Tazman,

My bullet of choice is the CVA Power Belt/Big Bore Black Belt aero-tip version in 348gr. These are the most accurate bullets I've shot from my gun and to top it off.....you don't even need a bullet starter with them - all you need is a finger and then the gun's ramrod to finish seating it over the powder. You can also get these in a 295gr version if you like, it's just that my gun tends to prefer the heavier (longer) bullets

Unfortunately, these bullets ain't too cheap - typically going for $12 - $15 for a card of 15 bullets. To start off, see if you can get a box or two of the Hornady 300gr Magnum XTP sabot bullets - these shoot well too and only go for around $8 for a box of 20. I would start my load workups at 90gr of powder with the XTPs & 295gr Power Belts and at 100gr for the 348gr Power Belts. Workup in 5gr increments and see which gives you the best groups.

As far was which powder to use, I recommend using the Cleanshot loose powder (ffg) if you can get it. It burns much cleaner than anything else and its power is just as potent as Pyrodex RS or Select. Now, if the place you're going to has the new Hodgdon Triple 7 powder, you might want to try it too. They claim that it can be cleaned up with warm water and to be about 10% more powerful than the normal Pyrodex or Cleanshot.

When sighting this gun in, remember that muzzleloading ballistics are a little different than cartridge stuff. You'll probably need to sight in about 2" high at 50yds in order to be dead zero at 100yds.

Good luck!

"Every moving thing that liveth, I give unto you as meat" (Gen 9:3)

Trust God..........but keep your powder dry!