ORIGINAL: CBourgeois
Guys I really thank you all for the comments and help, I will not give up on the Muzzleloader I just enjoy it too much! I was very happy with shots and placement, with my .270 Rem and 270WSM and 7MM Mag I have become custom to shoulder shot where I do NOT have to even think of a blood trail because 99.9 have all dropped where they stood, I guess from reading and listening to others I decided to try and take the lungs/heart shots. As I said above I did get full penatration and full pass through, while cleaning the deer I did find a large piece of lung material blocking the exit hole BUT that should not have prevented blood at the intial point of impact, and I said they were in a food plot with large leaf plants such as Rape and turnips and NO BLOOD was to be found.
I will read much more and decide which bullets to use for the next time I decide to start packing it again, as far as accuracy the gun is SUPER and I have 100% confidence in the shots I take, I guess I just put too much stock in the 245 grain hollow point. I guess like all new adventures we have to be taught each lesson and learn all we can, I just hate that not recovering a deer is the key point to my lessons. One KEY lesson is that I will NOT be using PB's from this time forward!!
What about the Triple 7 pellets, is the powder that much better than the pellets and since I am only using 2 pellets should I increase to either 130 grains or even 150 grains? I have the T/C Encore that is the magnum which is rated for 150 grains of powder?
With that said PLEASE keep me informed of any information you can throw at me!!
Many Thanks again!
GOOD SAFE HUNTING TO YOU ALL!!
If you want to anchor a deer right there then shoot any of the following bullets:
Nosler Partition (either .458 rifle, SabotLoader shoots those, or .451 Hand Gun bullets, I shoot those) here is a URL:
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0011545350
Speer Gold Dot (SL calls them poor man's partition, bonded bullet) I use them in my FL they are only $16 for 50. Here is a URL:
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000213974
Any Barnes Bullet (.451 XPB Hand Gun bullet, .458 X Bullet, .458 Origonal Barnes, Expander MZ or TMZ). Here are the URLs (I just bought some today):
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0003545843
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0003550025
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0003545162
TC Shockwave (bonded is best) UR:
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000308215
All of them will hold up to bone and shots at difficult angles. I shoot a Crushed Rib sabot in my Omega and Knight Disc and my TC FlintLock.
You can try the suppled sabot with the bullets, but you need something tight for accuracy. So buy some MMP HPH 12s, 24s, 3petal EZ, some Orange sabots for .458 bullets and some Harvester Crushed Rib sabots:
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00072H15045BR
here are the MMP 12s (I think they are, since they are maginum):
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0021150045HPH
So there ya go. Best Wishes on your bullet selection.
Chap Gleason