WhiteSmoke

A .45 will be good for deer-sized animals and down. A .50 is good for deer, elk, bear, etc. For hunting loads, I would suggest working up loads using the Hornady HP/XTP (not the MAG version) bullets. I have a T/C .45-caliber Hawken and use 90 grains of Triple Seven pushing the .400 (10 mm) 200-grain HP/XTP in a tan MMP sabot. For my T/C Omega, I use 100 grains of Pyrodex Select and either the 250 or 300-grain HP/XTP bullets in a black HPH-24 sabot. T/C barrels are usually "tight" so I use the smaller 24 sabot. I would bet your bore is not as tight as mine so I would start by using the HPH-12 sabot and go to the 24 if the 12 loads too hard. Killing range? I don't like to shoot over 150 yards but either should be lethal well past that distance with a good hit.

Elk load 300-grain Barnes Expander MZ. They come with MMP HPH-12 sabots. You may have to switch out the sabots to ones that fit your rifle. I have a T/C Omega with a tight barrel and the 12's were just too tight. A HPH-24 sabot works, but I have since gone to the 3-Petal EZ sabot, also from MMP.

Cleaning & storing a ML Maybe it's overkill, but I clean mine thoroughly with PAM, a well-known mixture of peroxide, alcohol and Murphy's oil. After that, I run some Break Free down the barrel and over all exposed metal parts followed by some dry patches down the barrel. After this, I swab with bore butter, leaving the rifling covered with a heavy film of bore butter and the exterior covered with the Break Free.

"misses" I don't like the idea of someone else loading my rifles for me to shoot, but snapping on a dry chamber is a great way to check for flinching. Put a cap on the nipple though or the nipple will be damaged by a dry fire. I would have someone pretend to load the rifle and hand it back to me with just a cap on the nipple. Second comment is to try some shooting sticks when you hunt. Third comment, and this will probably get me into trouble, is to try a different bullet. I have shot Powerbelts before, and they shoot fine, but there are MANY comments in the blogs about Powerbelts not opening up and/or leaving little or no blood trails. You may have hit those deer and had no blood trail to follow. I would suggest switching to one of the Barnes bullets and see how they work for you. They DO expand and are an excellent bullet. You won't find anyone bitching about the performance of a Barnes.

.45 bullet suggestion Try the 195-grain Barnes Expander MZ. It comes with HPH-12 sabots from MMP. You may have to change out the sabots depending on the bore diameter of your rifle. If the 12's load too tightly, go to HPH 24's or 3-petal EZ's for very tight bores. They are all-copper and expand beautifully.

Barnes 250-grain Expander MZ vs. a 250# boarWell guys and gals, I just got back from a three-day hunt near Paso Robles (north of Los Angeles). I was shooting my T/C Omega and using a 250-grain Barnes Expander MZ bullet in an HPH-24 sabot pushed with 100 grains of Pyrodex RS. On the third day of the hunt, I found a 250# boar asleep against a tree at 59 yards. He was almost broadside to me and I put the slug right behind his left shoulder. Due to his sleeping position, the bullet exited (almost) slightly lower and to the rear on his right side. It was a perfect double-lung shot. He ran about 200 yards and piled up against another tree. When we skinned him out, we found the bullet just under the hide on his right side. The bullet cut through the skin on the right side so there was an exit hole for blood to pour out, but the bullet stayed inside the skin. It expanded perfectly! You couldn't have asked for better performance.

Hornady XTP's Whether or not you like Randy Wakeman, here is a great article (with the ballistics chart) on XTP's. http://www.chuckhawks.com/underrated_hornady_XTP.htm

Hornady XTP's I just found the chart I was looking for. The HP/XTP's are designed to work at velocities from 800 to 1600 fps (the 250-grain version) and 800 to 1700 (the 300-grain version). The XTP/MAG's are designed to work at velocities of 1100 to 2100 (both 240 and 300-grain versions). A 100-grain powder load sends a bullet out at approximately 1672 f/s and a 150-grain powder load sends a bullet out at approximately 1879 f/s. These figures will vary depending on the powder you use. I use a 100-grain load in my Omega and use the both the 250 and 300-grain HP/XTP's, depending on what I'm hunting. I just think the HP/XTP's are a better choice for muzzleloaders. The XTP/MAG's are operating in the lower half of their designed range in a muzzleloader while the HP/XTP's are always in their design range. They also put five shots in one ragged hole. I love 'em!

Hornady XTP's Hornady XTP's are probably one of the better bullets shot in muzzleloaders today. There are two versions, the HP/XTP and the XTP MAG. They are basically the same bullet except that the HP/XTP is designed to "work" at slightly lower velocities and is the better bulet to use in a muzzleloader. I use both 250 and 300-grain versions, depending on what I'm hunting. I shoot a T/C Omega which has a "tight" barrel so I use the HPH 3-Petal EZ sabots in it. Depending on your barrel, you can use the 3-Petal EZ, the HPH-12 or HPH-24. All are available from MMP sabots and one of the three should work just fine for you.

Hornady XTP's I believe that Hornady makes two versions of the XTP bullet. There is the HP/XTP and the XTP/MAG. The HP/XTP comes in weights of 185 to 300 grains. The XTP/MAG runs 240 to 300 grains. Somewhere in my desk (I can't find it right now) is a chart of the design ranges for both. Basically, the HP/XTP is designed for lower velocities than the XTP/ MAG. I personally use the HP/XTP, both in 250 and 300-grain weights, as its design is more in line with muzzleloader velocities. It just works better than the MAG in a muzzleloader.

What kind of bullets do I use? My favorite bullet is the T/C Maxi-Hunter, a big, full-bore, pure lead slug. I use two others, depending on where and what I'm hunting. One is a Hornady HP/XTP and the other is a Barnes Expander MZ. Both of these are available in 250 and 300-grain versions.

Bullets without sabots I have used two bullets that fall into this catagory. I really like the T/C Maxi-Hunter and the Hornady FPB. Try both and see which one shoots best in your rifle.

Rifles I have three; a T/C Omega, a T/C Grey Hawk .54 and a T/C Hawken .45

Here's another one for you. It's quick, easy and good. 1/2 cup apricot preserves 1/3 cup bottled Russian dressing 1/2 envelope onion soup mix 6 chicken breasts, frozen (not thawed) Mix the first three ingredients together. Place the frozen chicken breasts in a crock pot and cover with the apricot mixture. Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours.

I got this recipe from a cook at Lake Powell. You may want to cut it in half to downsize the amount you make. They have some "heat" to them and taste great. 1 #10 can of Pork & Beans, drained (I use Bush's) 1 cup molasses 1 cup brown sugar 1 1/2 pints K.C. Barbecue sauce 1 1/2 tsp. cayenne 1/4 cup granulated garlic 1# thick-sliced bacon, diced 3 large onions, diced Drain beans and put in crock pot. Add molasses, brown sugar and barbecue sauce. In a frying pan, saute bacon until half done. Add onions and cook until done. Add to crock pot and cook on LOW for two hours.

Here's a great recipe for beans. I got it from a cook at Lake Powell so you may have to cut it in half to downsize the amount. 1 #10 can Pork & Beans, drained 1 cup molasses 1 cup brown sugar 1½ pints K.C. Barbecue Sauce 1½ tsp. cayenne ¼ cup granulated garlic 1# thick-sliced bacon, diced 3 large onions, diced Drain beans and put in slow cooker. Add molasses, brown sugar and barbecue sauce. In a frying pan, sauté bacon until half-done and then add onions. When done, add to bean mixture and cook on LOW for two hours.

Suggestions please! T/C's will absolutely handle full 150-grain loads. The question is, will your rifle shoot accurately with that load? Some will and some won't. I have a three T/C's and love them to death. My 50 caliber is an Omega Z5 and it is scoped with a 3-9 variable. I've tried many different bullet combinations and, for my gun, the best shooting round is a Hornady 250-grain HP/XTP in an HPH 3-Petal EZ sabot pushed with 110 grains of Pyrodex Ffg and a CCI 209M primer. That combo puts five rounds in one ragged hole at 50 yards. Sighted in at 130 yards, the bullet is 2" high at 50, 2" high at 100 and 2" low at 150, pretty easy to remember! The velocity and energy are excellent with that load out to 150 yards. If you want a heavier load, you can go with the 300-grain bullet, but go with the HP/XTP, NOT the XTP/Mag. Unless you are shooting a 150-grain load, the mag version won't open properly.

CVA Optima This is probably too late but I would read Randy Wakeman's article on the Optima at http://www.chuckhawks.com/optima_pro.htm If you haven't already bought the Optima, check out a T/C Omega Z5.

Ballistics I have seen so many bad reports about no expansion or blood trails using Powerbelts that I have decided not to use them, no matter how good they shoot I shoot a 250-grain HP/XTP Hornady round with an HPH 3-Petal EZ in my TC Omega and get one ragged hole at 50 yards. A 300 grain is available if you want a heavier bullet. I have the rifle sighted in at 130 yards and that puts the bullet 2" high at 50, 2" high at 100 and 2" low at 150. Velocity and energy are excellent using a 110-grain load. Only use the XTP Mag with a full 150-grain load. With a 100 to 110-grain load, the HP/XTP performs a lot better.

Bullet drop I just ran across this ballistics calculator on the Remington Arms website. Maybe it will help. You have to plug in a commercial round. I used a 45-70 which is close ballistically to what I shoot. I shoot a T/C Omega with 110 grains of Pyrodex for a muzzel velocity of about 1800 fps. The calculator says that if I zero at 132 yards, I will be 1.9" high at 100 and 1.87" low at 150. I'm trying to get a point of aim where I am the same distance high at 100 as I am low at 150 and this looks like it will be close. At least it's a great startting point. Good luck! http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/remington_shoot_ballistics_software.asp

Blackhorn 209 Bass Pro Shops generally carry it. However, it's $44.95 for a 10-oz. cannister (as opposed to the usual 16-oz. cans). For me, the extra benefits of the Blackhorn aren't worth the cost. I'm sticking with Pyrodex RS.

Hornady XTP's I would recommend the HP/XTP's over the XTP/MAG's. The Mag's are designed for velocities of 1100 to 2100 fps and the HP/XTP's are designed for 800 to 1600 fps. For normal black powder loads and ranges, the HP/XTP's should perform a lot better for you. A "normal" load of 100 grains of powder should give you about 1700 fps which is perfect for the HP/XTP's but on the low side for the MAG's. I shoot a T/C Omega Z5 with 110 grains of Pyrodex RS pushing the HP/XTP bullet in an HPH 3Petal EZ sabot and have had fantastic results with that combination.

Salsa secret ingredient Orange juice! Don't knock it. Try it once and see what it does to your favorite salsa. Use just a "splash".

Sabots I also have a T/C but it's an Omega Z5. T/C's typically have tight bores and require thinner sabots. I would advise you to try the MMP brand of sabots - http://www.mmpsabots.com/index.html and see how they work for you. You will want the HPH series. They make three sabots for T/C rifles...the HPH12, HPH24 and the 3Petal-EZ. I first tried the 24 but it was just too tight, so I went to the 3-Petal-EZ which was perfect. I use 110 grains of Pyrodex RS and a Hornady 45-caliber (.452) HP/XTP in the 3-Petal-EZ and shoot .75" groups with it. There's a good description of the various sabots on MMP's website that will answer a lot of questions. A lot of very knowledgable folks consider MMP sabots to be the best on the market. They are reasonably priced and the shipping is free. If you have any questions, just call them.

Primers I've used CCI primers for years now...#11's, musket caps and 209M's...and never had a problem.