300 gr XTPs

bronko22000 · 08-20-2008, 05:52 AM

Guys, Last weekend when I was out with my Hawken 50 cal percussion. I had brought out some 240 gr .44 cal XTPs and Harvester crush rib sabots. But althought they shot great, they shoot too high and can't lower the sight any more.
Those of you who shoot the 300 grain XTPs - have you shot the 240s also? If so, what is the difference in POI?
I'd like to try them, but a $23 a box, I want to know I can sight them in.

nchawkeye · 08-20-2008, 06:01 AM

It's my experience that with a muzzleloader (and a handgun) then heavier bullets will actually strike hogher than lighter ones...

A heavier bullet recoils more, throwing the bullet higher, with the slower velocities in muzzleloaders and handguns it makes more of a difference than in centerfires...

Now...Although you say you've lowered the rear sight, you could also raise the front sight and do the same, even if it means replacing it and filing down to fit...

What Hawken do you have??? How is the sight attached to the barrel???

bronko22000 · 08-20-2008, 06:20 AM

Hawkeye - I have the T/C Hawken and it is a GM LRH barrel withdovetailed fiber optic sights.
The front sight measures 0.450" high (from the barrel flat). The 240 gr bullets are shooting about 6" high.
Now using the same load, and shooting 275 gr Maxihunters or 320 gr REAL bullets, I have to raise the rear sight. (90 - 100 gr of FFFg).
I was under the same opinion that you were too with the heavier bullet shooting higher. But it doesn't seem to be the case here for some reason. That is why I was asking if anyone shot the 240 and 300 XTPs side by side.

nchawkeye · 08-20-2008, 08:03 AM

You're comparing a saboted bullet to a Maxihunter...That's the difference, you don't get the same gas seal between the two...I've shot the Hornady XTP .250 .452s against the XTP .300s...If you try them with the same powder charge and the same sabot they will hit higher...

bronko22000 · 08-20-2008, 08:28 AM

OK - well that answers that question. Now my problem is going to be where can I get a higher fiber optic front sight? I figure I am going to need a sight about .050" higher than the one I already have. So that will put me with a front sight of .5" (at .450" now)
Anyone know who sells a 1/2" high fiber optic front sight?

sabotloader · 08-20-2008, 08:45 AM

bronko22000

You can get a new front sight from Williams... they make a .450 .500 & a .550 that will fit the Hawken... Make sure you measure from the dovetail to the top of the sight. It seems to me the standard front sight is .500???

http://www.williamsgunsight.com/gunsights/muzzle.htm

I copied the section - it looks good here but it will probably get distorted in the post...

Muzzleloader Front Ramp FireSight:
Fits round or octagon barrels with dovetail. (overall height including dovetail)

click here to view a picture

[align=left]

OCTAGON
Height
Price

66656
.450
$18.95

66657
.500
$18.95

66658
.550
$18.95

[/align]

bronko22000 · 08-20-2008, 09:51 AM

Thanks Sabot - I have a call into them right now to see what they can do to help me out.
Actually, my front sight from truglo (GM barrel) measures .450". I have a feeling that the .500" sight will be just the ticket to bring me down to zero with some adjustment left in the rear sight. I hope so. Those XTPs shot great out of that barrel.

sabotloader · 08-20-2008, 10:04 AM

bronko22000

Hope you find one that works for you... I changed mine out on both of the LRH barrels but I have forgotten what I did...

If you can find them might check out the Speer Gold Dot line... These bullets are bonded and do not come apart... "poorman's nosler/barnes"

If you prefer to shoot 44 cal bullets - Speer makes a .429/270 grain soft point Gold Dot - which is really a good bullet. I would shoot the .452/250 for deer and the .452/300 for elk.

bronko22000 · 08-20-2008, 10:09 AM

The reason I want to go with the 44 cal is that I have literally thousands of lead cast bullets that I can practice with, then use the XTPs for hunting. But I may give the gold dots a shot (pun intended).

sabotloader · 08-20-2008, 10:18 AM

bronko22000

nothen wrong with the 44's... That has been the most favorite cal for ML's becuse of the higher BC they carry...

This is the .429/270 grain gold dot... it is longer than the 240 either the XTP or th Speer 240 Gold Dot and might actually stabilize a little better in the fast twist barrel.