MZ Bullet Question

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I'm looking to switch MZ bullets this year. I have used the Powerbelt Aerotip copper (295 grain) for the last few years with great luck in regards to accuracy and ease of loading multiple times before cleaning. However, like some folks out there I have had problems with getting a good blood trail.

Currently looking at the Hornady SST's or Barnes T-EZ. I have minimal experience with sabot style bullets and was looking for input on which ones to try. Also, do you clean between every shot with sabots? I'm new to the forum and want to say thanks in advance. Hope everyone had a great opening weekend!
 
I've been shooting these over 2 pellets of pyrodex for a couple years. Works well for me. They load easily and I can usually load up several times with ease before I have to clean(range session). I usually do reload after I shoot during season, but once I get home, I pull the breech plug and push the load out and clean before I put the gun away.

http://www.basspro.com/shop/en/traditio ... ip-bullets
 
I use the Barnes T-EZ and clean between every shot. I use 777 magnum (60 gr) pellets. I'd recommend those at minimum if not something cleaner like Blackhorn 209.
 
Another vote for Barnes T-EZ. Devastating on a deer. I shoot 777 lose powder because I think you can get a more even shot to shot consistency on loads with powder. I run a wet patch between shots.
 
When I read the title of this post, I knew the answer would be Barnes. Any Barnes. I shoot the 245 Spitfire. Have shot the T-ez with good results. Expander is brutal on deer. Take your pick, but stay the hell away from those powerbelts.
 
I started my in-line experience with Power belts. After missing a deer at 100 yards I demanded an explanation. I did my own research and found out the belt was separating from the projectile and changing the trajectory in mid flight. I couldn't hit a 4x8' sheet of plywood at 100 yards. I changed to Hornady MZ sabot 250 gr. ballistic tip saboted rounds being pushed by 100 gr. of Pyrodex pellets. In 2010, The next year, I put one right through the bread basket of the biggest deer I've ever killed (130") at 155 yards. Not looking back. MZ Sabot all day, every day.
 
Another vote for the Barnes T-EZ. My Accura V2 didn't like the boat tail base Barnes. I couldn't get them to group better than about 3". The T-EZ 290 grain will group at 1.5" or less at 100 yards. Massive exit wounds with the T-EZ. Picture is one i shot with the T-EZ 290 grain last year.
 

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I like the 250 grain Hornady SST over 100 grains of Blackhorn 209. The Hornady SST is easy to find in most stores and blows a big hole in them.


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The tighter that bullet fits into that barrel the better accuracy your gonna get. I use the 250 Barnes expanders using 100gr of blackhorn though my accura and can maintain my 100yrd accuracy with 3 shots before I swab it and lightly clean out the breach. Only one I've shot I didn't get a full pass through I found just under its skin on the other side.
 

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I have been shooting the SST for several years, switched from powerbelts. The SSTs are unbelievably accurate in my muzzeloader. Almost as accurate as my rifle. Mine will put them in a 2 inch group at 200 yards. The only downside is that I have a few deer that I have shot that didn't bleed a lot, none have run farther than 75 yards. Just takes a minute to find them sometimes.


This one was at 205 yards two years ago. (i practice a lot, had a really solid rest and plenty of time to shoot)

If I ever shoot all SSTs I have bought, I may switch to Barnes.

I don't think you will be disappointed with either bullet, I don't clean between each shot.
 

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Poleaxe":1i4pos7c said:
The tighter that bullet fits into that barrel the better accuracy your gonna get. I use the 250 Barnes expanders using 100gr of blackhorn though my accura and can maintain my 100yrd accuracy with 3 shots before I swab it and lightly clean out the breach. Only one I've shot I didn't get a full pass through I found just under its skin on the other side.
Click to expand...


In a normal muzzleloader, the Expanders are the way to go. The TEZ is good too but more suited to smokeless speeds.
I've never recovered a TEZ from a deer at smokeless speeds (2500fps and beyond ) 2 holes usually leave a short and massive blood trail. They open up hydraulically when the nose cavity encounters flesh, blood or other soft tissue. The reason for the larger nose cavity of the Expanders is designed for the lower velocities of normal muzzleloaders.
 
I have only had 2 deer catch the 250gr Expanders pushed by 100gr BH209 and both were facing me chest shots. Everything else has been complete pass thru's with massive blood trails.
 
One other reference. I fired 250gr TC bonded shockwaves and regular shockwaves (that are made by Hornady just like the 250SST) into water filled milk jugs lined up in a row at 50 yards. At 2550fps, they passed thru the 1st jug and stopped in the second one. The non bonded ones were shrapnel. The bonded ones were huge but retained more weight as the lead stuck to the jacket.

I tested the 300SST which passed thru 4 jugs

I then fired 250TEZ Barnes into the same row of water jugs. I had 5 jugs set up.with a piece of fire wood as a back stop. They passed thru all 5 jugs AND the piece of fire wood. I then set up 8 jugs and fired a shot. The 250TEZ passed thru 7 jugs and stopped in the 8th fully deployed as in the above pics. I repeated the test and got the exact same result.
 
Those copper Barnes are like shooting a broadhead at a deer at 1900 FPS. Lethal


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