T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

Ok, I can get about 2" at 50 yds with the T/C Maxi-Hunter 350 Grain out of my CVA Bobcat. That is with 80 grs powder, and I am going to be trying some more with 90 and 100 grains here soon. The Maxi-Hunter is designed for "Maximum Expansion," but how far will it PENETRATE? The target for me will be elk this year (if I can get a tag of course, after being turned down for 3 years, lol). I have shot the Buffalo Ball et, but came to the conclusion it will not have the weight I want for a good penetration on elk. So, I have started to work with the T/C's. Any help would be great from people who have had experience with this bullet, whether on game or in other penetration tests. Thanks.

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

Maxihunters has penetrated every deer I shot, but I don't know about elk. They didn't expand much. I would go with the maxiballs. Maxihunters are all I used to use. I was pushing them with 90gr of pyrodex out of my inline and same load for a old sidelock I used to have. Open sighted I got around 4" at 50 yards. But my vision is less than good.

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

The Maxiballs were the original... deep penetration but little expansion. Then came the Maxihunters.... more expansion but less penetration. If I were hunting elk with my 1-48" Deerhunter ML, I would use these below in 385 grain.

Buffalo Bullet

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

I have tested the 350 gr. Maxi Hunters in wet phone books, and they provided almost exactly the same penetration as the 385 gr. Buffalo Bullets. And I have shot a couple of elk with the 385 gr. Buffalo Bullet/100 grains of Pyrodex. They were ideal for a broadside rib shot - wound up mushroomed out to a big frontal diamter, just under the hide on the off side. So, indirectly, I would advise that the Maxi Hunters would work just great - but shoot for ribs, and stay away from the shoulder.

Having said that, there are some better elk rounds out there - if they are legal and if your gun will shoot sabots. Roskoe

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

Roskoe - I have tried some Nosler Partition Sabots out of my CVA. They were extremely difficult to load and the recoil was absolutely HORRIBLE!! I can start most lead bullets, including the Maxi-hunter and the Buffalo Ball e-t with my finger. The same with round balls. I also cannot use scopes, which limits me to under 100 yds anyway, I feel even more comfortable at closer than that, probably more like about 75 yds max. That should be no problem if I can actually draw a September cow tag this year, lol. I have not tried the Goex and Pyrodex side-by-side, though I think I will do that also and see what I can get accuracy wise.

Thanks for the replies.

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

I called CVA to ask about rounds for an older gun and they said CVA Powerbelts shoot the best out of most their 1:48 guns.

I will tell you they shoot better than the big conicals out of my 48.

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

Oh yeah, I forgot about those. I still have a few of them. The ultimate accuracy is not of a MAJOR concern, as I will be limited in the distance of my shots anyway, mainly by the energy carried by the bullet, and actually being able to SEE the target well enough to make a clean shot. If I can shoot 2" at 50 yds, I am pretty happy, as I am far sighted and its hard enough for me to line up the sights anyway.

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

You might consider a peep sight. I am far sighted and over 65 and I find the peep sight helps to get me a good sight picture as well as a good target picture. You might be able to use a scope with no magnification; have you asked about that??? 295gr. Powerbelts with the aerotip penetrate rib cage and pass through elk (at least mine did this year) with only 90gr. of Black Mag'3 pushing it (was about a 90 yard shot).

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

I can't use a scope at all, the regs specifically state open or peep sights ONLY. I may put some peep sights on it. Just last year, I put a set of Lyman Hunter sights on it, which greatly helped out over the original open sights that came with the gun.

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

I can't use a scope either on elk muzzle loader hunts in Idaho - I went with a peep sight and really like it. It has the advantage of very quick target acquistion - my eye isn't trying to do the impossible and focus on rear sight, front sight and target all at the same time.

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

I would also like to add my endorsement to the peep sight. Farsighted and 53 years old, I can still shoot the peep almost as well as a low powered scope. Another modification that has really worked out well for me is the substitution of a green fiber optic rod for the red/orange one normally found on muzzleloader front sights. This color is easier to see in low light, and less overpowering in bright light.

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

I used T/C conicals in a CVA side lock and T/C Thunder Hawk in line for 15+ yrs.
They provided best groups(1.5" - 2" scoped freehand at 65yrds) of anything I tried back then. I later switched from 320gr Maxi ball to 275gr Maxi Hunters simply to gain proper penetration and expansion, out to 100yrds. I used 90gr BP in CVA & 95gr BP in the T/C. The 275gr served me and Deer size game very well,not to mention there cheap and a breeze to load. I still have 1 box of each bullet.
Like Triple stated a 385gr would be more suitable for Elk.

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

The bullets that I have used and killed elk with are buffalo bullets, maxiballs, and powerbelts. Sabots are not legal where I hunt (Colorado). Aerotip powerbelts are my first choice in my gun because they are accurate and effective. However, they are expensive.

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

i say go with the good ole maxi ball. i called thompson center and talked to a fellow a couple years back and asked there opinion on big bears and they prefered the plain old maxi balls. i personaly hate peep sites. at dusk and dawn they dont work . my vote is for a fiber optic "V" type site.

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

To all you [us] old ,farsighted ,geezers, either make or check out the pinhole attachments that either clip on your glasses frames or mount on a cap/hat brim.
Some have adjustable and /or interchangeable hole size, works from quick running shots to serious bench sighting in sesions, nothing optical [ glass] involved and nothing attaches to the gun.
I have good results with the Lee REAL bullets I cast in .45 and .50, they are also available in .54 and .58, instructions say to use only soft lead but I have no more trouble loading them when I use ww's.
I just tumble lube them with liquid alox and go shoot.
Don:D

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

Good advice thus far.

The bobcat being such a light rifle, you may find that the heavier the bullet the more violent the recoil. Just FYI.

I'll add:

Hornady Great Plains 385 or 410grain conical (www.hornady.com)
No Excuse 460 or 495grain conical (http://members.aol.com/noexcusesb/).

With or without an Oxyoke wonderwad. I find better oin average accuracy and velocity with a wad.

;)

RE: T/C Maxi-Hunter, Maxi-Ball?
 

charlie brown,

I did some testing with my 50 cal. underhammer this week, someting maybe you can use.

I have moved out to 100 yards for my testing and also use a scope. [just for testing, can't see sh!t without it!] After testing is done , I will be using my glow in the dark peep setup. But to find if one load is better than another the scope really helps!

I am using a 27" barrel with 1 in 30 twist.
Goex black powder.
CCI caps
3 shot groups.

410 Hornady Great Plains with MMP sub-base

90fff-2 9/16
115ff-2 5/16


TC 370grain Maxi, lubed with Bore Butter

115ff-2 1/8

On the maxi balls, I cut the fingers off a green sabot and also used a thin .025 card board in between.

Powder, sabot, card, and bullet.

BS