Great plains 385 ???

[frontier gander]

I picked up a box of great plains .50 385gn Hollow point bullets today. Im gonna try them in my winchester x150 and was wondering about a good load to start off with. I was thinking 80 grains pyrodex RS and try a shot or two @ 25 yards and make adjustments then move out to 50 yards. Do these bullets have good expansion? The last time i tried a maxi ball on a deer i had pure hell killing it. Im used to using powerbelts,but for $9.50 for 20 GP bullets im willing to try them out. 80grains powder and a 385gn GP good enuff to knock down a mulie at 100+ yards? Im used to shooting in the 120 yard + range. Remember, im a skinny 6'3 160lb dude so how bad are these bullets gonna hurt me? lol. I think with the lower charge it should be fine but im just worried about 120+ yard bullet drop.

[CD]

I have used these in the past in my hawken, 90 gr 2F blackpowder worked for me.My longest shot was only about 75yds. deer just dropped. Hope this helps.

[moosekiller99]

My TC NewEnglander likes this bullet with 90 grains of Pyrodex. A number of years ago my father used it on a late season anterless hunt and took a huge doe with one shot. Instant knockdown, and best of all no blood-shot meat. I'm going back to this bullet as a back-up load/gun for this upcoming season.

[Sharp Shooter]

I shot 90-100gr of Goex FFG with a 54cal 425gr Hornady Great Plains and the recoil was not bad at all. I did an expansion test with that Hornady shooting it into a bucket of sand. It expanded to the size of a quarter.

[lonewolf5348]

I tried them in my 50 cal. hawkens flinter my major problem was getting them down the barrel ,had a job trying to seat them over the powder,but they did shoot well.
Want to try a cheap bullet that does the job: T/C cheap shot 250 grain HP all lead bullet 20 rounds for $4.99 ,a buddie uses them in his hawkens and drop them deer on the spot.

[Triple Se7en]

I have the opinion that the Buffalo Bullet 385s are more accurate & designed to be loaded easier. Right about the same price as the Great Plains -- which have been stuck my barrels too. Here's a paragraph or two on the Buffalo Bullets by RandySmithat the chuckhawks website. Scroll down about 1/3rdto the Buffalo Bullet discussion.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/muzzleloading_bullets.htm

[Pglasgow]

ORIGINAL: frontier gander

I picked up a box of great plains .50 385gn Hollow point bullets today. Im gonna try them in my winchester x150 and was wondering about a good load to start off with. I was thinking 80 grains pyrodex RS and try a shot or two @ 25 yards and make adjustments then move out to 50 yards. Do these bullets have good expansion? The last time i tried a maxi ball on a deer i had pure hell killing it. Im used to using powerbelts,but for $9.50 for 20 GP bullets im willing to try them out. 80grains powder and a 385gn GP good enuff to knock down a mulie at 100+ yards? Im used to shooting in the 120 yard + range. Remember, im a skinny 6'3 160lb dude so how bad are these bullets gonna hurt me? lol. I think with the lower charge it should be fine but im just worried about 120+ yard bullet drop.

FG,

The expand fantastic and will kill a mulie at 100+ yards. Mine is currently sighted 2" high at 50 yards and it is about 5" to 6" low at 120 yards. Bullet instability is noticable at 120 as the MOA of the grouping worsens noticably beyond 100 yards. Its a good 100 yard bullet.

I'm using 80-90 grains of 3f Goex. I do recommend the black powder or 3f (pyro P) in pyrodex which has given me the best results.Recoil isn't bad with 80 grains powder. I usually shoot 10-20 per session. I am sore when I'm done, but its not bad.

Phil