Cheap .52 cal options

[stillhere]

Can someone give me a idea of what my bullet options are for this caliber? The .52 I got as a gift, and I will add that I'm not especially familiar with muzzleloaders. I do hunt very occasionally, but I'd like to find cheaper ways to shoot for the vast majority of the time when I'm not hunting. In other words, I'd like to find a way to avoid the Bloodlines and other high quality, high priced projectiles when I'm playing around at the range. For example, I found these Meister hard cast .458 bullets (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/123570 ... box-of-250) that are pretty cheap. Can I use these with Knight sabots?
Thank you...

[sourdough44]

Yes, that should work. I see Knight sells 2 different 52 Cal sabots, to accept slightly different sized bullets. I'd get both & see what kind of fit you get while loading, not to tight or loose. Once you experiment I'd lay up a supply, since not many offer the 52 cal sabot.

You can really shoot any bullet that loads properly in the sabot, match the bullet to the sabot.

[DiscMan]

You can order the silver 52 sabots from Knight or MMP. Once you get your sabots then you can buy any 458 caliber bullets or cast your own. You will love that gun, it has a fast twist 1 in 26 barrel that is great to stabilize big bullets. You will find this gun will load easy and shoot faster than the 50 caliber. Good luck and good shooting

[GMB54-120]

Discman

Last time i checked with Del at MMP, he was not allowed to sell the 52cal sabots. They were a Knight exclusive.

Are you saying MMP can now sell them directly?

[Logtown]

I was going to purchase a .52 a few years ago but sabots only were not sold then.Barnes has several options that should shoot very well in your gun.I went the .54 route and am quite satisfied with them,purple.50x.54 sabot and a bunch of bullet options,plus the sabot thickness is thinner which works real well.Wish Knight would do a Mountaineer in .54,but I'm happy with my Rem.700ML .54 with Lehigh breech plug and Savage style bolt nose conversion.Was junk before converted,now 3 shots covered by quarter at 100 yards with BH-209 105 grns and Rem. Corelocked Ultra 385 grn. Gonna try Barnes325 expanders in very near future.Good luck and good hunting.

[GMB54-120]

I wish Knight would try a 54cal also. My 52cal is ok but i like the addition of the 50cal bullet selection. Some 458s will still fit in a Harvester 54x45 sabot in many bores. The ones that are too tight i just run through a .454 sizing die.

[long range]

Try using one of Lymans moulds called a gould, it is a .458 , 330 grn. HP and mould your own or try Buffalo arms they sell bullets for most black powder cartridge rifles in .45 cal. 80 to 90 grns of Swiss black powder. With right scope you should be able to reach 300 yds. accurately