.45 Bullet options
 

I have a .45 muzzleloader barrel coming for a Contender and am trying to figure out some bullet options. I know there's the usuals - SST's, Gold Dots, XTP's, etc. What I'm wondering is if anyone has tried any of the .358-.411 rifle bullets. I would think any of them that are designed to work in the 2000-2200 fps range should also work well out of a muzzleloader, right?
Also what would be a couple of good conicals for the .45?

As for conical the Real bullet has work well for us.
As for the rifle bullets you are talking about you have to watch the minimum muzzle velocity carefully there are a number of bullets that's true of that's why some people get penciling with some of the more common muzzle loader bullets.

I've talked with some people who have tried, and mostly failed. In general the .358 rifle bullets are too long to stabilize out of a muzzy. I know a guy who has sort of made it work with a 1 in 20 twist .45. I've personally tried the .357 Dead Centers (195 grain) and they shot pretty good. I haven't done enough long range shooting to see if they fly flatter than the 200 SST.

It never hurts to experiment, but if you are just looking for a flat-shooting, accurate all-around bullet, I'd recommend the 200 SST/Shockwave which I have used with much success. I've also had good luck with the 200 XTP with lighter powder charges and the 185 Lehigh with more powder, tho neither are as flat shooting as the SST.

The .45 is more for playing around and experimenting with. I'm thinking about getting a .45 SMI barrel in 1 in 20" for the Pro Hunter later on. Figured it might be fun to be able to do some side by side comparison to see how much twist affects accuracy. But that costs money so I'm not sure if that will actually happen or not.

SK, do You own a .45 at all. A .45 will kill anything a .50 will, and get there faster.:busted:

No this is my first .45. I'm not worried about the 170-200 gr. bullets for whitetails. I was more thinking if I ever get the opportunity to go back to WY and go elk hunting, what would I use?

You would use these Barnes bullet or a conical for elk in Wyoming.

Where will you hunt? I've strayed into Wyoming whilst deer hunting in the black hills, and seen a plenty of elk track.

Wow, they're sure proud of those.

I grew up in Douglas, WY. There's some decent elk hunting about 45 mins. south of there, otherwise I would go up to the Bighorns around Buffalo, WY. There's a lot of elk and some moose there. Bears too.

for conicals, lee reals or lee improved minnies would be what i would try right off hand. i know this one will get me in trouble, look around on the net, you may get lucky and find deals on powerbelts, 270 to 300gr range. with all, no more then 85gr of 2f powder for the reals, minnies or powerbelts.

I shot a legitimate 200+ lb buck with a 80 gr charge of Pyrodex P under a Hornady 200 gr XTP with a Harvester CR sabot. Shot was around 70 yds and he only went about 50-60 before piling up. This is out of my 1:28 GM LRH barrel. I have a .45 Seneca that I am still playing with. I tried it with Maxiball but they were entirely too loose.

Last year I took a 170 pound 10 point buck with 80 grains T7 and a 185 Lehigh. The bullet hit no vital organs other than the liver, from what I could tell, but the buck just stumbled a few yards and collapsed. If legal, I wouldn't doubt that the 200 Lehigh or 195 Barnes with 100 - 120 grains of T7 or BH209 would work pretty good...

200 gr. shockwaves 90 gr of pyrodex and they fall down.