Any 'modern' muzzle loaders here?

[RED]

I hadn't shot a muzzle loader since 1958 when I had the pleasure of shooting my step brother's .36 cal "squirrel rifle that was made about 1870, that is until last week. I now own a inline bolt gun made in 2001 by CVA and it is a hoot to shoot. I am using 250 gr. TC Shock Wave sabots ahead of 100 gr's of IMR White Hots and getting clover leafs at 50 yards. At $1.50 each, I would rather shoot some cheap cast lead Minie balls probably ahead of one 50 gr. WH pellet.

My question? Where can you buy swaged or cast .490 Minie's?

[cwartyman]

Minies probably will not work as the rifling will be too deep on an inline and you end up loosing accuracy due to gas leakage. Better bet would be to find sabots and shoot pistol bullets out of it. Your twist rate is fast on an in line, usually in the 1 in 24 twist so going with a conical bullet will probably not give you good results. The sabot combo would need a .452 sized bullet in .50 cal but the sabot will be .50 and acts as a gas check and imparts the spin to the bullet. In lines as far as bullets go are a totally different animal than say a hawken with a 1 in 48 twist or a rifle musket with a 1 in 66 or 1 in 72 twist.
mack

[RED]

Thanks guy. I knew you are not supposed to shoot round balls because of the faster twist of the inlines but wondered about the minie bullets. I guess shooting about anything today is going to be expensive.

[ohiosam]

I've shot some patched RBs out of my Encore with 50 grains of BH209. Plent accurate for some plinking. Try them, you won't hurt anything.

[joem]

You could always start casting your own.

[paul v]

I also run 250 gr shock waves backed with 150 grs of triple 7 pellets. In my traditions with a 1 in 28" twist, I can get 2 to 3 inch groups at 75 yds off a rest.