How easy it is to forget!!!
 

I've spent a lot of time the last several years trying to help my friend Gordy get Knight back on the map. From bullets, to breech plugs, to designing guns. And I think along with others help they got some pretty good new guns on the market today!!

In the mean time I forgot just how easy smokeless muzzleloading is. Last year I don't think I even took the NULA to the range. I think I just used 42grns of 4759 and a 275grn ballistic extreme and shot a Doe. That's been the standard load in that gun since I got it many years ago.

So today I wanted to do something totally different. I've never shot a Lehigh bullet in this gun. And I wanted to use a different powder. So I weighed out V N110 41grns by weight. The first bullet I tried was the 245grn Lehigh CF bullet. The 1/32 twist NULA would just not stabilize that bullet. So I switched to the 220grn Bloodline with a MMP sabot. The first thing I noticed I was blowing the Orange MMP sabots apart. So I switched to the Harvester short black and shot two shots. Well the bullet I'm using is a .458 and the short black harvesters are for .452 bullets. Now I do this all the time in Knights, but the NULA barrel is way to tight. So I'm back to using the MMP orange sabots. I know these sabots aren't good for smokeless and hot sub loads but I figured I'll see how well they group. I've never really cared about how the sabot look as long as the target looks good.

As you can see on the photos the 100 yard groups aren't great at all. But I didn't have any other sabots to try, and I didn't bring a scale to play around with different loads. But I'm 100% positive this is plenty good out to 250 yards with my ultimate slam scope.


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So this will be what I take to Ohio for a two day extended Rifle season after Christmas sometime. I also want to mention I got out my Chronagraphs because the recoil was so mild shooting this 220grn Bloodline. My average MV for 6 shots was 2478. That's amazing the speed with such little recoil.

Grouse, just stick a MMP sub base under the Orange sabot and things should be good to go. I think you said you had some sub bases correct? That is exactly what they were built for.

I am a bit surprised that the 245's wouldn't stabilize. But I can also understand why those stubby 220's do/ Those were nice clean holes in the paper.

Yes I do have those. I'm afraid if I don't shoot it again those sub bases will change poi???

Guess they might but you can check it after a day of hunting...

I found some more of the 220grn Bloodlines. I was afraid I gave them away. Look at the bullet in the sabot. Pretty short bullet, sorta like a XTP with far different results.

Grouse

That is really not that bad of fit - if you loader does not catch the ends of the sabot. MMP cut the inside of the tips to allow a little space and an aid in opening the sabot. The shorter fit of the bullet will allow the sabot to come off cleaner and faster.

Grouse, get you some Crush ribs (not the shorties) for those .458's. They work beautifully for my .458 lehighs out of my TC. I got a ton of them to load up for the SOCOM and found they shoot pretty dang sporty from my front stuffer as well. Aint legal here for deer (not an expanding design) which is incredibly stupid as I had them tested on some hogs with my SOCOM while I was down and the reports were amazing damage to the internals with little damage on entrance and exit to the meat. But anywho, give the long petal CR's a swing with them and you will probably find a winner.

I had a feeling those might work.

You mean these right?

I shot two shots at 225 yards 2 inches apart and quit. They will do fine for any range I'm gonna shoot at something.

BTW, a MMP 3P-EZ when using a .458 comes out to around .506-.507 loaded OD.

Yep dem right der. I damn near had to stand on my Ram rod and jump up and down on it to load them with the orange MMP's. Got the CR's and zippy doodle day! Around an 1.5" at 150yds with 110gr BH under them.

Great, thanks

Sabotloader's a good man, and he will appreciate your comments. Merry Christmas to you as well!!

So I'm assuming you already no the 250grn Bloodlines won't work either???

Nope, i was not sure at all.

Using a a 458 with a black crushrib though might be crazy tight in a NULA. Thats around .509 loaded OD.

If he is loading a 458 in the Orange sabot, I am sure he could load a .452 in a regular Harvester or a MMP HPH-24 or the thinner CR or 3P. But the smokeless load he is shooting might burn the sabot out. He does have the MMP Sub-Base that would solve that problem I believe.

Also he does at this point have it shooting very with the 220 and the Orange sabot. So I am thinking he is a bit hesitant to change anything because the Ohio trip is so close.

I hope this makes some sense. I should say I haven't reviewed the first post - I think he is using smokeless and at one time he was thinking BH-209

Oh, its easy to get a .452 to load in a NULA barrel. Its a piece of cake. Its the 458s i find challenging to shoot well. I use mostly the Harvester smooths and occasionally.... the MMP Short with undersized 45cal bullets.

I have yet to try the .458 220gr in mine but i bet it loads easier than the long 325gr FTX.

You make a good point with that!

The .458 bullets are no picnic to load. Next time Dave is making bullets, I might get him to make me some .457 for the Nula. Mike, I am gonna use smokeless in the Nula for Ohio two day rifle season.

The 220gr in .452 with a Harvester smooth black would really be worth a shot or .454 with a Crushrib. Ive resized 458s to .454 and used the crushrib in my Savage. I like them slightly better than the MMP Orange with a .458. Loaded OD is close but the Crushrib loaded easier.