What unit are you hunting in WA that allows jacketed bullets out of a smokepole?

Keith

Any unit.

Here is #3 in the Muzzleloader rules.

3. In addition to the above requirements, it is
unlawful to participate (hunt) in a muzzleloading
hunting season using a firearm that does
not meet the following specifications for a
muzzleloader. As in the past sabots are allowed.
Any type of projectile is allowed.

They changed that 2 or 3 years ago I think.

No kidding? Guess I'm behind the times... I've been bowhunting deer/elk the last 2 years so haven't payed as much attention.

I knew sabot's were legal, just didn't know about the jacketed bullets... When are they going to allow scopes?

It's a good thing, I can't tell you how many animals I heard of shot in the 9 years of muzzleloading (especially elk) that were never found after being shot with a lead bullet....

Guess I'll have to go and buy me a tray of jacketed bullets and really get the job done!

Keith

I hope they never allow scopes. I think the primitive weapon thing is fun. I think the reason they changed it was as you said, the lead projectile softness attributed to wasted dead animals.

But yes Keith you get the fun of trying new types of bullets in your gun. I had a blast (pun) trying different bullets in my gun.

You shooting a bighorn? I'm assuming I can just get the same bullets I have, just jacketed.... I'll have to try that out someday assuming I go back to the smokepole. Perhaps with deer I guess but one will never get my bow out of my hands for elk... Nothing beats it...

Keith

I wouldn't want to see scopes legal either, but wouldn't mind if they lifted the open breech rule. But then again my bighorn shoots so well I don't think I would switch to a crack open style ML anyhow. Anyone with a bighorn looking for a new round to shoot should try a 300 grain barnes mz expander with 110 grains of powder. I have played with lots of combos and nothing flies through my rifle like that does.

I wasn't suggesting scopes either.. Keeps a lot of people rifle hunting!!

What kind of grouping are you getting?

I shoot 150 grains of 777 pellets with 295 grain (lead) powerbelt out of both of my stainless bighorns...

I'd say I was shooting a 2.5-3" 3 shot group. I might pick up some of the jacketed 295 grain powerbelts and see how they do. Personally, I never lost an animal with the lead bullets but have heard plenty of stories....

Keith

I also shoot a stainless bighorn. Off hand it depends on how shaky I am that day, always within 3-4 in group at 100 yds, 4in I would not be happy with. At the bench last week I shot through the same bullseye hole at 50 yds everytime, shot a 2 in group at 100yds and a 3 in group at 150yds. Those barnes bullets made a world of difference for me. I personally don't care for pellets. They will misfire much easier in damp weather, and just don't have the punch that loose 777 powder does. In my experience 150 grains is too much and causes in accuracy. I have tried different powder charges and 110 shoots best for me. But every bore is different as is every shooter.

The Barnes MZs are pretty much the gold standard it sounds like. I am going to switch to them next year. This year I am sticking with the Hornady SST/Shockwave because that is what I sighted in with.

I was shooting the Precision Dead center bullets the last 2 years. They worked well on the button buck I shot on the last day of the late season in '08. A friend turned me on to the barnes stuff. I love the solid copper bullets.

What kind of powder you shooting?

This is the first year for jacketed bullets.

My lead bullet killed my elk pretty dead this year.Again. But I do have a bunch of Hornady's I want to try out

777

I am shooting Pyrodex Pellets.

T7 loose.