185 to 200 grain for muzzleloading

[stringtalker]

I just got my 200 grain hornady xtp's in the mail the other day to try in my .50 cal. Was shooting 260 grain and decided to try lighter loads. I shot it three times with triple7 powder, 100 grains, shot a real good group at 60 yards. I have some more C.O.P. 185 grain bullets ordered to try as well, has anyone else use light bullets, how much powder, and what was the performance on deer, thanks

 

[stringtalker]

So i guess everybody on here uses large muzzleloader bullets, and thinks smaller bullets want work?

 

[Frank G]

I use 200 Hornady as well, a genuine pain to load. I tried 195 Power Belt with good results. I see no need to go lighter. I shoot a 45 cal CVA with 2 pellets, tried 3 but saw no advantage at 100 yards and below.

 

[hunter82]

I recently got some of the 200 grain hornady xtp to try out as well

 

[HilhamHawk]

I use 200 grain Shockwaves, and have killed 3 deer with them in the last 2 years. 2 dropped in their tracks (neck shots), and one, that I shot through the lungs, only made it 15 yards before he hit the dirt.

 

[Billboy]

I shoot 180-200gr .40cal XTP's in my 45 Encore. Killed dozens of deer over the years. Used to shoot 44cal 200gr XTP's in my 50 cal. Knight and they worked fine too.

 

[tasaman]

If you want to go lighter I would use the Shockwaves in 200gr. Much tougher bullet than the XTP. XTP is a great bullet 95% of the time but do you want to know what happens the other 5%? They fail. Now I use XTP for range work at 100-150 yards but hunt with something tougher.

The load I use with them is 80gr weighed BH209 and TC Shockwave 200gr in the blue sabot. Killed a bunch with them out to 180 yards give or take. Groups were less than 1.5 inches at 100 yards.

 

[knightrider]

If you want to go lighter I would use the Shockwaves in 200gr. Much tougher bullet than the XTP. XTP is a great bullet 95% of the time but do you want to know what happens the other 5%? They fail. Now I use XTP for range work at 100-150 yards but hunt with something tougher.

The load I use with them is 80gr weighed BH209 and TC Shockwave 200gr in the blue sabot. Killed a bunch with them out to 180 yards give or take. Groups were less than 1.5 inches at 100 yards.

see that's why im glad they make so many bullets, I love the xtp!!! have killed bunches with them never had a problem only two deer ive ever shot with shockwaves left zero blood and no expansion.

 

[ewc]

I have pushed the 195-200 class bullets to 3K with 20+ kills from 20-250 yards.

They work.

 

[tasaman]

ewc...what were the entry/exit like pushing them fast? Also how about the blood trail? Any bang flops?

 

[ewc]

Barnes 195 - one recovery, maybe 20 kills

Hornady 200 SST - no recovery, maybe 8,9+ kills.

Entry and exit were better than the xtp. Blood trail was bang flop for 20 of them, 10 of them maybe went 40 yards.

Need a tape measure for data collection.

FYI- xtp is a blow up. 6" entry and NO exit.

 

[muddyboots]

I never could get the lighter bullets to shoot as accurate as i like. I did kill one with a light knight bullet. It took a couple steps and fell over.