Hornady FTX Bore Driver

F

freedomrocks

Active Member
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In the past i have used powerbelt platium bullets in my accura , 95 grains by volume of 209 seems to work the best, with a muzzy hunt in a L.E. deer coming up i have been shooting Bore Drivers at the range with good results, Is there any one out there with some real life in the field knock down stories on how they perform? Any feed back good or bad would be awesome, Thank You
 
Not personally but my buddies have killed a LE bull and multiple mule deer with them. Performance and accuracy were really good.
 
They’re known to be pretty soft. Should be a step up from Powerbelts though. Did you consider the Bore Driver ELD-X?
 
diablo said:
They’re known to be pretty soft. Should be a step up from Powerbelts though. Did you consider the Bore Driver ELD-X?
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I have but i have not tried them, the upcoming hunt is in utah so 1 power scope is max, 200 yards out is max to me,, Are the ELDs holding up better than the FDXs
 
freedomrocks said:
I have but i have not tried them, the upcoming hunt is in utah so 1 power scope is max, 200 yards out is max to me,, Are the ELDs holding up better than the FDXs
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I think it’s a better bullet - heavier anyway. Guys are saying they shoot pretty well.
 
I picked some up for my upcoming Colorado Deer hunt. But haven’t been out shooting yet. I’ve heard nothing but good things about them. 🤞
 
Does anyone think the FTX be too light for elk?

I am getting this muzzleloader set up, but I don't want the recoil of that 340-grain bullet on my kid. With the price of BH 209 I don't want to do a ton of load testing if I can help it.

My CVA with 84 measured grains of BH209 and a 300 Grain Hornady SST has killing power on both ends of the gun...
 
Speaking of Blackhorn 209 has anybody seen any for sale . This stuff is stupid expensive but to me its the best out there, Hey lets cause another shortage and jack up the price even more. O well i just want to find some for sale!
 
freedomrocks said:
Speaking of Blackhorn 209 has anybody seen any for sale . This stuff is stupid expensive but to me its the best out there, Hey lets cause another shortage and jack up the price even more. O well i just want to find some for sale!
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Seen its several times in the past couple weeks online. MidSouth Shooters Supply had it last week.
 
diablo said:
I do. They are very soft. I wouldn’t shoot one at an elk.

Here are a couple tests on the 290 Bore Driver.

Hornady 50 Caliber Bore Driver FTX

Bullet provided by Reginald Crumpepper Distance from rifle to bottles = 25 yard. Powder charge = 50 grain Blackhorn. VIDEO Bullet is captured in last bottle.
www.modernmuzzleloader.com www.modernmuzzleloader.com
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Thank you sir. I really appreciate that!

I think I am going to look for another bullet. Interesting because I use the Hornady SST 300 grain bullets and they perform great. Just can't use them in Colorado.
 
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Anyone have any bullets that they could recommend? Something light so it doesn't recoil so hard for my kid.

I tried the Thor bullets years ago and I didn't care much for them. They were a serious pain to load for me. I would prefer to not go back to them.

Does Hondary still make the FBP solid copper?
 
The FTX is tough enough to go all the way to the off side hide on a 300 class bull elk at 250 yards and all the way thru multiple mule deer. It’s plenty tough for elk.

It also shot noticeably better than the 290 gr. Bore driver in 3 different guns.
 
Silentstalker said:
The FTX is tough enough to go all the way to the off side hide on a 300 class bull elk at 250 yards and all the way thru multiple mule deer. It’s plenty tough for elk.

It also shot noticeably better than the 290 gr. Bore driver in 3 different guns.
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Now I’m confused. Which “FTX” are you talking about? The 290 gr Hornady Bore Driver FTX?
 
I’m talking about the Hornady .452 250 gr. FTX sold in boxes of 50 as a reloading bullet. You have to add a sabot to fit your particular rifle. They are tough bullets and shoot really well. Much better than the 290 Bore driver through several friends muzzy’s.
 
Silentstalker said:
I’m talking about the Hornady .452 250 gr. FTX sold in boxes of 50 as a reloading bullet. You have to add a sabot to fit your particular rifle. They are tough bullets and shoot really well. Much better than the 290 Bore driver through several friends muzzy’s.
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Ahh yes. Not a real tough bullet - but ok. The 325 .458 FTX would be a better elk bullet IMO.
 
Silentstalker said:
I’m talking about the Hornady .452 250 gr. FTX sold in boxes of 50 as a reloading bullet. You have to add a sabot to fit your particular rifle. They are tough bullets and shoot really well. Much better than the 290 Bore driver through several friends muzzy’s.
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That is the bullet. I shoot in Utah. I love them, but unfortunately I can’t shoot them in Colorado. So I’m gonna go with the Bore driver and see how they work.🤞
 
I am shooting hornady bore driver 290 gr. I got a smoking deal on 6 packs. I was shooting the hornady 250 gr sst. I shot at 6 deer. Killed 5 that one deer I hit a limb. All 5 deer dropped in there tracks. I do the high shoulder shot. Plus I was shooting 84 grs by weight of blackhorn. My muzzle loader is a CVA Optima V2 50 cal Long Range rifle. Topped with a Leupold Ultimate Slam 3x9x40mm ml scope. I went to the 290 gr last yr. I was holding out on deer. Trying to kill a bear with my smoke pole.
 
I've only shot at and killed one elk with the 290 Bore Driver but in my limited experience, they perform way better on game than they do in water jugs.

Ftx9sPml.jpg


rAdbXWsl.jpg


U1Jzdz9l.jpg


I will be using them again this year on a muzzy cow hunt out of a fast twist Hawken barrel and real black powder.

Todd
 
just_a_hunter said:
I've only shot at and killed one elk with the 290 Bore Driver but in my limited experience, they perform way better on game than they do in water jugs.

Ftx9sPml.jpg


rAdbXWsl.jpg


U1Jzdz9l.jpg


I will be using them again this year on a muzzy cow hunt out of a fast twist Hawken barrel and real black powder.

Todd
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How much penetration did that bullet have? Looks to be a small cow or calf.
 
1.5 year old cow. Definitely smallish for a cow elk, but a year older than a calf. Way bigger than a deer. Stuck on the hide on the opposite side.

Todd
 
I was shooting the Sht with a couple guides the other day, we got to talking about muzzleloader hunting and bullets. They no longer let guys hunt with the bore drivers, only borelocks and other higher grade bullets because of the amount of times they have had elk simply wounded by the bore drivers. He even had pictures of a bull that had been shot something like 6 times before it died, the bore drivers were just blowing up, or not penetrative at all. And to weed out all the "bad shot" comments, the pictured showed a few hits directly behind the shoulder and a couple on the shoulder.

I'd strongly take a look at the federal borloks. They are lighter grain but they pack a punch and are very accurate.
 
The bullet performed great for me in Colorado. Roughly 175 yards 100 grains of Pyrodex. In a Thompson, black diamond. I did not find the bullet. It was not a pass through.

IMG_1508.jpeg
 
Ive been working on some load development for my CVA Accura LR-X 50 Cal. This past week I tried the Hornady FTX 290gr, and the Hornady ELD-X 340gr. at 100 yards each. I weighed each bullet for consistency, and I measure Blackhorn 209 by weight as well. I was pleasantly surprised with my initial results. The nickel group was the FTX at .39", and the penny group was the ELD-X. I need to take the ELD-X out to 300 yards for an Elk hunt next month here in Arizona. We'll see what happens with those groups.

IMG_3203.JPG


IMG_3220 (1).JPG
 
M_Turner said:
Ive been working on some load development for my CVA Accura LR-X 50 Cal. This past week I tried the Hornady FTX 290gr, and the Hornady ELD-X 340gr. at 100 yards each. I weighed each bullet for consistency, and I measure Blackhorn 209 by weight as well. I was pleasantly surprised with my initial results. The nickel group was the FTX at .39", and the penny group was the ELD-X. I need to take the ELD-X out to 300 yards for an Elk hunt next month here in Arizona. We'll see what happens with those groups.

View attachment 160631

View attachment 160632
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Nice. How much Bh209 are you shooting with those?
 
He went about 10 feet straight up in the air when I smoked him with a Bore Driver at about 40 yards. I've seen several bucks walk away with Powerbelts. I use two 60 grain triple 7 magnum pellets. I do plan to switch to loose powder.
20220930_104658.jpg
 
No question they are accurate. Any reason to believe the ELD-X is any tougher?

I think I would treat them like a powerbelt and use lower powder amounts to ensure they don’t explode if both are just pure lead
 
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freedomrocks said:
Pic post is a 290 gr, bore driver 95 gr. blackhorn by vol. 150 yard shot, smacked ribs going in and out, bullet laying in the leather. Dont get any better to me ,,
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Only thing better would be an exit so you’d have an easier time tracking him if he didn’t go down right away.
 
freedomrocks said:
Pic post is a 290 gr, bore driver 95 gr. blackhorn by vol. 150 yard shot, smacked ribs going in and out, bullet laying in the leather. Dont get any better to me ,,
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I totally agree, but at 25 yards I still worry it could blow up. We are talking apples and oranges. Show me a bullet that mushrooms like that at less than 50 yards with that same bullet/ powder combo and I will change my tune
 
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just_a_hunter said:
I've only shot at and killed one elk with the 290 Bore Driver but in my limited experience, they perform way better on game than they do in water jugs.

Ftx9sPml.jpg


rAdbXWsl.jpg


U1Jzdz9l.jpg


I will be using them again this year on a muzzy cow hunt out of a fast twist Hawken barrel and real black powder.

Todd
Click to expand...
What was the distance of this shot and how much powder?
 

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