As I had mentioned yesterday, I had an urge to shoot a side lock, so I took the .54 caliber Traditions Deerhunter with me. I wanted to try shooting some round balls with the blue jeans patches I cut up to see if I could get this rifle to group some round balls. So much for that idea. I couldn't even get the ball started in the bore with a blue jean patch. So I lubed some pillow tick patches with bore butter and began at 25 yards to sight the scope in. I never even bothered adjusting the scope because the round balls shot so poorly.
After 6 targets I gave up and decided to shoot some MMP Red .451-.452/.54 caliber sabots with some .45 caliber XTP's. I had not tried these sabots before and almost fainted when I saw the results.






Here is where it got real interesting. I was shooting 80 grains fff Goex under a red MMP .451-.452/.54 caliber sabot with a 240 grain, .45 caliber XTP. The first target is at 50 yards.

So I moved to 100 and shot this. This is a three shot group. The third shot nicked the paper right where the arrow is pointing. This group measures 7/8''.

After that I adjusted the scope to bring the group closer to the bulls eye and attempt the impossible, better the last group. This group measures 15/16''.

I believe the group on target number 8 is my best ever with a muzzle loader at 100 yards. I guess I was being a little unrealistic thinking I could better it on target #9. But it was still a pretty darn good group.

I never shot a rifle like yours. It seemed strange it would not shoot the roundball, but you gave it a fair test. Have you tried conical bullets?

I haven't tried any conical's yet, but I have thought about it. I don't have any in .54 caliber, what would you suggest?

For starters some REAL conical and maybe some maxiball. Hornady Great Plains might also shoot well too.

That's a fine group on target 8 Pluckit, and a good hunting load too. But it sure seems a shame to have to shoot a 240 grain .45 caliber bullet from a .54. I would give the Great Plains conicals a try myself.

Target #9 looked good to me too! That is some fine shooting!

i wouldnt go with a big heavy maxiball in that traditions. The stocks are famous for cracking under heavy recoil. I think the 300gr REAL would be a fun option to check out.

target #9 really is a nice group. And that would be a good deer load.

I always thought the best all around barrel for sabots was a 28 inch, 1 in 28 inch twist barrel. I'll be darned if this 24 inch, 1 in 48 inch twist barrel doesn't out shoot all my longer barrels with a faster twist. This Traditions Deerhunter keeps surprising me. That's the second bullet sabot combination that it shot great with. Just in case anyone wasn't aware of it already, this side lock is sporting a scope. It's has a Thompson Center 3x9x40 on it. Unlike the Devil, I'm sure I couldn't shoot that well with open sights at 100 yards.
Another thing that surprised me was how at 50 yards, the point of impact was about 2 1/2 inches above the point of aim. And was even higher, 4 1/2 inches, at 100 yards. I thought that about 2 inches high at 50 yards would have put it just about dead on at 100 yards.

I feel the same way. I bought the rifle to shoot round balls with. Oh well, at least it's good for something. Real good as a matter of fact.