More Muzzleloader discussion

Since my last muzzleloader question received a good number of responses I thought I would keep the excellent Info. comming with another question. What setup are all of you using for deer hunting? what do you like and dislike about your current setups? I will open the post with my current setup. I’m currently shooting a Thompson Center Omega 50 Cal. I really like this smokepole. Other than not really likeing the fiber optic sights it is a great gun. I like the Omega muck better than the Encore that I have prior. This gun just seems to fit me better. I’m currently shooting 270 grain Powerbelt Platinum bullets loaded with either 110 or 130 grains of Triple Seven powder. I have found that at 150 Grains of powder the shot placement starts to get a little hard to group well for some reason. i do like the little little extra punch that you get with either 110 or 130 grain over the standard 100 grain load. It sure was nice that they can out with 30 grain powder pellets a few years ago. I have tried many different Saboted bullets and keep going back to Powerbelt due to ease of loading and the better accuracy. Thanks in advance for all of your responses. Good luck this hunting season and be safe!!!!!

I shoot a Knight Revolution with a VXII 3X9-40. As far as loads I haven’t changed to a different load since I got this gun.

I shoot 245gr Powerbelt Aero Tips with 100gr or 777 pellets.

I’ve just had great luck with this combo and I don’t feel any need to change what works.

They allow you to use scopes on your muzzleloaders during muzzleloader season in Iowa? I sure wish they would change that here in Minnesota. I think it would greatly improve on the # of wounded deer and increase the harvest level. I say if there are going to allow Inline guns and Powder pellets they might as well allow scopes as well. I’ve heard for years now they were going to change it. but as of this season it’s still no scopes

Welcome to the site Dave D

Anybody else shoot Powerbelt? I’ve shot 3 deer with them and got bad results but weas able to find all of them. If you search around online looking under powerbelt bullets forums you will find alot of dissatisfied hunters also. Most saying they’re junk. Last year I switched to the platnum powerbelts but never pulled the trigger so I don’t know what’s best. This year I picked up some Shockwaves after doing a little research. Powerbelts sure are easy but if you ask me I’ll never shoot another one in my life. I’ve got to get back to work but would like to hear peoples input on bullets. The problem is with expansion. They’re to soft.

I used Powerbelts in my .45 with about 110 grains and while they shoot accurately, I have been disappointed with the the mass retention. I have shot 3 deer with these and they have all killed the animals but the bullets lose a lot of mass and seem to fragment a lot more than other bullets.

I am bow hunting this year and not sure if I will gun hunt at all but if I do, it will be with shockwave or Hornady bullets. I have been shooting them both with good results so it would be good to see how well they do on impact.

Just my experience.

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They allow you to use scopes on your muzzleloaders during muzzleloader season in Iowa? I sure wish they would change that here in Minnesota. I think it would greatly improve on the # of wounded deer and increase the harvest level. I say if there are going to allow Inline guns and Powder pellets they might as well allow scopes as well. I’ve heard for years now they were going to change it. but as of this season it’s still no scopes

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They do allow us to use scopes in IA without any restrictions. I absolutely love shoot my muzzy for deer. I just wish our early muzzy season was a little longer. Only 9 days.

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Anybody else shoot Powerbelt? I’ve shot 3 deer with them and got bad results but weas able to find all of them. If you search around online looking under powerbelt bullets forums you will find alot of dissatisfied hunters also. Most saying they’re junk. Last year I switched to the platnum powerbelts but never pulled the trigger so I don’t know what’s best. This year I picked up some Shockwaves after doing a little research. Powerbelts sure are easy but if you ask me I’ll never shoot another one in my life. I’ve got to get back to work but would like to hear peoples input on bullets. The problem is with expansion. They’re to soft.

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I shot two deer this year with PB’s and granted they were close, under 30yrds and neither of them went over 50yrds. In fact the first one I shot was a buck and he was exploded inside, heart was gone!

The doe I shot sprayed more blood then i have ever seen before. It was a pass through and there was blood everywhere.

I’ve been very happy but I have heard of others that do not use them for various reasons. My dad also shoots them and has shot at of deer without loosing one or having to shoot one more than once. He’s also a crack shot though!

I have been shooting the Remington 700 ML 50cal.
I have been using musket caps to ignite 100gr of Jim Shockey’s Gold compressed charge, by far the cleanest burning stuff I have ever used.

The projectile I have been using is a 245gr Aerotip Copper Power Belt. For me they have been holding a good group with open sites out to 100yards. I have yet to shoot my first whitetail with this load but I can tell you, this combo puts a big hurt on bears.

I have not had a bad experience with any of the above components. I can say the Shockey’s Gold was a great move from the triple seven.

How does that shockey’s gold work? Are they round pellets like 777? I thought they were square sticks?

I’m all for a cleaner shooting powder!

They are a square stick (I get the 50 grain sticks) with one end tapered just a bit. They still work out of my speed loaders with no problem. The stuff is super clean. You will notice it immediately when you put your next projectiles down the barrel, seats just as easy as the first. And clean up is a breeze.

I to have heard mixed views on the Powerbelt. I switched to the Platnium series which I was told has more mass retention and better expansion. I can not find a Saboted bullet which shoots as good of groups or loads as easy.

I also shoot a Thompson Center Omega 50 Cal.

295 grn Powerbelt bullets

100 grn of triple 7

I like the Omega but I am going to be taking a closer look at the Pro Hunter. I have no complaints with the Powerbelt’s I shoot good groups with them and have killed two deer with them out of the three years I have been muzzle loading, one dropped right where she stood and the other did not go far at all. I honestly can not remember if the Powerbelts are Platinum or not they have a green base and are hollow points. With all the good reviews I have been hearing about Jim Shockey’s Gold I may have to make the switch.

ive got a cva buckhorn magnum 50 cal i shoot shockwave 245 gr with 100 gr jim shockeys gold i put a 1 power scope on it which is ok as i hunt my bow stands and cant shoot more than 60 yards shot my 2nd doe with it during t-zone earlier this year

Steve, the Platinum series are all Aero tips and their Black. The Green Hollow points are the Copper series, that’s what I shoot for close range (in the woods) and I shoot the Aero Tip copper series also Might have to try the Platinums and maybe some of the Shockey gold too, I didn’t realize it came in pellets, I thought it was only a powder, which I didn’t want to mess with

big G

??? about Shockeys Gold. I bought the compressed sticks this year after shooting triple seven for a few years. After seeing a friend load his gun shot after shot without having to all but jump on the ramrod I thought I’d try it. I like the cylindrical shape of the triple seven but don’t quite understand the Gold stick shapes. Does all the extra airspace hurt performance? Not to mention they’re quite abit longer thus barrel length gets shortened.

Also wondering if anybody has shot a deer with the Powerbelt Platnums and how weight retention was. Any pass throughs?

The air around the square pellets of Shockey’s Gold in my imagination helps speed the burning just like the hole through the center of the triple 7.

As for the length of the cubes, I don’t think the difference is as much as you make it sound. If they were to long they wouldn’t fit properly in my speed loaders, so I would think. Like I said, open sights at a 100yrds, no problem. I have not seen anything but improvements since I made the change.

Triple 7 launched projectiles just fine for me also but, I enjoy shooting more than cleaning while on the range Just my opinion with what I have observed through my in-line since I made the change to Shockey’s Gold.

I have shot several deer with the 270 gr power belts and have had excellent luck. Last yeas doe was at125 yds and I recovered the slug it had nearly 100% retention I have it hear at work ill take a pic of it on break and post it. “near perfect mushroom” I used the hollow point PB’s and had poor results, I was going to switch alltogether away from them but decided to try the aero tip platinums just because PB’s shoot so darn accurate. lets just say I will never stray away from my 270gr plantinums. they are awesome.

I use TC OMEGA with 290gr copper hollow point,100gr 777. This has worked excellent for me with more than enough knockdown power.Depends on where you hit them of course and expansion is what you want with these.Coincidently while siteing in this fall I tried a 300gr Shockwave and it was dead on also with the 290gr Powerbelt.

Cheapo Knight 50 cal. Alpen 3-9×40 scope. 130 grains of Triple 7 pellets. 245gr. Powerbelt aerotips. Off a bench I once cloverleafed a three shot group at 200 yards. Most 200 yard groups are 3-4 inches. I have never been let down by Powerbelt aerotips. Longest shot at a deer 140 yards. I have no huge plans to change a thing. I have taken at least 12 deer with this rig. Here in Illinois we can get lots of permits.