ORIGINAL: livtohunt
Hello all: I'm new to this site as well blackpowder hunting.
I just recently purchased a used Traditions Lightning Bolt Mag 50 Cal, which might not be a great gun, but it'll have to do as we are leaving Boxing Day for 3 days of Deer Hunting.
My question to you all is while loading the gun with Barnes bullets, they are reeally hard to get started down the bore, while the Power Belts are quite easy to start. I'm concerned about the loss of pressure with using the PB. Can anyone suggest what I could or should use in the ML..(type and weight of sabot, grains of 777 ?
Thanks in adavance
livtohunt,
Barnes expanders need be tight due to the fact that they do not obturate (expand) when the rifle is fired. Without a tight fit, the sabot spins but the bullet slips leading to instability. I can not tell you if yours are too tight or not. Sounds like you are in canada, where its really cold right now, so I imagine that loading could be tough when you get to camp.
I'd probably do this. Before going, I'd test the PB's with 70 grains 777 and if they grouped well 2" high at 50, I'd try 75 yards, then 100 yards. If you group 4" to 5" at 100 yards then you should be good to 100 yards. You may alsowant to test the load with the barrel at thetemperatures you'll be hunting at just to see how a very cold clean barrel changespoint of impact.
Aim double lung on the deer.
Good luck