Paper patching the hunting bullet for a Muzzleloader

idahoron · 11-21-2009, 06:08 AM

I wanted to share my success with paper patched muzzleloader bullets for deer. I started to paper patch for my 45 cal TC Renegade. I was doing great with that gun so I decided to try my luck with my 50 cal.
The 50 I wanted to try to patch for was a gun I put together for my son. It is a TC Renegade with a Stainless Steel Green mountain barrel with a 1-28 twist. The sights are a Lyman 57 sml peep with a Lyman 17 aml globe with Lee Shavers inserts.

The bullet I looked at from the very start was the Lee C-501-440-RF. The mould casts a pure lead bullet at 460 gr. I paper patch this bullet with 9# onion skin paper. I wrap them dry and size them back to .501 dry. The tails are just twisted and folder on the base.

After playing with the load I settled with 80 gr of Pyrodex P with a over powder wad. I am getting 1310 FPS with this load and the accuracy with this load is very consistent.

My son was the first one to try the load out on deer. Last year he got a doe but all his shot told us was a little about accuracy he shot the deer in the neck so we didn’t see what penetration would be like.

This year I drew a good ML tag and decided that the 50 was the one. I closed the gap to 117 yards on my range finder. I saw a bush I could use for a rest and got a little closer. I set the sight for the shot and whistled for the buck to stand. The fine pin on the sight found the pocket behind the shoulder and the big bullet was on its way. The buck was hit through both lugs. The bullet was not found since it BLEW threw the deer.

The next test for the load was for my hunting buddy. He used the same load for his TC White Mountain Carbine. His shot was in that 110 yard mark. His shot hit the buck quartering to him. The bullet hit the main shoulder bone and exited out the flank on the off side, the bullet exited and was not found.

This was a great test of the bullet. I would now like to try something bigger. My son wants to shoot a moose with it. With some luck I hope he draws a tag.
Ron

Lead pot · 11-21-2009, 07:36 AM

Good report Ron.

I always like it when I see someone that put a plan together and works out with great success.

Good show!!

Nobade · 11-21-2009, 07:59 AM

Are you using a lube cookie, or wiping between shots, or something else?

idahoron · 11-21-2009, 08:26 AM

I use a wool felt wad with Hornady great plains lube between the powder and bullet. I cleaned between shots to sight in the rifle and to work up the original load. Further testing was done to determine how many shot could be fired without a loss of accuracy. I was able to shoot 3 to 5 times, and maintain the accuracy I was wanting sub 2" groups .

Digital Dan · 11-22-2009, 08:47 AM

Good goin' and NICE buck!

Dan

11-21-2009, 06:08 AM	#1
idahoron Boolit Master Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 216	Paper patching the hunting bullet for a Muzzleloader I wanted to share my success with paper patched muzzleloader bullets for deer. I started to paper patch for my 45 cal TC Renegade. I was doing great with that gun so I decided to try my luck with my 50 cal. The 50 I wanted to try to patch for was a gun I put together for my son. It is a TC Renegade with a Stainless Steel Green mountain barrel with a 1-28 twist. The sights are a Lyman 57 sml peep with a Lyman 17 aml globe with Lee Shavers inserts. The bullet I looked at from the very start was the Lee C-501-440-RF. The mould casts a pure lead bullet at 460 gr. I paper patch this bullet with 9# onion skin paper. I wrap them dry and size them back to .501 dry. The tails are just twisted and folder on the base. After playing with the load I settled with 80 gr of Pyrodex P with a over powder wad. I am getting 1310 FPS with this load and the accuracy with this load is very consistent. My son was the first one to try the load out on deer. Last year he got a doe but all his shot told us was a little about accuracy he shot the deer in the neck so we didn’t see what penetration would be like. This year I drew a good ML tag and decided that the 50 was the one. I closed the gap to 117 yards on my range finder. I saw a bush I could use for a rest and got a little closer. I set the sight for the shot and whistled for the buck to stand. The fine pin on the sight found the pocket behind the shoulder and the big bullet was on its way. The buck was hit through both lugs. The bullet was not found since it BLEW threw the deer. The next test for the load was for my hunting buddy. He used the same load for his TC White Mountain Carbine. His shot was in that 110 yard mark. His shot hit the buck quartering to him. The bullet hit the main shoulder bone and exited out the flank on the off side, the bullet exited and was not found. This was a great test of the bullet. I would now like to try something bigger. My son wants to shoot a moose with it. With some luck I hope he draws a tag. Ron

11-22-2009, 08:47 AM	#5
Digital Dan Boolit Master Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 186	Good goin' and NICE buck! Dan __________________ I have danced with the Devil. She had excellent attorneys.

11-21-2009, 07:36 AM	#2
Lead pot Boolit Master Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 410	Good report Ron. I always like it when I see someone that put a plan together and works out with great success. Good show!!

11-21-2009, 07:59 AM	#3
Nobade Boolit Master Join Date: May 2005 Location: Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico Posts: 322	Are you using a lube cookie, or wiping between shots, or something else?

11-21-2009, 08:26 AM	#4
idahoron Boolit Master Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 216	I use a wool felt wad with Hornady great plains lube between the powder and bullet. I cleaned between shots to sight in the rifle and to work up the original load. Further testing was done to determine how many shot could be fired without a loss of accuracy. I was able to shoot 3 to 5 times, and maintain the accuracy I was wanting sub 2" groups .