drh1175
A couple of things I would like to comment on in your paragraph...
I just bought a new .50 Z5 omega last night. I bought some of the Jim Shockeys gold Sticks and The Rem Kleen bore muzzleloading primers. What is everyones favorte bullets for this gun.
Telling you exactly what I believe... I you have the money to spend on the $1 per shot bullet the best bullet available is the Nosler Partion - either the .451/260 grain, .451/300 grain or the .458/300 grain (45-70 rifle bullet). These three bullets are excellent performers from your muzzleloader. Nosler's have been around forever (well at least the 42 years that I have been using them)and are time proven. They do not have the modern sharp point or greatBC but they will shoot with any bullet and more importatntly they will perform over the widest margin of velocity.
If the expense per shot is a little much - then the Speer Bonded Gold Dot series of bullets is the next best alternative... "A Poor Man's Nosler" The Speer Gold Dot .452/300 grain has a BC of.232 and since it is bonded it holds together and it will penetrate.
As you can tell I am not much on designer bullets...
bought a pack of 245Gr powerbelts. and my kit came with some Shockwaves.
Unless you are required to use Power Belts - I would really stay away from that bullet... it isa great easy loader but often there are questionable results on the other end. Remember the Power Belt is a "conical" with a gas seal or an elongated lead round ball. The "shockwaves" on the other hand are a real bullet and shoot very accurately, but also there are reports of questionable results.... the SW is one of those designer bullets that I have already talked about.
Also the experience Muzzleloader at my gun store said to crush the powder sticks.
It has been advised to crush the sticks somewhat so that you might reduce the airspace between the bullet and the breech plug. They have to use the square design because Hodg ownes the pattent on round pellets.
I would suggest to you that as soon as you feel comfortable shooting loose powder make the switch... cheaper and you are able to work a load an accurate load.
The last thing you might want to look into is a 25 ACP breech plug conversion... MLKieth suggested this for several years while I ignored it- but it is so much cleaner it is well worth the investment... PR has a ton of other reasons to buy one - but i have never seen a difference in accuracy between the the 209 and the 25 ACP.
Hey! good luck with the new gun and certainly have fun with it... if you are a little like me you will end up shooting and hunting with it as much as you can... in fact there will not be enough time in the year to shoot....