sabot bullets in sidelocks

[daerca574]

My stepdad gave me and my wife two sidelocks for chrismas and homemade pistol bullets with sabots and 3ffg pioneer powder. I only shot highpower rifles up until he showed me the process of loading and cleaning. I believe he told me both rifles have 1-32 twist, he told me the nipples needed to be replaced because half the time the gun wouldnt go off so I ordered two new spitfires from cabelas. Deer season opens this coming saturday here in kansas so I plan on going out today to make sure the guns go off without any problems since the new nipple replacement. Both guns had two different sized nipples when he gave them to me one musket nipple and one number 11 on my wifes .50 cal, by the way the othere is a .54 cal, anyway I but number 11s on both guns so I only have to carry one size caps for both guns and because I didnt know the difference prior to ordering. I just want to know if I have a good setup with the combination of components, he told me 50 grains of powder in my wifes .50 and 90 grains in my .54. Any adfice would be great since I dont know anyone around where I live that shoots muzzleloaders that could give me any pointers.

 

[rebel727]

Sabots don't work in my 1:48 twist. Don't matter what powder charge I use they all tumble.

 

[Lone Carabiner]

Powder charge should be about 70-90 in the .50. I use 70 with a double PRB load, have shot higher charges but accuracy fell off. I have used a sabot with pistol bullets in my .50 with 1-48 twist, 70 gr. charge. They shot well, but offer no advantage over a double PRB load at the range I hunt.
When you charge with powder it is a good idea to whack the breech area with the palm of your hand a couple times to 'settle' the charge and knock powder into the drum flash hole. Good luck and good shooting :thumbsup:

 

[roundball]

My stepdad gave me and my wife two sidelocks for chrismas and homemade pistol bullets with sabots and 3ffg pioneer powder. I only shot highpower rifles up until he showed me the process of loading and cleaning. I believe he told me both rifles have 1-32 twist, he told me the nipples needed to be replaced because half the time the gun wouldnt go off so I ordered two new spitfires from cabelas. Deer season opens this coming saturday here in kansas so I plan on going out today to make sure the guns go off without any problems since the new nipple replacement. Both guns had two different sized nipples when he gave them to me one musket nipple and one number 11 on my wifes .50 cal, by the way the othere is a .54 cal, anyway I but number 11s on both guns so I only have to carry one size caps for both guns and because I didnt know the difference prior to ordering. I just want to know if I have a good setup with the combination of components, he told me 50 grains of powder in my wifes .50 and 90 grains in my .54. Any adfice would be great since I dont know anyone around where I live that shoots muzzleloaders that could give me any pointers.

The 1:32" twist is made for conicals & sabots so that should be fine for what you want..but you're out of time to do much experimenting at a range and various sabot/bullet combos can be finicky depending on the rifle, etc.

If it was me right now and no time left to speak of, I'd go buy a couple boxes of TC Maxi-Hunters for each caliber, sight them in, and go deer hunting...reduce the 3F powder charge 15% below the published 2F data for those Maxi-Hunters.

Then you have more time you can experiment with different types & styles of other projectiles...my .02 cents

 

[Pittsburghunter]

I will also add if you can find real black powder that usually cures most ignition problems. At the very least try some Triple Se7en if you can't try real black powder.

 

[Mad Professor]

Besides bad nipples fouling in the breach can cause ignition problems too. I'd give both guns a good cleaning with soapy hot water before working up a load.

 

[Lone Carabiner]

Yeah, clean that flash hole in the nipple drum :thumbsup: