i remember that article from years back. I guess they cant read " do not use smokeless powder" written on the box of the Powerbelts LOL. Soft lead and being pushed that fast, its just going to splatter.

Getting dialed in for muzzleloading season during 2nd - 3rd RIFLE season. missed the draw and am stuck hunting Bull elk. Ah well, always next year to put the Pref. points to use in my normal area.

Using Blackhorn209.

frontiergander, where do you like to hunt elk?

i hunt the southern part of San Isabel Ntl Forest around walsenburg colorado. Of course this year i am stuck in unit 85 around Stonewall Colorado area.

frontiergander wrote:

i hunt the southern part of San Isabel Ntl Forest around walsenburg colorado.

Thanks a beautiful area. I've done some Boy Scouting activities in that area. I'm going to start hunting elk in Northern New Mexico.

I use Blackhorn 209. I did use 777 pellets but tired of cleaning it after every shot at the range.

joda23 wrote:

I did use 777 pellets but tired of cleaning it after every shot at the range.

My shooting buddy that is trying to get me to hunt muzzle loader with him just tried 777 and switched back to 209. 777 was so dirty it was clogging up his primer port and he had to clean is gun after every shot.

Tried 777 on both of my muzzeloaders and said the heck with it, the last time I was almost certain the muzzle blast came after the bullet went out!! The barrel was layered with powder. Powder was 1 month old and primers (209) were within 3 months old. And yes I went by the specs.

Anyway went back to Pyrodex from now on. And since going back to Pyrodex, i have not had a problem.

The heck with 777, I got enough excitement in my life.

I know I shouldn't say this but, I found smokeless substitutes for my black powder rifle cartridge (.45-70), why would it be so hard to provide a smokeless powder that worked as a substitute for black powder in a muzzle loader? My smokeless loads are lower peak pressure than the black powder. Makes me think I should buy a Savage ML if I get one just so I could use smokeless powder.

I have been muzzle loading for along time and have NEVER Found the BP substitutes very useful at all. I will always use Goex BP. Have to clean the rifles/shotguns anyway, why dink around with "substitutes" when you can have the real thing?

Savage has a nice muzzle loader that can use smokeless powder but it appears most states only allow BP and substitutes.

Stovepipe

Back in July I was interested in the Savage Model: 10 ML-II for just under $700.00. Since the local game warden is a neighbor of mine I asked him what his thoughts were.

He verified it by calling the office and said smokeless powder was prohibited in a bp rifle, but could use the bp or substitutes but no smokeless powder.

So, my next question is why are they producing this rifle when you cannot take advantage of the smokeless loads???

Ominivision1 wrote:

why are they producing this rifle when you cannot take advantage of the smokeless loads???

First, not all States prohibit the use of smokeless powder in muzzle loaders, e.g., Texas for one - there must be others.

Second, if you look up the load data, with the use of smokelss powders, the Savage 10ML provides a level of knock-down power not seen in muzzleloaders using blackpowder. It will match modern high-pressure big-bores!

SJ, I again get the impression that Texas and the states on the border of Mexico have to fight to keep some freedom in the US and alltough you're outnumbered, your atitude makes up for a lot. There should be more "cowboys" in the world of today. Thanks for reminding how it can be.

All I hunt with is my .54 GPR. It opens here in 2 weeks and i am pumped!