Encore load for 9 year old

[Bowhunter4life]

My 9 year old son has a encore with the Katahdin muzzleloader barrel! What kind of load would be good for him that will be easier on recoil. Won’t be shooting farther than 100 yards! Will be using Blackhorn 209. How many grains by weight? Barnes spitfire tmz 250 bullet is what I have now! Any other suggestions?

 

[GM54-120]

First off forget the TMZ.
A) Its a hard sabot to load in that bore without swapping sabots and its a boat tail bullet.
B) Expansion will be marginal with a reduced load.

A boat tail is gunna be a waste of money for loads like that. Go grab a box or 2 of Barnes 45LC 225gr XPBs. Less recoil and flawless expansion in reduced loads.

Bullets
https://www.grafs.com/catalog/product/productId/27684
Or at Midsouth
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....-grain-xpb-pistol-x-bullet-flat-base-20-count

Sabots you will likely want for a T/C bore
https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/5465
Or at Midsouth
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....black-sabots-holds-45-caliber-bullets-50-pack

About 80gr by volume or around 56gr by weight of BH209

 

[Semisane]

Speer 180 grain 40 caliber Gold Dot Hollow Points in Harvester 50/40 sabots.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/17347
https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/16727

You also might consider using Pyrodex RS with a light bullet like this.

 

[HC]

240 gr 44 cal xtp, green crushrib sabot, 56 gr. Wt. BH209,——- Or 250 deep curl, black crushrib sabot, 56 gr. Wt BH 209, and your favorite primer. Good luck.

 

[GM54-120]

250gr DeepCurl would also be an excellent bullet for reduced loads. Even below 56gr by weight that bullet should expand very reliably. Anything made for upto 45LC +P+ type loads has a good chance of performing pretty well.

Main reason i suggest 50x45 is sabot selection. You have far few choices in 50x40 and 50x44 plus ive found it easier to get 50x45 to shoot well.

 

[Chris W.]

First off forget the TMZ.
A) Its a hard sabot to load in that bore without swapping sabots and its a boat tail bullet.
B) Expansion will be marginal with a reduced load.

A boat tail is gunna be a waste of money for loads like that. Go grab a box or 2 of Barnes 45LC 225gr XPBs. Less recoil and flawless expansion in reduced loads.

Bullets
https://www.grafs.com/catalog/product/productId/27684
Or at Midsouth
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....-grain-xpb-pistol-x-bullet-flat-base-20-count

Sabots you will likely want for a T/C bore
https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/5465
Or at Midsouth
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....black-sabots-holds-45-caliber-bullets-50-pack

About 80gr by volume or around 56gr by weight of BH209

I agree with the above recommendation. The 225 XPB should expand nicely and the recoil should be mild.

 

[Confederate rifleman]

Tc cheap shot and 40 gr of 3f Triple 7. 1350 fps from my daughter's Traditions Tracker ( 22 inch). 8 deer from 15 feet to 125 yards. Easy on the shoulder. Hard on deer...

 

[Lee 9]

200 grain 40 caliber XTP or Shock Wave [what the gun likes]
50 to 70 grains of BH209 by volume 35 to 48 by weight
a 50/40 crush rib sabot would be the easy loading one if they will shoot accurate they usually do unless it is a loose bore.

 

[Dougs136Schwartz]

Excellent advice GM

 

[BuckDoeHunter]

When my son was 9, he shot his first doe with 60gr of BH209 pushing a Barnes 250gr TMZ, 35 yard shot, complete pass thru. His range limit was 50 yards. Some good bullet suggestions posted above but you could stick to what you have on hand, it will work perfect. If you want more range, go with 70-80 grains of BH209.

 

[ronlaughlin]

250gr DeepCurl would also be an excellent bullet for reduced loads. Even below 56gr by weight that bullet should expand very reliably. Anything made for upto 45LC +P+ type loads has a good chance of performing pretty well.

Main reason i suggest 50x45 is sabot selection. You have far few choices in 50x40 and 50x44 plus ive found it easier to get 50x45 to shoot well.

 

[rugerbh103]

Stole the words out of my mouth. Excellent combination.

When my son was 9, he shot his first doe with 60gr of BH209 pushing a Barnes 250gr TMZ, 35 yard shot, complete pass thru. His range limit was 50 yards. Some good bullet suggestions posted above but you could stick to what you have on hand, it will work perfect. If you want more range, go with 70-80 grains of BH209.

 

[LBAhunter]

After having scope issues, I finally got to go hunting yesterday (10/8). I really wanted to shoot a deer to see the terminal effects of that bullet. All I can say it did the job very well!!!! shot about 40 yards
load info - 74 gr. (wt) of BH209, Fed. 209A, MMP black sabot, Barnes 185 gr TAC-XP.
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[LBAhunter]

read below

 

[LBAhunter]

Check out Ron's test for 50 and 80 gr of BH209
https://www.modernmuzzleloader.com/posts/253588/
https://www.modernmuzzleloader.com/posts/253659/

 

[mnoland30]

I've had good accuracy with Precision Rifle 180 gr. bullets. Very light recoil.

 

[Bowhunter4life]

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

 

[Dougs136Schwartz]

Mnoland30 . I am just curious . I have shot a few deer With the 185 to 200 grain Dead Center and QT bullets . I have found all deer shot but I did not get good penetration with moderate loads . Poor to hardly any blood although all deer recovered . Dead Centers shoot very well this is the only trouble we ran into . All lung shots . Most were shot with the QTs .

That is the one advantage I like with Barnes and basically same weight of bullet and load . Almost always pass through with good blood trails . I am not at all knocking anyone’s bullets just curious .

I am always curious on loads and bullets . I think Lehigh also makes a good bullet that will preform with moderate to light loads .

kind of off topic . I was impressed by the looks of the powerbelt . I think they are also a good hunting bullet but have a smaller window as far as velocity to make the bullet function properly .