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250 gr. Hornady Muzzeloader Bullets

CaptainMal

Silver $$ Contributor
Shot three deer the past week with them at 1,830 fps. They shoot well and I had practiced to 200 yards to figure that out.

No blood trail from any of the deer. First doe hit in the shoulder went maybe 20 yards. Simple recovery but noted no sign of a hit or blood trail. Massive internal damage and exit that closes over.

8 pt “crab walked” across 50 yards of food plot and into the woods. Too much smoke to see hit but his attempt to run told me a hit. Maybe he moved during the shot but that gait told me a low hit back. No hair, no blood ever. Hours looking. Lost it. Here is a picture of that Georgia buck less than a minute before I shot. Bummer.

Third deer hit low in the shoulder jumped high, telling me a low shoulder hit. No hair or blood ever. It went across a food plot all on camera. Into the woods at an exact spot, I found nothing. After a search did find that deer. Never a blood trail with good entrance and exit holes.

Anyone have experience with that bullet? Always had good blood sign with other bullets used over the years.
IMG_1988.jpeg
 
Go with 250 452 dia XTP's in a sabot. These are SUPER impressive!! Deer do not move from the spot. Plenty of blood though if you like blood trails ;) I'm at similar speeds as you are. 70 grains of 3f weighed charge.
 
I shot the TTSX 50 caliber Barnes version and with one exception, it made huge holes. On the exception only one pellet lit...the other sizzled off into the woods like a pop bottle rocket. So, maybe a 700 FPS hit at 40 yards broadside? The bullet hit, went thru and was under the skin on the far side. Deer went 40 yards and tipped over. A 50 caliber hole tends to do that when you hit vitals. The bullet didn't open up. But that deer was very dead very soon.
 
Are you using Hornady XTPs ? Yardage on deer #2 & #3?
No. These are SST’s. Used to use Thompson Center 250’s. Never an issue for blood trail. That is important S the woods are pine needles and hard to track.

I have been using 90 gr - by volume- of Blackhorn 209. Have tried 300 gr bullets. They kicked so bad I added a muzzle brake on the gun.

Ranges on the two doe kills were 75 and 130 yards. The buck was 140.

Done with muzzeloader for this season. Just looking for adjustments next season. Thanks for the advice.
 

My preferred bullet/sabot in front of 2 Hodgdon Triple 7 pellets; my Knight American/Nikon 3-9X40 scope has been reliable for decades.
My distances have been 100 yds and under due specifically to the terrain/dense woods where I have had the privilege to hunt.
I did convert the ignition to the 209 primer vs the original #7 percussion cap.


Sitting in stand now; KY’s Early ML weekend.
 
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