Since i already knew which powder and sabot it preferred i decided to try a cheaper bullet of the same weight.

The 225gr FTX should be moving well over 2300fps and recoil was reasonable in the sub 7lb gun.

First 3 shots after a primer fouling and bore sighting.


Scope adjustment...BAM...right where i wanted it.


Since the 260gr PT Gold has seen some interest lately i decided to try it next. These are the first 5 shots with it. The first two were with a little less powder and loaded kind loose so i only shot 2.


I knew it could do better so i went back to the higher charge and knurled them upto about .453 which fit perfect.

260gr PT Gold at about 2300fps and it seems it liked something. This was my 2nd group ever from the NULA and it was shot by 3 different people.

Three on the left by 3 different shooters.


Only 80 yards and on a sled but i think its a pretty good start and that 260gr PT would still have about 1300fpe at 300 yards. Sighted in an inch high at 80 it should be about 7" low at 200.

I think i could get used to this. Breach is nearly spotless and this powder is SUPER clean burning even by smokeless standards.


And now im going to relax and clean it IF i feel like it.

That is really some impressive shooting. I have seen center fire rifles that do not shoot that well.

I have owned a few of Melvin's rifles over the years. His shop is only a few miles from my home. He has been doing work on our rifles since I was a kid(over 40 years ago). He was also a school teacher while he was building his gun building business.

I have never owned one of his MZ's. But if he put the same effort into them that I have seen him put in some other rifles-then you got a goodun!!

Which powder are you using?? It looks like VV, but I can't see the fine print. Tom.

I was using VV N110 and just using a Lee dipper too. Its the main recommended powder by Melvin and very popular in the Savage too. I did check the dipper against my scale first and i was throwing just a tiny bit less than the conversion card stated. It is by far the smoothest feeling ML barrel ive tried when loading a sabot and the trigger is better than any i have ever owned.

I like it so much i might just have to see if he will still make a 45cal but i want a faster twist than he was offering. He will order a custom twist barrel but ive heard he stopped making 45s.

Melvin can be difficult at times to deal with. But I have asked him for a few items over the years that he normaly did not do. The word please went a long way with him. That and some good straight talk. Just ask him what you want, I bet he would try to accomodate you. Tom.

HEAD0001

I did talk to Melvin after getting this one. Its one of the first 50 made. I told him i would like a 45cal with a 1-24 twist with a slightly heavier contour near the action and i promised i would not shoot sabotless with smokeless. He said he could do it but it would take several months to get it done. He didn't say he would but that he could if it was for sabot use only.

Im so impressed with it i may sell 2 guns (plus the Savage) and get a custom 45 instead of getting a 45 PacNor/McGowen for my Savage. Im fairly sure he will make one if i ask nicely. Im not chasing the 3000fps "dragon" or 2600fps sabotless so im happy with his recommended level of performance.

When i called i was REALLY impressed that i got him on the first 2 rings and complimented him on that level of service. He was extremely helpful with understanding the design and told me to call him anytime i had a question. His bolt/breach plug design is better than the Savage IMO but harder to load a primer.

Primers looked great even with nearly a max load. No visible signs of high pressure at all and i checked every one since im fairly new to smokeless MLing. His design really supports the primer extremely well IMO and ignition was flawless.

I used the new Knight/Lehigh range rod and man it worked well. You really get a nice feel of how the sabot is loading and barrel consistency/variations/fouling/ect. I thought my Knight barrels with a good JB polish felt good but this hand lapped Douglas barrel is like Knight and Day. I love my Knights too but this is really a sweet barrel.

First to last shot POI variations amazed me. N110 is really clean so fouling is minimal. The last 260gr shot was after a 40min cool down while we had birthday cake. I did blow 2 sabots while experimenting with a couple of other loads i know are a PITA to get to shoot well in a smokeless ML. I got a 50x40 load to shoot without blowing sabots but it is likely just a tad faster than BH209. It still needs more work to get any groups worth posting but shows a little promise as a fun load.

cayugad

Thanks, the really impressive part IMO is the 260gr group is one shot by me and 2 friends. The first two shots with the 260gr in that group had a full 15min of cool down and the last one was after roughly 40min. I did load each one and index the sabots so that was very consistent using the Knight Range Rod. I left the PowerRod on the gun on purpose too, just to simulate it in the field. Its turns out it is an original XS Sights rod too after i double checked the logo.

This is more of a testament of the equipment and to some extent the loading procedures. Any time i find a load that appears to shoot well for ME, i let at least one other shooter take a few shots too. I have a large amount of Chucks old load data so the ground work was already done. The little 225gr FTX is a hoot to shoot but not much of a deer bullet IMO. Im going to try the lighter 200gr FTX sometime because it is a much tougher bullet made for the 460 S&W at 2300fps. The 225gr is made for about 1300fps max and it was blowing big holes in the back of the heavy cardboard box i was using.

The 260gr PT Gold i had to try. No one on Dougs board seems to care about the Harvester PT Gold bullets. IMO that load is way too fast for close range but i bet it would be awesome past 200 yards. Plus its pretty cheap compared to other "pointy" bullets. Using subs it has shot great for me and many others so i was curious.

Ive got 2 videos of shooting it off of the sled that i will post after i edit them.

I actually talked to Melvin at the NRA show. He's a good guy and really set on his ways.

The groups you are shooting are excellent. That is what you would expect from a custom ML. I think they are around $1400.00 now. And yes, you got a great deal.

GM, that's some impressive shooting.

BTW i wanted to make something clear after a few PMs.

This gun is an approved SMOKELESS muzzleloader. You should NEVER use this powder or ANY smokeless in a non approved gun. And IMO you shouldn't even consider a SML if you are not comfortable with smokeless reloading either.

I thought these bullets would make an interesting topic since the FTX is a cheap pointy bullet and the 260gr PT Gold since it has been a popular bullet lately. I was interested in how far the PT could be pushed and still get good accuracy. I think its safe to assume it can shoot well at nearly any speed using subs. Performance on game will be another thread if i get the chance.