are copper coated, NOT all copper.