45 cal Ml

[rickyp]

I just got a Thompson center G2 45 caliber muzzle loader and don't know a lot about it. I have always had 50 calibers.

I have a bag of 45 caliber sabots from MMP for 355-357 diameter bullets and I am thinking about using some .357 158 GR hp bullets for deer hunting. and they clime that with 80 grs of powder that the bullet is going around 1900 FPS and that I shouldn't go over 90 grs or powder. This is over 400 FPS more then the 357 magnum does out of a rifle, So I am thinking about using the 80 gs of blackhorn209 and some 158 gr HP bullets for deer. But I am not sure how it will work for the deer. I normally don't use such a light bullet for deer hunting.


please tell me all you know about the 45 caliber Muzzle loader

[SOMDSHOOT]

.50 sabot loads use a .45 cal bullet with a .50 cal sabot. Basically what you have with a .45 cal muzzleloader is simply a smaller bullet and sabot. If you used a .45 cal lead buffalo bullet for example, it would be the same as using a .50 cal sabot load. There's nothing different to know about the two, other than you have a smaller bullet. We know .45 cal is not that popular and for obvious reasons.

Personally, I wouldn't use a .45 cal past 50 yards, and I'd make sure to have a big 300 grain bullet, if I'm going to use a smaller diameter, it better make up for it's loses with heavier weight.

I have no issues with you using a .357 / 158g, but, I sure hope you're close to a deer. I used 80 grains of Pyrodex RS with a 240g XPT/HP in my BuckHunter pistol and that wasn't worth a (explicative) and that's being polite.

[rickyp]

What are the obouas reasons?
Faster and flatter shooting round less recoil. A .357 158 gr bullet going 1900 fps is in the same class as a 30;30. With 150 gr bullet.
I tend to keep all my shots less the 100 yards and closer to 50 . A 357. Mag round out of a revolver is going arounf 1200 fps and is quite capable of taking a deer but you must make a good shot and be somewaht close
I am looking for like what bullets everyone is using and what ranges. What load you are using.

[jimbobborg]

At the speed mentioned get some XTPs, they're designed to work at those speeds and won't blow up.

Jim

[rickyp]

I am thinking about going to the barns 200 gr copper bullets when I get the money to stock up on them as I have had great results with the 250 gr in my 50 caliber rifle and pistol.
But right now I have in my stock about 95 sabots desinged for 158 gr .357 bullets so I want to use them up and I have 30 of the T/C 155 gr .401 bullets in the sabots to try.

According to the t/c book I can get around 2130 FPS with 150 grs of powder and an a 180 gr bullet. This puts it in the class of a 35 remington. so it should be more then needed for deer around here and I am thinking about keeping the load to around 90 to 100 grs of powder to keep it in the range of 1800 fps with with about 1350 foot pounds of energy I am thinking this should be good for deer around here.

I know most of this is pending on how well this barrel shoots.

[IndispensableDestiny]

I have chrono'ed 158 gr. Buffalo Bore .357 Magnum rounds at about 1950 fps out of my Marlin 1894C. I have used it on deer, with devastating effect.

The bullets appear to be Speer Gold Dots. You may want to give those a try.

[hvymax]

If you think about all of the 45-70,45-100 long range exploits this is up to 45-150. 150-250yds with a good scope should be no sweat

[rickyp]

the diffrance in the 45-70 and above compared to the 45 cal muzzle loader is the bullet weight. the normal bullet out of a 45-70 is a 405 gr bullet and can go up to 500 gr the 45 ML has a lighter buller in the 200 gr range. the heaver bullet will hit harder and have more kenetic energy at all ranges.