Which cast boolit would you pick for whitetail in a muzzle loader?

[versa-06]

Please try filling the "length" of the sabbot with lead, I have found more accuracy that way. -06

[Sgt H]

Surprised no one has mentioned the Lyman/Gould 457122 HP. I load this boolit, cast soft to about 1450fps in 45-70 and it is very effective on deer. I much prefer a rapidly expanding boolit for deer.

[Tracy]

I would also use a PRB or a full caliber bullet, over real black powder. But that's not what you asked.
Given what you are trying to achieve, I would probably go for the 310 grain .44 bullet because I suspect that will have the highest bc.

My initial thoughts were to assume I was hunting deer with a .45 Colt rifle. If that were the case I would probably choose the .45 caliber 255 RF because it has good energy transfer and more than adequate penetration.

[Barry54]

Looks like the Lee 310 grain is the winner. Not a clear winner. I had the most of them cast, so that’s what I’m running with.

The 458 initially seemed promising. First two shots touched at 50 yards then the third one blew the group.

The 300 grain shot about identical to 310 grain, but the 300s were noticeably harder to load.

I tried some Lee 200 grain flat base for 44 special I had previously cast. Good crisp edges. I didn’t like how they fit the sabots. For me, bevel base is a good compromise for use in sabots.

I shot a group at 100 and made a sight adjustment. Then practiced at 100 to settle the scope in. Checked drop at 150 and 200 yards. I think I’m ready as I’ll ever be.

I could check expansion and penetration in water jugs. I wonder how many feet it would take to stop one?

[ACC]

Lee C452-300-RF
Lee 452-255-RF
Lee C430-310-RF
NOE 452-232 (cup point 245gr or flat point 250gr)
Lyman 457191 HV

I’ve got some freshly cast Lee 300 and 310 I’ll accuracy and penetration test here soon. I’m assuming penetration will be more than adequate with any of these. I’m casting hot with a soft alloy that’s pretty lean on tin.

Do you think any of these listed will have better performance on game?

Have you gotten better accuracy with with one diameter over others with plastic sabots?

Does the gas check shank hinder or benefit use in sabots?

Less than seven weeks until muzzle loader season...
Thanks in advance!

What's wrong with a round ball? I have taken Elk with a .50 round ball. My brother years ago took a buffalo in North Dakota with a .54 round ball.

ACC

[Barry54]

What's wrong with a round ball? I have taken Elk with a .50 round ball. My brother years ago took a buffalo in North Dakota with a .54 round ball.

ACC

There’s no smokeless data in the owners manual for roundball loads.

[Barry54]

Tested expansion and penetration at 50 yards this morning. The Lee 310 penetrated two 20L boxes of water. 24” total. It broke through the plastic bladder of the second box and stopped against the corrugated for the 3rd.

Notice the square shape of the boolit base corresponding to the inside shape of the sabot!

The entry hole isn’t a cookie cutter hole, so I suppose it started expansion on contact

[ChristopherO]

You've found a winning combination. Good for you! (& i won't say a peep about BP, PRB's, pure lead conicals, etc.... Lol. If fellers would only read the post before posting it would really help)

[Tripplebeards]

That’s a good looking mushroom! I like the Thompson Center original black four pedal sabot. It seems to shoot accurately out of my omega, no matter what I stuff in the sabot. I tried a 285 grain hollow point group buy boolit a few years back with 150 grains of 777 pellets. Ended up with 2 inch groups at 100 yards. Using the 300 grain shockwave by Thompson Center that I don’t think they make anymore it will print all in the same hole so I just stuck with the hard looking jacket ballistic tip Thompson center. I’m going to Cast up up a pure soft lead boolit in 45 cal and give it a try. I have the 255 lee. Should be a great candidate since I don’t own the 285 grain .452 HP mold anymore. I do still have a bunch of the hollow points. I tried cast it up at 10 1/2 BH but I want something softer to fling at deer. I’m sure the 1900 to 2000 ft./s with three pellets is probably plenty to open that thing up pretty good on a deer so maybe I’ll just stick with it and give it a try on some fur.

[Barry54]

Thanks guys!

I was most intrigued by the appearance of the soft boolit flowing into the shape of the sabot. First time I’ve seen that.