Knight MK-85-.54 Cal.--How many grains?

[brodyb51]

I need some help selecting a bullet for my .54 caliber Knight-MK-85 muzzleloader. I just switched over from black power to pyrodex pellets. I use 2 pellets which is 120 grains. At 50 yards I was able to easily get on target and get 1-2" groups however, when I moved back to 80 yds I could not even hit an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. I am shooting a pretty light bullet (250 grains) for a .54 caliber and I am wondering if this is my problem. Most of the information on line points to using 300+ grains. I am also having a problem finding bullets for a .54 caliber, any suggestions would be much appreciated. I would like to be sighted in out to 100 yards.

[corey012778]

i would try some loose pyrodex or triple 7. start out at 65grs and work your way up. as for bullets pick up some .500 dia and i know mmp puts out an sabot for that diameter.

someone will come along that can give you an better break down then me.

[vans]

I have the same gun, I have used 90 grains forever with it, have played around with different loads through the years.

Currently shooting 275 gr. Barnes with 90gr. triple seven loose powder

Works great for me.

[Gm54-120]

I cant say in the MK because mine is still NIB unfired but i do have two other 54s.

Personally i didnt buy 54s to shoot 45cal bullets. I can do that with a 50cal. IMO the 54 really shines with a 54x50 sabot or a big ole conical. Knight even packaged some of the MK 54cals with MMP purple 54x50 sabots and 325gr GoldDot HPs.

In my LK-93 with a 209 conversion i shoot 100gr and the Harvester Scorpion Gold PTs 45-300gr with a MMP 54x45 sabot. I prefer the MMP 54x50 sabots and in those i like the Speer GoldDot 50A&E 300gr or 50-300gr FTX bullets.

A great affordable 50cal bullet is the Rainier 50-335gr HP from MidwayUSA. Under $30 per 100. They are cheap and made to Alexander Arms spec for their 50 Beowulf ammo.

In my GMB54-120 i do shoot a Barnes 458-300gr SOCOM just because it shoots so darn well and is a perfect velocity match in that gun with 120gr of BH209 powder. It also shoots the 50-300gr FTX extremely well too and both performed flawlessly on deer this year.

Im not recommending you try BH209 but T7 LOOSE should get close to the same performance level and Knights max is 120gr of Pyro or real BP in the 54cal MK85s. I would probably stick to 110gr of T7 or less in a MK

If you are not shooting much past 100 yards, 100gr of T7 and any 50-300gr in a MMP 54x50 sabot should do the trick. The 300gr GoldDot for 50A&E will be hard to beat on terminal performance at moderate velocity. The 50-300gr FTX should do ok but might fail to expand properly at longer ranges.....although i doubt it.

I would call MMP and get some 54x50 purples and some 54x45. Harvester 54x45 sabots are a bit loose in my LK93 54 but are really tough sabots and fit my GMB54 perfectly.

Both offer samples so you can find out which fits your gun the best.

[Gm54-120]

Originally Posted by vans

I have the same gun, I have used 90 grains forever with it, have played around with different loads through the years.

Currently shooting 275 gr. Barnes with 90gr. triple seven loose powder

Works great for me.

I shot that same load in my old ThunderHawk 54 for years with no complaints. Mine was the 50-275gr Expander MZ. Its a great bullet but pricey.