I shoot a tc encor 50 cal muzzle loader. For years in this muzzle loader and others I have owned in the past I have always shot 45 cal pistol bullets In sabot for target shooting and gopher shooting. Once or twice a year we have a blackpowder muzzle loader day shooting gophers on the farm. Just a fun challenge. Everyone I talk to thinks shooting the pistol bullets is just the strangest thing ever. My question is am I the only person who does this? Has anyone else tried it. Pistol bullets are alot cheaper the muzzle loader bullets and that's why I started useing them. Just wanted to hear people's thoughts on this "crazy" thing I do.
45 cal pistol bullets in a muzzle loader.
- Thread starter mattgoulding
- Start date
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- middle of Sask
Not crazy at all, that's pretty much all I used when I had a muzzleloader.
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Funny you posted this, I did this about a week ago. Found a box of old .45 Buffalo Pistol bullets at a gun shop for $5 so bought them to give it a try.
They shoot great in my .45 Kentucky with a 1:66 twist. I used 45 gr FFFG and the wad. The weight and length ratio make the bullet ideal.
Funny you posted this, I did this about a week ago. Found a box of old .45 Buffalo Pistol bullets at a gun shop for $5 so bought them to give it a try.
They shoot great in my .45 Kentucky with a 1:66 twist. I used 45 gr FFFG and the wad. The weight and length ratio make the bullet ideal.
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Honest question here, but why do you say that? The sabot is what touches the rifling in the barrel so why would it matter what bullet is inside the sabot? Pistol vs an actual muzzle loader bullet? Educate me please
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- middle of Sask
The bullet still needs to be somewhat compatible for the twist, as it leaves the sabot behind. AFAIK most modern inlines are about 1 in 28 twist, some tradition ML's are 1 in 48 twist, and round ball about 1 in 60 twist.
Round balls only contact the bore at their "Equater" so are best shot from a slow twist barrel, meaning 1:55 or slower so they follow the rifling as they accelerate down the bore. Round balls can be shot accurately from a faster twist barrel if velocity is kept relatively low so they follow the rifling. Conical slugs, with or without a sabot, have much more surface in contact with the rifling so this is is rarely a concern. The issue with conicals is to achieve a fast enough spin that the conical is stabilized and does not tumble. That can mean a modest velocity in a "Fast" twist modern inline or a higher velocity from a slow-twist barrel intended for round balls. Tumbling conicals are rarely accurate.
