What Bullet is everyone using ?

Solid advice. This is similar to what I tell most folks who ask me. I'd add that besides the FTX/SST there are tons of great pointed long bullets and copper solids that are better for reaching out father, but where I hunt, those shots don't exist. So I stick to black MMP's and Jacketed Handgun bullets like you suggest.

Jimmer wrote (on page 1):

"If you are budget minded like I am. Try the Hornady XTP 300 grain, FYI these come in a mag version that has a thicker jacket. Either will will work fine but performance will differ with powder charge etc. The Speer 300 grain Deep Curl are great performers and accurate. I've taken several deer with these and was very happy with performance. The Hornady bullets seem to be more readily available than the Deep Curl but price on both is very appealing if you shoot alot. MMP black sabots. Outside of these two I like the Hornady tipped bullets, SST, FTX, etc.. The tipped bullets were a bit more accurate for me but the performance of the others are first rate. Just my opinion."

I was replying to his post... but somehow it lost the quote...

Cattledog said:

I quit using the .430 300 grain xtp part number 44280 with 85 grains of BH209 due to loss of deer. The final straw was shooting a nice buck at 10 yards and having a pile of fur and skin with fat on the ground but no blood trail. I could only figure that the bullet didn't expand. I have been using barnes 250 grain TMZ and the terminal performance has been amazing.

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Weird. The .430 300 XTP is what I started with in a T/C Scout when I first picked up muzzleloading. Used that bullet with a measly 90 grains Goes ffg through 2 more muzzleloaders until the 300 SST hit the scene. Still use the .430 300 XTP in my Renegade with 75 grains 777. Never have had failure to expand at those lower velocities.

Last year I installed the MGM .45 5r barrel on the Encore and have used 250gr Fury .40 bullets with SB sabot, 110gr BH209 volume. At 18ft it held together and exited on a nice buck, and at 170yds it expanded and exited on a doe. No plans on changing in the short term.

ported45 said:

Weird. The .430 300 XTP is what I started with in a T/C Scout when I first picked up muzzleloading. Used that bullet with a measly 90 grains Goes ffg through 2 more muzzleloaders until the 300 SST hit the scene. Still use the .430 300 XTP in my Renegade with 75 grains 777. Never have had failure to expand at those lower velocities.

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I sure had good luck with XTP Bullets in my .44 Magnums over the years, they were my ABSOLUTE Favorite Bullets in my Revolvers. I recovered a BUNCH of them over the Years and was Always impressed at how Well they Held together, A BIG Uniform Mushroom Ball 99.9% of the Time, From .44 Magnum, to .500 S&W Magnum. Velocities in the 1400-1500 FPS Range from my .44s, and 1700-1800 from my S&W 500

This AM I took a deer with a .429 305g GT Bullet, a MMp sabot, and 100g T7. It quartered away at 40 yards and didn't even make it to cover about 30 yards away before tipping over. Cut 2 ribs going in, destroyed the lungs, cut 2 ribs going out, through the shoulder and out. Very happy with it. A blood trail to follow not to look for.

I've settled on the Speer deep curl 250 with the black crush rib sabot, 90gr of BH209, will sight in/ check grouping this week, any body have experiences with this bullet or loading on deer ??

Should be good. I use the 300 gr and 77 weighed gr of BH209 and the black crush rib. It's deadly.

chuck116 said:

I've settled on the Speer deep curl 250 with the black crush rib sabot, 90gr of BH209, will sight in/ check grouping this week, any body have experiences with this bullet or loading on deer ??

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I have taken several mule deer with the 300 grain and MMP sabot with 90 gns 777 FFF. Expansion and bullet weight retention was excellent. These bullets are tough and accurate. I went with the 300 grain because of BC and they pack a bigger wallop. The price is right as well.

300 gr Smackdown SST Traditions pushed by 82gr (weight) of BH209.

chuck116 said:

I've settled on the Speer deep curl 250 with the black crush rib sabot, 90gr of BH209, will sight in/ check grouping this week, any body have experiences with this bullet or loading on deer ??

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I have harvested many deer with the Federal Fusion 240 grains, which are essentially Speer DC's, using 90 grains of BH209 by volume.

Very accurate out to 100 yards

Matt Smith said:

I have harvested many deer with the Federal Fusion 240 grains, which are essentially Speer DC's, using 90 grains of BH209 by volume.

Very accurate out to 100 yards

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Except the 240gr is a 44cal and the HP is much different than the 45cal 250gr. The 240gr DC HP is like the 300gr DC HP. The 45cal 250gr is not quite as tough being made for 45LC. Its HP is very large and deep.

GM54-120 said:

Except the 240gr is a 44cal and the HP is much different than the 45cal 250gr. The 240gr DC HP is like the 300gr DC HP. The 45cal 250gr is not quite as tough being made for 45LC. Its HP is very large and deep.

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Thank for the explanation.

That 44-240gr DC HP is a dynamite bullet if it shoots for you. The 45cal 300gr DC HP is also.

harvester pt gold

250 Gr. SST

I use Barnes 290 gr. TEZ bullet/sabot combination. Have shot some good groups when my now junked Revolution was new. Got quite a few on hand so hoping they group well out of my new Knight Disc Extreme. They load hard but I have learned here that more often than not a very tight sabot gives the best accuracy....other parts of the formula being equal of course. I would appreciate more comments on easy or tight hard to load sabots and accuracy.

I use two my own 351 gr (like in my avatar, it was a 6 pointer shoot in the chest at 15 yards) with 70 grs of 777 and Nosler 240 gr 44 mags HP, Harvester Green and 80 grs (vol) of 777.

shot a monstrous doe this Saturday with 305g .430 GT bullet and a MMP sabot with 100g loose T7. The doe dropped on the spot.

Shot my muzzle loader does the last two years in Indiana using Cutting Edge 250 grn Maximus bullets and their green crush rib sabots over 75 grn (weighed) Blackhorn 209. I am shooting a CVA Plains Rifle and this combination shoots sub 1 inch groups at 100 yards consistently for me. All deer shot travelled less than 100 yards and showed massive internal wounds.