Muzzleloader Loads-Hornady XTP Bullets

Ive been using Hornady SST bullets out of my TC Triumph .50 cal ML. I’ve decided to change my load up and go with a 300 gr Hornady XTP pistol bullet (.44 cal-.430 diameter). I figured those should be fine as the pre-packaged Hornady XTP 240gr sabots diameter is .430. When I got home and loaded my muzzleloader, I found the fit to be incredibly loose while using the red Hornady sabots, the bullet slid right out. Is there a better sabot to use to make these bullets work or do I need to step up to the .45 cal bullets?

You need the green sabots for that bullet.

The 300 grain XTP in .44 cal is a great shooter in the rifle for me. Longer, narrower has handed me tighter groups. Play with your loads on this bullet. Try different powders and try granular vs pellets. I thought my rifle was dialed in with the full 150 of pyrodex pellets but I cut back to 130 and the group at 100 yards got a whole lot tighter. The 130 grain load with the 300 still gets me in the neighborhood of 1750 fps.

Thanks,Tom. I kind of wondered about the green sabots. I haven’t been able to find them in stores so I wanted to make sure before I ordered them.

I’ll be using blackhorn 209 so I’m interested to see the groups that I can get from my rifle.