Great site! I found it by accident while looking for info on muzzleloaders. I have been reading the ML posts to help me decide which one to get. I recently purchsed a Traditions Vortek UL. I also picked up the Hornady SST 250 gr. and Pyrodex 50/50 pellets. I had a Bushnell Sportview scope in the closet that I mounted on the gun. I am waiting for this triple digit heat to subside before heading to the range. It's just too hot! A friend of mine also picked up a ML. He got the T/C Bone Collector with a Zeiss Conquest scope. We are heading to Ohio this November to hunt in Harrison county. I was born and raised in Cleveland and still have family and friends there. One of my friends has about 60 acres south of Freeport near Smyrna that we will be hunting. I was lucky enogh to get an 8 pointer there 2 years ago and hope to be lucky again. What is the general concensus on the Hornady low drag sabots, the ones with a "tail" on them?
welcome to the club JohnR.
I'm assuming you have a fifty caliber? The combo you mention sounds reasonable and will probably work for you. If you are like a lot of us on this site we like to experiment with different combos. Let us know how you do.
daddus
Greetings from Vermont and Welcome to the Club.
The load I'm using for my Vortek is the "Traditions" 250 grain SmackDown SST's,
(The Super Shocked Tip (SST) Bullet was designed specifically by Hornady® to perform under muzzleloading velocities)
with two 50/50 Triple 777 pellets by Hodgdon, and Remington Kleanbore 209 primers.
I haven't been able to do much shooting with my Vortek but right out the box at 100 yards this rifle proved to be ready for hunting which isn't usually the case with any muzzleloader.
Good Luck on all your hunts and with your new Vortek.
I would give 777 a try and then take a look at Black Horn powder, right now the king of the hill for in-line black powder rifles rated for 209 primers.
John
I've shot all types of black powder and substitutes but since I'm using Blackhorn I won't go back.
daddus
It is a little more than the others but I feel worth it.
For a 50 cal you will end up around 90-100grs so start with 80 and increase 5 grains at a time until you get good shot placement. I see no need to go beyond 100 grs.
John,
The max load for 209 is 120 grain and you must use a standard shotgun primer. I use 110 gr blackhorn 209 with a 290 gr barnes sabot. It is a hot load but it works for me. I did not start there but worked up to it
daddus
To be sure we are on the same page are the kleen bore 209 primers acceptable or should i use the plain 209's? This is totally new for me. Thanks in advance.
Hi John
I just found this site also and this is my first post.
I have the Traditions Vortek UL and a Vortek pistol also.
I tried the pellets first then switched to pyro RS for more consistent loads. I got much better groups.
I got tired of having to clean the bore after every shot and switched to blackthorn 209. No more cleaning at the range and the breech plug doesn't get stuck, not to mention it loads very easy now.
I cast my own bullets and have tried conicals, sabots and round balls.
I have finally settled on a 450 grain cast lead .458 bullet in a Harvester crushed rib sabot. I use this in pistol and rifle.
The rifle shoots them minute of angle out to 150 yards. It might do well farther but have never tried it. I get 1557 fps at the muzzle with 90 grains of BH 209. I went up to 100 and groups opened up a bit and recoil was stout.
In the pistol I use 50 grains of BH209 and get about 900 fps. It shoots 2 inch groups at 50 yards. I guess I should add that I put a red dot sight on it.
I have put in excess of 400 rounds through the rifle with no malfunctions.
I know you will like your rifle as much as I like mine.
I drew a ML tag in NM and go hunting in a few weeks. I can't wait.
HM,
My 45 cal with a hornady 200 grain and 110 grains of blackhorn chrono at 2204
fps. Now I'm trying 290 gr barnes 50 cal with 110 gr blackhorn but haven't chronoed it. I'll let you know when I find out.
daddus
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