What's your favorite muzzleloader and what do you like to hunt with?

Being that BP season is coming up, I figured I would start a thread about muzzleloaders.

I use to have a Remington Genesis (rebranded Traditions) and it was OK. But I picked up a T/C Encore Endeavor and haven't looked back. I sold the Genesis and have been using the T/C for several years now. I've made a few small alterations to it with the help of the Belm TC website and it will clower-leaf at 100 yards now. I have a Nikon Omega with BDC reticle on top.

I've only ever used Blackhorn 209 powder as I feel it is far superior to any other powder on the market, and I never have to worry about the infamous crud-ring or any corrosion issues. But I've tried numerous different charge weights, bullet/sabot combos, and 209 primers. What I settled on for my pet load is:

Barnes 250g T-EZ with MMP HPH12 sabots
Federal 209A primers
115 volumetric grains of Blackhorn 209

I go through a consistency ritual every time I load the rifle. I just had to dial it back in from a long storage time which required cleaning between each shot, but before I hunt with it I do the following:

1. Run a dry patch to absorb as much residual oil as I can.
2. Run a patch with alcohol on it to dissolve the rest of the oil residue.
3. Run another dry patch.
4. Fire off 1 primer to foul the bore.
5. Dump powder.
6. Load bullet/sabot. I index the sabot the same way every time to ensure it's contacting the lands exactly the same every time. I also use a Spin Jag on my ramrod.

I've had great success with this load and these steps for loading. My greatest hunting achievement was a 100 yard shot on a buck in South Carolina. I know it was exactly 100 yards because I ranged him before the shot and he hadn't moved. He was quartering towards and facing my left. The bullet entered the front of his left shoulder and exited behind his right shoulder. Perfect shot and he only went 30 yards with plenty of bubbly blood to trail him.

How about you? What's your favorite muzzleloader and what load do you like for it?

 

Very nice. Not my cup of tea, but would be nice to have as a collector's item. I prefer something a little more accurate and with a little longer range to take game with.

 

Oh no doubt that style rifle has taken plenty of game. I just prefer to use the modern technology available to lean the odds in my favor as much as possible.

Here's a pic of my TC.

 

Powerbelt bullets are very accurate but perform poorly on game in my experience. They fragment all to hell if you push them fast. I like to shoot magnum charges with my muzzleloaders and PBs aren't compatible with that. Barnes bullets are all copper and WILL NOT fragment. I've tested them and they have near 100% weight retention. I say near because the polymer tip sheds away on impact but the rest of the bullet stays intact. I've yet to see a better performing bullet and I'll never have to waste meat because it's riddled with lead fragments.