BP hunting...load suggestions - The Firearms Forum

dgray64 · 03-27-2008, 09:47 AM

Hi, I'm just getting started with BP. I've been shooting semi-autos and hunting with rifle and shotguns for seems like a hundred years, but now I've got the BP bug. I just bought a CVA inline .50 cal. from Cabela's. Now I need to figure out the right round (sabot) to go with it for deer. Cabela's offers sabots from 180gr to 300gr. What do you hunters use? Thanks for the info.

Dave

inplanotx · 03-27-2008, 01:30 PM

Kinda hard to find you a sabot or bullet without knowing the caliber. May I suggest you go buy this book and have all your questions answered at once?

Welcome to TFF!

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=121867

IPT

jjmitchell60 · 03-28-2008, 06:57 PM

Excellent question as to load, hard to answer! I would say that the Hornady Sabots are good, TC sabots are good, I shoot PowerBelts in my Encore but they have mixed results (good for some people and otehrs not so good) Personally I would find a good sabout in the 225 to 300 grain range keeping in mind the heavier the bullet the less the distance they will be as accurate in many cases. A lot depends on how far you expect to shoot as well, optics, and many more variables. Here is a good idea of a 100 yeard shot. A saboted bullet of 250 grains, 100 grains of propellent (pellets or loose), and your primer. IF shooting pellets, buy a box of 50/30s and a box of 50/50s because you can work up a load from there that should do you a good job. Also expermit with dabots and weights of bullets. Main thing is keep in mind this, what load works for me and my gun probably will not work for you and yours. Work up a load that gives you good consistant groups at ranges you expect to be shooting at while deer hunting on average. that is all you can do. Playing around will tell you a lot more than all teh advise you will get on forums. You can kille deer with teh 185 grain saboted bullets a well as any weuight between that and the 300 weight saboted bullets IMHO.

dgray64 · 03-30-2008, 07:49 PM

Thanks JJmitchell60. That was good info. I really needed a range of bullets and loads to work with. I guess you caught the part about it being a .50 caliber. I'll know more about it Tuesday when it gets here. I've aready bought some balls, some patches, some saboted rounds, some BP and some pellets (50gr). I'll try to know the heck out of my targets and have fun too. It's a CVA Wolf break open inline 209 so I guess I won't have a lot of problem cleaning it.

I hadn't thought, I wonder if it's legal to carry a .44 BP revolver as a back up when hunting? It will be on my own land but you never know. I'll do a report after Tuesday.

Dave

03-27-2008, 09:47 AM	#1
dgray64 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Texas Posts: 15	BP hunting...load suggestions Hi, I'm just getting started with BP. I've been shooting semi-autos and hunting with rifle and shotguns for seems like a hundred years, but now I've got the BP bug. I just bought a CVA inline .50 cal. from Cabela's. Now I need to figure out the right round (sabot) to go with it for deer. Cabela's offers sabots from 180gr to 300gr. What do you hunters use? Thanks for the info. Dave -->

03-27-2008, 01:30 PM	#2
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Re: BP hunting...load suggestions Kinda hard to find you a sabot or bullet without knowing the caliber. May I suggest you go buy this book and have all your questions answered at once? Welcome to TFF! http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=121867 IPT __________________ Last edited by inplanotx; 03-27-2008 at 01:32 PM..

03-28-2008, 06:57 PM	#3
jjmitchell60 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Raised in Buzzard Roost near Frog Town in hillls of Kentucky Contributor Posts: 1,474	Re: BP hunting...load suggestions Excellent question as to load, hard to answer! I would say that the Hornady Sabots are good, TC sabots are good, I shoot PowerBelts in my Encore but they have mixed results (good for some people and otehrs not so good) Personally I would find a good sabout in the 225 to 300 grain range keeping in mind the heavier the bullet the less the distance they will be as accurate in many cases. A lot depends on how far you expect to shoot as well, optics, and many more variables. Here is a good idea of a 100 yeard shot. A saboted bullet of 250 grains, 100 grains of propellent (pellets or loose), and your primer. IF shooting pellets, buy a box of 50/30s and a box of 50/50s because you can work up a load from there that should do you a good job. Also expermit with dabots and weights of bullets. Main thing is keep in mind this, what load works for me and my gun probably will not work for you and yours. Work up a load that gives you good consistant groups at ranges you expect to be shooting at while deer hunting on average. that is all you can do. Playing around will tell you a lot more than all teh advise you will get on forums. You can kille deer with teh 185 grain saboted bullets a well as any weuight between that and the 300 weight saboted bullets IMHO. __________________ Oath Keepers NOT ON OUR WATCH www.oathkeepers.org 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." -- Benjamin Franklin When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes Duty... Thomas Jefferson

03-30-2008, 07:49 PM	#4
dgray64 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Texas Posts: 15	Re: BP hunting...load suggestions Thanks JJmitchell60. That was good info. I really needed a range of bullets and loads to work with. I guess you caught the part about it being a .50 caliber. I'll know more about it Tuesday when it gets here. I've aready bought some balls, some patches, some saboted rounds, some BP and some pellets (50gr). I'll try to know the heck out of my targets and have fun too. It's a CVA Wolf break open inline 209 so I guess I won't have a lot of problem cleaning it. I hadn't thought, I wonder if it's legal to carry a .44 BP revolver as a back up when hunting? It will be on my own land but you never know. I'll do a report after Tuesday. Dave