How effective are Bore Driver FTX Muzzleloader Bullets? | 100-yard Ballistic Gel Test

Hype or Hunt? Today we're testing the Hornady Bore Driver FTX projectile in ballistic gel at 100 yards.
We’ll be shooting the Boredriver FTX out of my CVA Accura LR V2. This muzzleloader may not be the latest and greatest, but it’s been a workhorse for me. For propellant in this test, I’m going to be testing 80 grains of Blackhorn 209 measured by weight.
Before we get into the test, I want to mention that you shouldn’t use my tests as a substitute for your own testing and practice. Just because something works for me doesn’t mean it will for you. It’s our responsibility as hunters and outdoorsmen to be proficient with our equipment and take ethical shots.
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Muzzleloading, muzzleloader, muzzle loader, mountain man, longhunter, bushcraft, living history, longrifle, flintlock, blackpowder
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[@johnhagerman320]

I hope you get the chance to test a patched round ball hunting load. I would love to see how that works out in ballistic gell

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

I have two videos doing that. More on the way.

[@kevinroberson1985]

I think it would be a better test of using a clean piece of bone like a beef or pork shoulder bone in front of the ballistic jell or bone placed inside the jell around three inches in and I think that would be a more true test for the projectile and maybe a piece of thin leather on the outside for the bullet to hit first. I think that would be a more true test of what the bullet will do! Thanks for your videos Ethan and keep them coming!

[@briannelson4493]

That’s the very projectile I use and it works extremely well. It worked very well in your test.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Glad to hear it!!

[@scottleonard6651]

Thanks for doing this Ethan! This is much needed data. Garand Thumb did some flintlock rifle testing on a ballistic dummy torso, which is worth watching. But that's the only other KZbinr besides you that has done some comprehensive testing like this. His channel primarily covers modern combat weapons testing, so it was fun watching him struggle with an old-school battle rifle.

[@curly__3]

That penetration is doable for deer, but i would slow it down 250-400 fps. Use loose pyrodex rs (one hundred by volume) and see what happens... I think the performance would be far better. It would stay together and penetrate far more. You're looking for about ≈22 + inches in that gel. Thanks for these tests.

[@jermsman18]

Great test. I used Boredriver FTX on my deer last season and it worked well. I used 3 Hodgdon Triple Seven 777 FireStar Pellets based on my range data to achieve good accuracy at 100 yards. I used a CVA Acura and a Nikon scope. I could not justify the cost for full on BlackHorn but I bet you could really dial these in with it. More gel tests if you can! I love them!

[@richarddean3154]

That projectile seemed to perform very well in terms of mushrooming effect and transferring energy. Thanks for sharing your findings.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@1Whitetail]

It looks like that FTX did its job. Don't know if it mushroomed out any but good shock affect. I have some to use this season so I love seeing testing on bullets. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@michaelrea6764]

Good stuff. I use this projectile in my Optima V2 and the Hornady ELD-X (340 grain) in my Accura MRX

[@guardianminifarm8005]

I would think this would be very effective on Whitetail size deer for sure. I would expect it might be ok on elk within a reasonable range.

[@timsmith9169]

Ethan ,what would think of the pa bullet .240 grain pure lead

[@anthony97291]

Hey Ethan have you tried puting a 410ga. 1/8" Nitro card in the back of the FTX? Specifically in the cavity of the red gas seal? I've noticed better performance doing that in the Hornady FTX and the Powerbelt ELR. I've seen increased velocity in both FTX and ELR. More so in the ELR. Maybe because of the design of the gas seal?

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

I’ve not tried that, but that makes a lot of sense!

[@ethan-qm8gu]

Im 18 and I want to get into traditional muzzle loading what gun do you recommend I get

[@lemmdus2119]

You should use the meat target set up like Paul Harrell.

[@colbykinney5633]

I tried them last fall , wasn't impressed at all . I'll be going back to SSTs

[@ronaldbradehoft806]

How many grains of powder are you using for this test

[@josephkoziol5421]

Hornady's 240-grain XTP bullet with its green sabot and Blackhorn 209 powder hammers deer.

[@Ohmy1956]

I know those are actually muzzle loaders and I did get one years ago which has immigrated into my gun safe, yuk!

[@davidvance7059]

Try a 370 grain Lyman maxiball

[@kurrppy]

Thanks for the downrange test, love these! 80 gr by weight BH209, correct?

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Yes

[@SpotterVideo]

Low Pressure 50 Caliber Smokeless Loads in a 209 Factory Muzzleloader, 2 DVD set | eBay These 2 DVDs contain a demonstration of using Low Pressure Smokeless Loads in a 50 caliber factory muzzleloader. Savage Arms proved over 20 years ago that a factory muzzleloader can use smokeless powder. A retired Science Teacher/Gunsmith/Inventor used a strain gauge glued to a rifle barrel and the Pressure Trace II computer interface to compare the pressures produced by Blackhorn209 propellant to pressures which can be produced by ten different smokeless powders. These ten smokeless powders do not contain the corrosive oxidizers which can rust a rifle barrel. The loads developed produced a pressure equal to or less than that of 84 grains by weight of Blackhorn209, which a common Black Powder substitute made up of 83% smokeless powder (nitrocellulose). However, Blackhorn209 does contain corrosive chemicals.

[@jamesgarland4990]

Ethan, I respect your channel and thoughts. You have removed my comments before. That said..........PRB works fine and is superior to these modern bullets/sabots out to 100 ish yards. For example, I shot a 2 1/2 year old doe at 20 yards with a .490" pure lead ball and .015" patch and 90 grains of ffg Goex, and it blew a hole through both sides you could easily put your fist threw. How much 'deader' do you want??

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

I don’t remove comments, KZbin does. Congrats on your doe, I agree, PRB does a great job and has for several hundred years.

[@TODinWY]

Did you mention the charge of BH?

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

100 grns by volume