Muzzleloaders?

renoboyd

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So I would have preferred to hunt by bow, but due to medical issues it appears that may not work. I would rather not just use CFR on plains game. Anyone out there use the standard 50 cal muzzle loaders? I would think it has plenty of stopping power...
 
I have used a 50 cal muzzleloader on 5 safaris. Good quality black powder has been getting harder and harder to acquire. I left the muzzleloader at home for the last safari. Finding powder is not a problem. Sanadex is easly acquired . Sanadex is very dirty and with 100 grains and a 275 grain bullet I was only getting 1400fps. Wano was better at 1700fps. And Swiss was the cleanest and most consistent. I never conographed the Swiss but it had to be at or near the wano based on sighting in and bullet drop observed. Problem 1 is the outfitter has to have the right license to have the powder . Problem 2 is finding someone who will transport the powder to the outfitter. Problem 3 is getting quality powder. Problem 4 is resighting in every time back to africa because I have never been able to get the same exact powder. Spending half a morning sighting in when I would rather be walking the bush looking for animals is kind of a drawback to bringing the muzzleloader. I looked into Shipping pellets over before the safari and the quote I got for the package was 1000.00. I never even found out who could even receive it. Until cabelas openes a store in joburg that is stocked with 777 pellets I will be using the CFR that I can sight in at home and feel full confidence in use. My dad has hunted South Africa with his crossbow. I have contemplated bringing one. Enjoy life we are only here for a short time.
 
I have used a 50 cal muzzleloader on 5 safaris. Good quality black powder has been getting harder and harder to acquire. I left the muzzleloader at home for the last safari. Finding powder is not a problem. Sanadex is easly acquired . Sanadex is very dirty and with 100 grains and a 275 grain bullet I was only getting 1400fps. Wano was better at 1700fps. And Swiss was the cleanest and most consistent. I never conographed the Swiss but it had to be at or near the wano based on sighting in and bullet drop observed. Problem 1 is the outfitter has to have the right license to have the powder . Problem 2 is finding someone who will transport the powder to the outfitter. Problem 3 is getting quality powder. Problem 4 is resighting in every time back to africa because I have never been able to get the same exact powder. Spending half a morning sighting in when I would rather be walking the bush looking for animals is kind of a drawback to bringing the muzzleloader. I looked into Shipping pellets over before the safari and the quote I got for the package was 1000.00. I never even found out who could even receive it. Until cabelas openes a store in joburg that is stocked with 777 pellets I will be using the CFR that I can sight in at home and feel full confidence in use. My dad has hunted South Africa with his crossbow. I have contemplated bringing one. Enjoy life we are only here for a short time.


Thank you for the reply. Excuse my newbee question but, is this to say that one cannot bring their own black powder substitute, like Trip 7? I really just thought that I could acquire a good muzzle loader and that would be an awesome plains game rifle.... If its such a hassle, and I want to do something else, I would consider a crossbow too.
 
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Ask your outfitter if they can get the pyrodex solids. 150 grains will move a 50 cal on down the line. Should be fine on PG. Brickburn on this site would likely know if what you need is available.
 
Ask your outfitter if they can get the pyrodex solids. 150 grains will move a 50 cal on down the line. Should be fine on PG. Brickburn on this site would likely know if what you need is available.

so it sounds like i cant bring my own...
 
Renoboyd...............while it is not legal to bring your own black powder, it is certainly possible to increase the challenge by using a more primitive weapon: a crossbow, as previously mentioned, is a good choice. I hunted with one in 2012, RSA, and had a great time. Another thing I have done 4 times is to hunt with an older cartridge gun. I used a Martini-Henry once, and a 45-70 the other times. While I have used black, synthetic, and smokeless in the 45-70 it may be difficult to duplicate now. I reclaimed the black from old Martini-Henry cartridges that were already in Africa. That source has dried up for me now. FWIW...at a talk by Jim Shockey in 2012, he recommended against trying to transport black powder by air.. in any form..including loaded into cartridges..............but I did transport cartridges loaded with Pyrodex RS in 2011 with no probems.....FWB
 
Ultimate firearms carbon stealth is the muzzleloader I use. It is a joy to shoot and it has served me very well. The airlines stopped allowing us to bring pellets on the flights back in 2005. My muzzleloader uses a magnum rifle primer. That being said it will only burn about 120 grains of loose powder consistently. If you use shotgun primers I am told you will only burn around 100. You could put 150 grains of loose in and it may shoot but not with any accuracy. Back in the states with 777 magnum pellets my gun shoots 200 grains and moves my 300 grain Parker bullet around 2400 fps. I have shot a whitetail at 350 yards with complete confidence. In africa with loose powder much over 175 yards is a gamble. I am not a gambler. My sable this year got a bullet from my 450/400. One thing I forgot to mention in my first post is you also can not bring loose primers on the airline. That throws another wrench into the mix. Now your outfitter will have no problems getting primers but they will be completely different than what you use back home. Too many variables is what has made me leave my muzzleloader at home.
 
Thank you everyone for the responses. I had no idea it was such a problem, given how easily this material is available here in the states. Thats too bad. I will research a bit further as this is not happening real soon anyhow. After shoulder surgery and one more expected soon, bows are a problem. I can and will use rifle if I need, just wanted to go a bit more nostalgic I guess. Thank you everyone again! You guys are freakin awesome!
 
I was thinking of bringing a pith hat along on the next safari to be nostalgic. But at 4 pounds that's cutting into my weight limit . Lol
 
I am sure the outfitter can help you get what you need
 

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