Best Muzzleloading Bullets for 2026

Muzzleloading bullets have come a long way, and in 2026, inline rifles are driving that evolution. Modern bullets, especially sabots and belted designs, offer better accuracy, higher velocity, and more consistent performance than ever before. But with so many options on the market, finding the right one can feel overwhelming.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best inline muzzleloading bullets for 2026.

Best New Bullet

Thor .45 caliber Lightning

Performing just as well as the .50 caliber equivalent, these bullets petal very well due to their all-copper construction and do not fracture like many lead-based, copper-alloyed bullets currently available in .45 caliber. If you are looking for a great bullet for your .45 caliber rifle, these are the hottest new bullets on the market.

I chose the Thor .45 Caliber Lighting as the Best New Bullet for its versatility, accuracy, and fit. The Thor Lighting is an all-copper, full-bore, conical ballistic-tip bullet. Manufactured by Barnes™ and sized by hand at Thor’s facility, the Thor Lightning is a great bullet to add to the small list of available .45 caliber bullets available for muzzleloading; and due to the Lightning style bullets utilizing a flared base, they fit in most rifles.

Best Long Range

Hornady ELD-X

Choosing between the Hornady ELD-X and the PowerBelt was a very difficult decision, as both bullets performed exceptionally well at long distances. Both have almost identical shot-to-shot consistency and long-range stabilization, which were key determining factors when deciding. Both also come in heavier weights, with the ELR coming in a 330-grain option and the ELD-X coming in a 340-grain option, respectively.

With that in mind, I chose the Hornady ELD-X as the best long-range option for this year. The extra 10 grains really helped stabilize the bullet better over the longer distances, showing exactly what I wanted, with the ELR wavering ever so slightly at the same distances. Both are great, but the ELD-X won the race slightly this time around.

To view the Hornady BoreDriver ELD-X Bullets on our storefront, click the banner below.

Best Deer Bullet

PowerBelt Aerolite

Choosing the best Deer bullet for this year was no easy task. When making my choice, I went by three factors: expansion, velocity, and weight. With deer, you want good expansion, lower velocity, and medium weight. With that in mind, I have chosen the PowerBelt Aerolite. This bullet weighs 250 grains, has a lower-end velocity, and great expansion, making it the perfect bullet for deer.

The PowerBelt Aerolite has been a staple for muzzleloading deer season for the last few years, winning the best deer bullet in previous years, and also making it a defining factor as to why it won the title for the fourth year in a row.

To view the PowerBelt AeroLite Bullets on our storefront, click the banner below.

Best Elk and Big Game

Thor .50 Cal

This year I chose the Thor Hammer 300-grain based on consistent results from customers, along with extensive in-house testing. While many 300-grain projectiles offer adequate penetration and ballistic performance, the Thor Hammer stands out due to its full-bore design and reliable terminal consistency.

Another key advantage is the Hammer’s bore-specific sizing. Unlike traditional full-bore conicals that can vary in fit, Thor Hammer bullets are offered in precise diameter increments, allowing shooters to match the bullet to their individual bore. This creates a tighter seal, improves consistency, and can enhance both accuracy and velocity by optimizing gas retention behind the projectile.

Constructed from solid copper, the Thor Hammer is designed to expand through controlled petaling on impact. This expansion increases surface area while maintaining weight, allowing for deep penetration and effective energy transfer on large game. In testing, this often resulted in strong entry wounds and, in many cases, complete pass-throughs, contributing to short recovery distances and highly visible blood trails when the animal did not drop immediately.

To view this Thor Hammer .50 Caliber Bullets on our storefront, click the banner below.

Best Saboted Bullets

Barnes Spit-Fire T-EZ

Available in both 250 and 300 grain options, the Barnes Spit Fire T EZ bullets are an excellent choice for both deer and elk hunting. Featuring a smooth, easy-loading sabot and a solid copper bullet, the Spit Fire delivers the performance I was looking for in a dependable all-around saboted round.

I selected the Barnes Spit Fire T EZ as the best saboted bullet because of its exceptional mushrooming, strong weight retention on impact, and reliable ease of loading. Based on customer feedback and my own range testing, the T EZ consistently proved to be one of the easiest sabots to load, even in fouled barrels. Its solid copper construction provided outstanding terminal performance, maintaining more mass after impact than many comparable sabots and producing impressive wound channels on target.

To view the Barnes SpitFire T-EZ Bullets on our storefront, click the banner below.

Best Full Bore Bullets

Hornady FTX

Full-bore conicals have become more and more popular over the years. We can attribute this increase in popularity to their consistency, exit velocity, weight options, and ballistic performance. Many of them have performed amazingly in testing, including the Thor Hammer and Lightning, Hornady Bore Drivers, and the PowerBelt® ELR and Aero-style bullets. With that in mind, I chose the Hornady FTX bullet.

From testing and customer responses, the Hornady Boredriver FTX has been one of the most consistent full-bore bullets on the market since its release in 2021. With the bullet being slightly undersized, it makes loading and reloading the bullet fast and efficient, both with clean and fouled barrels. Coming in at 290 grains, this bullet is a perfect in-between for both deer and Elk hunts in many states.

To view the BoreDriver FTX Bullets on our storefront, click the banner below.

Best Northwest Bullets

Thor Hammer 247 or 297gr

For the best Northwest bullet, I chose the Thor Hammer in 247 or 297 grain options. With plastic components prohibited during muzzleloader seasons in states like Oregon, this all-copper, full-bore projectile checks nearly every box required for legal and effective hunting under strict regulations.

Like the 250 and 300 grain Thor Hammer variants, these hollow point bullets deliver excellent penetration and reliable energy transfer on game. Their solid copper construction allows for consistent expansion through controlled petaling, helping maintain weight while creating effective wound channels. In practical use, this translates to deep penetration and dependable terminal performance on larger animals.

Because these bullets are bore-specific, they also provide superior gas retention compared to many full-bore conicals, which are normally slightly undersized. This tighter seal improves consistency shot to shot and can contribute to better accuracy and more efficient powder burn.

With the new regulations in Idaho regarding the regulation of bullets during the season, Idaho hunters are no longer limited to what kind of bullet they can use, with Idaho Fish and Wildlife now allowing saboted rounds.

To view the Thor Hammer .50 Caliber Hollow Point Bullets on our storefront,  click the banner below.

Best Overall Bullet

Thor Hammer Bullets

I have gone over many bullets that could have won the title of best overall bullet for the 2026 season, like the PowerBelt ELR, Hornady BoreDriver FTX, Thor Hammer, or Thor Lightning, but taking into consideration legality, versatility, and performance, the Thor Hammer fits all of these boxes.

With the hammer bullet being legal in every state in the US, coming in many bullet weights, and being one of the best-performing bullets for any type of hunt you might see yourself in. This all-copper, full-bore conical has distinguished itself over the last year as a favorite of many hunters and has become a staple in many muzzleloading hunts.

To view all available Thor Hammer .50 Caliber Bullet options, click the banner below.

Conclusion for Bullets

We just wanted to let you know how much you are loved by God. In the Bible, Romans 5:8 says, “but God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Whether you ever buy anything from us or not, we want to make sure we are using the platform God has provided to us to ensure the good news of salvation from sin and death goes out to the world. Some day, muzzleloading will cease, but life with God never will if you believe in Jesus Christ. If you are questioning where you are going to go when this life comes to an end, you are not alone. Today is the day of salvation. If you know the Holy Spirit is prompting you to confess your sins to God and ask for His mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross for you, don't wait.

Ask Him today to save you from your sins and make you into a new creation, and He will do it. “that if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.” - Romans 10:9-10.

May God bless you and keep you in His arms. We love you and are here if you have any questions.