Traditions pursuit muzzleloader

[Legacy]

Looking for advice on ammo for my mz. Anyone else shooting this gun and done their homework? I would like to stick with triple seven powder. 100 grains (two 50 pellets). I am not having consistency with power belts.

Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[rusty1034]

I have that model mz, I like it a lot. I was once a pellet and powerbelt fan. The powder makes the barrel very difficult to clean, and the bullets were inaccurate and performed poorly on game.

I now use black horn 209 powder and Barnes copper solid hollow point bullets.

The rifle barrel doesn't foul, cleans with Hoppes, and the bullets are accurate, and mushroom to twice their original size.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Duckman1]

X2 on black horn 209. Using 100 grains and 250 grain bullet. 1.5" groups at 200 yrs

[MeanMachine]

250 grain TC Shockwaves shoot well with 2 triple 7 pellets out of mine.

[Tall Tails]

Take those powerbelts and throw them in the trash.  TC Shockwaves or the Barnes.  Powerbelts have horrible performance when they hit the deer as well as not flying well.  I use triple seven powder as well.  Good Luck

[GAMBLER]

I used to use powerbelts.  They flew fine for me but they fragmented and did not mushroom out at all.  I also found very little blood if the deer took another step. 

 

 

With my new Muzzleloader, I use Blackhorn 209 powder with Hornaday STX 45 caliber 250 grain bullets with MMP sabots.  Amazing grouping at 100 yds with that combo.  Make sure you can shoot Blackhorn out of your muzzleloader before buying it.  I had to buy a modified breech plug to shoot it out of my CVA Accura V2.  If you do not have a modified breech plug, you may get hang fires. 

[Tall Tails]

I used to use powerbelts.  They flew fine for me but they fragmented and did not mushroom out at all.  I also found very little blood if the deer took another step. 

 

 

 

 

Exactly the same problem for me.  I like the lead ones but the coppers were awful.  I lost to many deer before I got smart.

[GAMBLER]

Exactly the same problem for me.  I like the lead ones but the coppers were awful.  I lost to many deer before I got smart.

Most of the deer I shot with them dropped but the two that I shot with them that ran, I was lucky they dropped in eye sight.  Tracking would have been difficult! 

[Xxx]

I use the Triple 7 loose powder and the barns black plastic sabot, hollow point 200 grain pill, I was using the two pellets then my buddy Dale came over while we were shooting and said here, try this so I did out of the 3 shots of the loose powder all 3 bullets touched each other, where the 2 pellets shot on a slightly bigger pattern, but well within the killing zone. Last year I shot one at 183 paces stone dead, so I just continued using it.

[lineman49]

Take those powerbelts and throw them in the trash.  TC Shockwaves or the Barnes.  Powerbelts have horrible performance when they hit the deer as well as not flying well.  I use triple seven powder as well.  Good Luck

   X2!

[steelie]

Try the buckhorn 209 and barnes bullets. You will never go back to the pellets !!!! Stuff is awesome

Sent from my VS990 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[Capt Vince Pierleoni]

Powerbelts should be outlawed.

[wicked salmon]

Agree with the comments about the power belts

I want to try the buckhorn

I heard it doesn't foul the barrel as bad as other powders.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[lineman49]

  Steelie, is that your buck in that pic?  If so congrats, NICE one!

[steelie]

Lineman, yes. scored 174" . thank you

Sent from my VS990 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[Legacy]

Thanks guys! The powerbelts are going in the garbage and Im gonna give the TC shockwaves a shot!

[aqua lung]

Have tried all the stated loads. I settled in with round ball and patch..shoots best out of my traditions deer hunter and my pursuit..wasted alot of $ on ammo that didn't perform well..round ball was hands down best out of the inline for me..

Sent from my SM-G930V using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[Legacy]

Well i went with the TC Shock Waves .50 cal 250 grain. I just need to find some range time.

[justtracytrolling]

Anyone interested in more long range performance out of their muzzloader should give the Parker Productions 250 grain ballistic extremes a try. These have a high ballistic coefficient and expand well even at lower speeds associated with longer range. I use them with smokeless powder (sr4759) in my savage, but they also perform well with black powder/triple seven. I have never had or seen a better grouping muzzleloading bullet.

Justin Okrepki

NYSDEC licensed guide #7324

otiscolakeguideservice.com

(607)-349-1750

[Xxx]

Justin that pill looks impressive, what type powder is the sr4759, looks like the same sabot, just the bullet itself is very different. If my memory serves me right isn't that a bulky powder to reduce power loads, if my memory serves me right I think I used the sr4759 in 45/70 hand loads. But I think sr is discontinued and followed up by the IMR? Don't quote me I could be and might be wrong, just that number jogs my memory. How did you come up with a load for a muzzle loader. I think it's a really course powder, kind of like triple 7 or this other powder the guys are talking about? Gotta hand it to ya your always 1 step ahead of the game!!

[justtracytrolling]

Pap,

You are correct SR4759 is a bulky powder, (tubular in fact) used in lower pressure rifle cartridges with tons of case volume. DO NOT attempt to use smokeless powder in any muzzloader aside from the Savage Smokeless!!! For anyone not familiar with the Savage Smokeless it loads like any other muzzloader, but takes no more cleaning or maintenance than your rifle. My Savage smokeless muzzloader has several recommended starting point loads and the 42 grains of SR 4759 is one of them. The Vhitavouri loading is super popular but I struggled to get it and the SR was easy at my local shop. I bought a long term supply so for all I know you can't get it anymore. My problem was finding a bullet and sabot that performed with rifle results not muzzloader results. Parker Productions solves this with a complete line of very high quality bullets and sabots. With a smokeless muzzloader and these bullets good groups at 400 yds are common. They actually competitively shoot at 1000 yds. I shoot my rifle out to 1000 yds but simply don't have $1500 to throw around for glass on my muzzloader that I basically never have tags to use.

Anyways Parker Productions makes an outstanding bullet regardless what powder you choose. Give em a try if you aren't getting the results you want with what your avg chain store carries.

Justin Okrepki

NYSDEC licensed guide #7324

otiscolakeguideservice.com

(607)-349-1750

[Xxx]

Pap,

You are correct SR4759 is a bulky powder, (tubular in fact) used in lower pressure rifle cartridges with tons of case volume. DO NOT attempt to use smokeless powder in any muzzloader aside from the Savage Smokeless!!! For anyone not familiar with the Savage Smokeless it loads like any other muzzloader, but takes no more cleaning or maintenance than your rifle. My Savage smokeless muzzloader has several recommended starting point loads and the 42 grains of SR 4759 is one of them. The Vhitavouri loading is super popular but I struggled to get it and the SR was easy at my local shop. I bought a long term supply so for all I know you can't get it anymore. My problem was finding a bullet and sabot that performed with rifle results not muzzloader results. Parker Productions solves this with a complete line of very high quality bullets and sabots. With a smokeless muzzloader and these bullets good groups at 400 yds are common. They actually competitively shoot at 1000 yds. I shoot my rifle out to 1000 yds but simply don't have $1500 to throw around for glass on my muzzloader that I basically never have tags to use.

Anyways Parker Productions makes an outstanding bullet regardless what powder you choose. Give em a try if you aren't getting the results you want with what your avg chain store carries.

Justin Okrepki

NYSDEC licensed guide #7324

otiscolakeguideservice.com

(607)-349-1750

Wow that sounds impressive, I shot deer at 200 with my muzzy,I forget what it's called it has the thumb hole and the primer pushes in and a round disc cover the primer. Yours sounds like the elite of the elite muzzy. Good talking to ya but I gotta get my deer quartered up and in the fridge!!

[BSmaster]

I have a traditions pursuit as well and last year was my first year using it and I have to tell you that it took longer for me to get it sighted in than it did my crossbow at 40 yds.  I have asked people I know hwo are experienced and read reviews on line and 2 things seem consistent.  1.) Got to find the right load scheme and 2.) everyone seems to have found the right one and discounted what someone else has found to work.  I am taking a trip to basspro fri.  I am going to try some new things this year.  I am going to try buckhorn powder with Hornaday SST as well as the 777 60g pellets with the hornaday SST lock and load.  One review stated that at first he had no confidence in the pursuit ML until he found the right load and now he calls it his favorite.

[justtracytrolling]

I've shot lots of different saboted muzzloader rounds and you would be shocked at the variation in each recipe's ability to group. You should see tight groups at 100yds at a minimum or you can do better. Also cheap muzzloader combos are famous for junk rings, bases, and scopes. Figure out the weak link/links and come up with a good loading and you will be thrilled with your muzzloader imo.

Justin Okrepki

NYSDEC licensed guide #7324

otiscolakeguideservice.com

(607)-349-1750

Edited November 30, 2016 by justtracytrolling

[tangledline]

Wondering where I might find buckhorn 209. Bass Pro is out. Would love to find it locally instead of paying the hazardous charge.

Edited November 30, 2016 by tangledline