rockefeller66 Posted February 6, 2006 Report Share Posted February 6, 2006 Right now we shoot 295 powerbellets through my dads Encore but when I get my muzzleloader I was looking at the Knight Red Hots (same as Barnes) and they look amazing as far as how they would perform on deer but what grain is best for Whitetails? They range anywhere from 120 - 300, I want something that has little drop out to 200 yards behind, I know that also depends on 100 or 150 grains of powder but I was just curious which grain is considered better for whitetails and what there is to be gained by using the heavy 300 grain ones? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockefeller66 Posted February 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2006 Re: What grain of bullet? I am debating between a 200-250 grain Barnes or Knight bullet infront of 100 or 150 grains of 777 pellets, have to test them all out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted February 6, 2006 Report Share Posted February 6, 2006 Re: What grain of bullet? Most of us in here have gone through trial and error process to find what our rifles like. Muzzleloaders just don't shoot alike the majority of the time, you have to shoot alot or get lucky. I shoot pb 295, but most other makes do not shoot that well with them. too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockefeller66 Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Re: What grain of bullet? that is what my dad shoots through is Encore and he likes them, those powerbelts shoot nice but I am concerded about their perfomance on deer, I just think those Barnes or Knights will perform much better on deer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Re: What grain of bullet? Deer are not bullet proof. You don't need big heavy bullets to punch through them. I use 175 gr .357" bullets in my .45 caliber and it kills deer as dead as a 400 gr buffalo bullet. What do you get with heavier bullets? More recoil, less velocity, not always more performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockefeller66 Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Re: What grain of bullet? I think I am going to try 200-250 grain Barnes and Knight bullets, I like the full copper bullets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Re: What grain of bullet? [ QUOTE ] I think I am going to try 200-250 grain Barnes and Knight bullets, I like the full copper bullets [/ QUOTE ] That's cool but I don't care for them personally. I will take a pure lead bullet over a pure copper at typical ML velocities any day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockefeller66 Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Re: What grain of bullet? Hey AJ, what are the advantages and disadvantages of a lead vs. copper bullet? I am just curious and I liked the copper bullets cause it seemed to mushroom out more and not fragment apart but I might be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Re: What grain of bullet? I shoot the pure lead bullets with polymer tips. Some places I hunt I can shoot for a long ways. The lead bullet will expand on deer at pretty much any velocity. The all copper bullets will usually expand as long as the velocity is high enough. The huge hollow cavity typically allows the Barnes bullet to expand reliably. There have been occurrances of them filling with stuff (?) and not expanding. I am not willing to risk that on a deer. As long as the bullet exits leaving a large wound channel, I don't care how much weight it retains, or breaks up. On deer, premium controlled expansion bullets are not necessary even with 150 gr powder charges. You are only looking at 2100 fps or so. Pure lead works just fine up to about 2250 or so and then it melts too much and penetrates less. Another drawback to the Barnes bullets is the price. I may try the blue tipped copper bullets they have out this year in my Savage, but I am shooting it 400-500 fps faster than Pyrodex or T7 will go. The bullet will hold together better at the higher velocity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockefeller66 Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Re: What grain of bullet? that is what I am most interested in is the tipped Sptizer Barnes Bullet but I will probably try those TC or Hornadys just to see what shoots better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest holt525 Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 Re: What grain of bullet? i shoot 240. gr hornday pistol bullets and my t/c shoots great!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskMan Posted February 9, 2006 Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 Re: What grain of bullet? Everyone ha s a different preference, so does their gun. Myself and my T/C like 300 grain Barnes. You'll figure out what you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockefeller66 Posted February 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 Re: What grain of bullet? I got some bullets and different grains in mind, just gotta find the right bullet and mix it with either 100 or 120 grains of powder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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