I'm Going tovtry those in my optima

https://harvestermuzzleloading.com/collections/crushed-rib-sabots

I have found some of the best sabots and bulltets at the above site - hard to beat the pricing also. Just something I uncovered last year and wanted to pass on. Looks like the company is in KY and I have heard tons of good things about the crushed rib sabots about how easy they are to load

Thanks for this

Ive heard good things about those harvster sabots. From my experience with my Thompson ProHunter, Barnes bullets are hard to beat...a little spendy, but I dont mind when they shoot the groups that they do. Every barrel is a little different and likes different loads. Good luck in your search....

I use a patched round ball over 80 grains of 2f. I was watching a video on YouTube once and they were testing different types of bullets for muzzleloaders on water jugs. The patched round ball penetrated the deepest, traditional ways are sometimes the way to go.

You won't be disappointed.

Traditional ways are good in traditional rifles. Shooting round balls in a modern inline with excellent bergara barrels was a disaster in mine. Tried it and couldnt get minute of milk jug at 50 yards.....couldnt get minute of pizza box using a scope. It was atrocious. I simply read my instructions then and saw the manufacturer only recommends shooting modern jacketed bullets. Did that and can put 3 hornady xtaps within an inch utilizing a decent burris full field mz scope. From there, I went hunting.

Scorpions are made by Harvester MZ and I think they would be worth trying for .50 a shot +powder. I can generally shoot the xtaps from Hornady around .65 + powder. I have yet to see a reason to shoot a new powerbelt or aerodynamic missle at $2 a shot.

Here in oregon we can't use sabots. No, 209 primers, has to be open ignition and caps only and only loose powder
I finally drew a muzzleloader tag this year and got lucky to get a good one. I shoot those hornady great plains 385 gr

This is a Great thread

Patched round ball for me.

I’ve had great luck with the Hornady 250gr SST’s in front of 100gr 777. Most of those whitetails dropped within 20yds of where they shot. A few dropped right there. I’ve had poor luck with the green power belts. I’ve recently changed to blackhorn 209 and lookin to shoot some 300gr SST’s just for a change up. Excited to see the results with that.

Harvester Scorpion 300gr funnel point in a crush rib sabot. Shoot well out of my Accura and load very easy. Plus the company is in my home state.

AnthonyT - thanks for that info about the Scorpions out of an Accura. I think I will purchase a few packs to have on hand if need be. They are very well priced.

Yup, me too. With 90gr 2F.

I shoot 300 Grain Hornady XTPs out of an MK 85 with the Harvester Green Crush rib sabot over 90 grains of 2F triple. 7. I shot a solid copper 250 Grain Maximus by Cutting edge bullets with the same sabot out of my CVA Accura over 74 grains by weight of BH 209. Both loads are great for deer and extremely accurate.

I use a 260 gr. Scorpion PT Gold,
70 gr. (weight) Blackhorn 209,
CCI 209M primer
Harvester H5045SB sabot

in my T/C Triumph and it shoots better than any other brands. Every muzzle loader is different, you just have to find what works. I'm 12 out of 13 years with a buck. They don't go far with a well placed shot.

Uncle Dave

240 grain Precision Dead Centers over 130 gr. loose (by volume), weighed 87 gr. 777.

I really like Barnes MZ 300 grain with 90 grains of powder.

Accurate and always a great blood trail.

I have also had good luck with Hornady Great Plain 385 grain.

I'm in the same boat with the green power belts at 245 grains. I don't think they get good penetration. I'm going to 300 grain SSTs.