Got a question. Muzzleloader season is fast approaching. I have a CVA Optima pistol with a 14" Bbl and the same thing in rifle form. Has anybody here used something like a WFN bullet in their sabots instead of the XTP, Shock Wave, etc? It seems like it should work if you don't go too heavy for the barrel twist rate.

I think you should be able to launch them at at least an equivalent velocity as any centerfire revolver so they should be equally as effective. I have a Knight ML pistol that I hope to put to use this year and am considering a cast 250 or 300. No leading worries with a sabot either.

I once read an article about a guy testing some of his hard cast bullets out of an inline muzzleloader using sabots. He seemed to have good luck with them.

It seems like it should work. Figure 1700-1900 fps from a ML rifle, a wide flat nose, and higher percentage of an exit wound would be nice. Some of the guys here, I believe Whitworth, are getting pretty good tissue damage at 1400 fps. I used an XTP in a sabot a couple years ago on a nice 8 point. Hit was great and he piled up about 35 yds away. But there was no blood. It was a pass through so I couldn't check out bullet expansion etc. Just wasn't sure about accuracy. I guess keep the projectile in the 240-265 grain range, like current sabots, and there should be no problem. It sure would make for cheaper practice! The current 15 packs are about a dollar a shot just for the projectile. I really like to practice with what I will use in the field.

Which bullet?

Shock Wave I believe. Just saw some others that were $30 for 15.

Wow! A 25 cent XTP and a 20 cent sabot would work quite well I think. That is what I am planning to use anyway, or perhaps a 12 cent cast from a fellow who sells Kieth style slugs over on the Ruger board.

Mike.44, this is exactly what I'm using in my muzzleloader. I'm shoot'n the MBW 250 WFNGC with a sabot and it's extremely accurate. So far, it's worked well on deer. The gas check is obviously not needed with a sabot, but I had several and thought I'd try them out. They shot so well, I stuck with 'em.

This is a doe I shot at 87 yards with the bullet mentioned and 75 grains of 777. Shot was quartering too; complete passthrough.



This is another taken with the same load, but only at 20 yards.



With this load combo, my muzzleloader barrel will shame some of my centerfire barrels.

Thanks KRal. That is what I am looking for. Nice deer, too.

Bear in mind that since cast bullets are shorter weight for weight than jacketed bullets that you'll be able to step up the weight a little for a given twist if that's your thing. This is especially true if the jacketed bullet is a hollow point.

This is a handy link:
http://www.shootforum.com/forum/bulletdb.html

Good advice Jim. I am going to go up a little bit in weight for now. Will try heavier after season.

I don't know what your twist is but you may even be able to go for paper patch .50" bullets which would really increase the weight.
You can use a standard mould/bullet design but it would have to be smaller in diameter to allow for the paper. Cast bullets sure are fun like.

Another helpful link:
http://rceco.com/img/rsbook4.pdf