Hornady XTP bullet availability?

[EC]

As I await the arrival of the 10ML-II, I went to Cabela's in Dundee, MI for powder (they had it) plus 250gr. XTP's to get me started at the range to sight-in the new scope and work up a load.  Also some 300 gr. XTP's for a deer load.   But they didn't have either one on the shelf and none in the warehouse.  I checked Natchez, Midway and Graff's, but all have these bullets "on order".  What gives?  I mean it's not loaded pistol ammo after all.  The Barnes look good, but expensive compared to the XTP's so for now the Hornady's are my choice.

[RandyWakeman]

Due in 11/2 for the 250's. What gives is Obamamania.

[TechHunter]

I basically "lucked-out".  Harvester Muzzleloader had some left in stock and I pretty much bought them all. They had to repackage them with sabots that would work with my 10ML.  By the way, my muzzleloader  is "humming" now, .75 @ 100 if I take my time and let the barrel cool   .   As far a the XTPs, I spend a couple of days (three weeks ago) searching and nobody had them in stock. Good luck!

[EC]

It looks like good luck is what we need to acquire XTP's.  My reason for wanting them in particular, is that there's no point in re-inventing the wheel regarding developing an accurate load for the Savage.  So I bought a pound of 5744 yesterday, and 10 oz. of Blackhorn 209 (Geesh, not even a pound in the bottle) because Michigan requires BP or a PB "substitute", and then assumed XTP's would be available somewhere.  Oh well, I'll wait till November when they are in stock again.

Meanwhile I have some old (like 10 years) bullets and sabots from back when I shot BP with a White Model 97 'Whitetail Hunter'.  I can get new sabots and will have a frustrating time matching them to the various old bullets, but at least there will be some shooting till the XTP's come in.

My plan is to get the rifle shooting well with the XTP's and then branch out into other bullets and sabots.  It should be interesting.

[tucker301]

EC,
Check your PM.
I found some in stock.

[EC]

Tucker, thank you for telling me about the XTP source.  I bought them tonight and now that's one less thing to fall into place before the rifle arrives from Nathez and I can get to shooting it.  There is lots of info. to digest about bringing these rifles to their potential, but right now my goal is just to shoot it well enough for hunting this season.

The "cooling rod" concept written about on Doug's Message Board is interesting because waiting between shots seems overly long (up to 20 minutes?) without something to speed up barrel cooling.  I wonder if you (or anyone here) has had experience with a cooling rod.

[tucker301]

Glad to help.
I made sure I had plenty before sending you that link though 

I haven't done anything with cooling rods.
I feel like if the barrel is cool to the touch, then it's cool enough, but I don't spend a lot of range time with the ML. I just try to get it tuned in and then get up a tree.

There is more information over there than I think I'll ever be able to digest.
I am fascinated by the concepts of the .45 Pacnors, the sabotless loads, and the duplex powders.
Sometimes, after spending a few minutes over there, I feel like a caveman with a stick and a dull rock. 

[mwd571]

To be able to shoot in Florida most anytime of the year the cooling rod really works, if you dont want to build one then before I built one I took my 22 rifle to the range with me and shot it until the barrel was cool to the touch.  You can also chill your sabots in a cooler and put a cool sabot in when you load, and yes the 45 Pacnor has bitten a lot of shooters, but I will not try duplex stay with the 5744, N110, N120, H4198 or the savage recommended book powders. I am thinking hard about the 45 Pacnor switch

Cheers, Mike