What would a good minimum amount of powder be to take a deer at say, 50 yards? My cousin will likely be deer hunting with me this fall for the first time, and to extend his season I thought he could use my muzzleloader before rifle season opens. I know he won't like two 777 pellets behind a 240 grain sabot. Would using just one pellet cause any issues? Or maybe using about 60 grains of loose stuff? What do you think.
Deer hunting with light muzzleloader loads
- Thread starter kyle700
- Start date
I use 338gr platinum power belts full 50cal not sabot and tried 1 777 pellet for fun over a chrony. It read 697 fps. 2 of those pellets get me up to almost 1700 fps. I'd use at least 75gr loose powder or 2 pellets of 777. If recoil is still to much buy a slip on pad.
Why not go with a patched ball? They weigh +/- 180gr in .50 cal and a fairly light charge will get them going ~1400-1500 fps. IMO it would be a fine light recoil 50 yard deer load.
Even "stout" loads with a patched round ball have reasonable recoil. I did a quick calculation, and that 1400-1500 fps load in a 7lb rifle should have recoil that is similar to a .243 Win. In other words - very mild!
Even "stout" loads with a patched round ball have reasonable recoil. I did a quick calculation, and that 1400-1500 fps load in a 7lb rifle should have recoil that is similar to a .243 Win. In other words - very mild!
I have heard of guys not getting good penetration when they go under 100 grains with both round ball and sabots. This is all hearsay as I have never gone lower than 90 grains. Definitely try to keep it as high as possible.
As 1899 said, the recoil is pretty light. And it's more of a push than a punch. A muzzleloader with 100 grains and a limbsaver isn't exactly a shoulder punisher.
As 1899 said, the recoil is pretty light. And it's more of a push than a punch. A muzzleloader with 100 grains and a limbsaver isn't exactly a shoulder punisher.
mossyhorns
CGN Regular
- Location
- The city that rhymes with fun
I don't know how large or old your cousin is but my daughter was able to shoot two pellets of pryodex and a 250 grain bullet with no issues at all when she was 13. Start them on a .22 and work up slowly. He'll be fine
Whadya think? Maybe more a statement about their marksmanship rather than the capability of the load?
I put a round ball from a .45 cap and ball rifle through a large Saskatchewan WT doe, that entered through the ribs on one side and exited through the shoulder on the other, a path of about 18 inches. It was not a stout load.
That was at about 50 yards, IIRC. I was really surprised that the ball exited.
How many times through a deer do you need to go?
That said, Kyle, what is your cousin shooting in the way of a rifle now? I'd say take him to the range and see what gives, as far as tolerance for the recoil of whatever load is going to be used.
I cannot recall ever feeling the recoil of the shot when shooting game.
Shooting paper of a bench, now, I have some bad memories of that!Do some hind legs shooting (standing) and some shooting off sticks or similar, try to shoot the way you would if you were out hunting.
Cheers
Trev
He's 15, a regular sized kid for his age. He hasn't done much rifle shooting yet, but he got a bear this spring with a 2 3/4" 20 gauge foster slug from a single shot winchester 37.. He said it wasn't too bad but I think that's close to his limit. I'm in the market for a cheap 243, 308 or something along those lines for him.Whadya think? Maybe more a statement about their marksmanship rather than the capability of the load?
I put a round ball from a .45 cap and ball rifle through a large Saskatchewan WT doe, that entered through the ribs on one side and exited through the shoulder on the other, a path of about 18 inches. It was not a stout load.
That was at about 50 yards, IIRC. I was really surprised that the ball exited.
How many times through a deer do you need to go?
That said, Kyle, what is your cousin shooting in the way of a rifle now? I'd say take him to the range and see what gives, as far as tolerance for the recoil of whatever load is going to be used.
I cannot recall ever feeling the recoil of the shot when shooting game.
Do some hind legs shooting (standing) and some shooting off sticks or similar, try to shoot the way you would if you were out hunting.
Cheers
Trev
I'll play around and try to find a load for him. I shoot a TC Impact and I find 2 777 pellets kicks enough for me. Nothing insane but it feels like a 30-06 I would say. I just don't want to give him more than he can handle. He's a good shot with a 22, I don't want to ruin that by giving him a flinching issue.
patricksbb391
CGN Regular
- Location
- Ottawa & WMU 62
Im with the poster above. If its a 50 yard shot, why not use that .20 gauge again. Its one shot, like the ML, and way quicker to reload.
Yup. Many folks believe all of the hype these days. And you with a .45 cal.....didn't you know that you need to use a .50 cal for big game?
Try the patched round ball and work your way up from 60gr FFg or equivalent. At that charge there is hardly any recoil at all!
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I've killed a bunch of deer with a .50 cal ( 180 grain) patched round ball and 90 grains of pyrodex. A good minimum load.
My 12yr old daughter was shooting 180gr bullets and two 777 50gr pellets out of her Knight youth muzzleloader last fall without any problems. I think you'd be ok with a load similar to that. This year we're going to bump it up to a 250gr with the same powder charge.
I could let him try it out, that's for sure. When I was 15 I hunted with a 7mm remington, although I had more shooting experience, too. Thanks for the replies, I think I'll get him on it over the summer. I have a box of .50 cal lead balls around here somewhere too if I need to use them.
Yeah, what if? So frikken what. That's what if.
Small deer can bugger off with a good hit too.
Hit the vitals, deer dies. Easy as that. It's not all bang flop dead right there. Deal with it.
Cheers
Trev
Who pissed in your cornflakes sunshine.
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
In my experience, muzzle loaders get serious penetration no matter what, and higher velocity is really only there to reduce bullet drop and therefore help shot placement.
If your cousin can shoot accurrately, then any load that breaks 900 fps or so, with either a ball or a slug, will kill your deer just fine (even if he is real big). At this sort of velocity, recoil is going to be very, very slight.
If your cousin can shoot accurrately, then any load that breaks 900 fps or so, with either a ball or a slug, will kill your deer just fine (even if he is real big). At this sort of velocity, recoil is going to be very, very slight.
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Exactly. And 50 yards really isn't that far.
In addition to round balls you can try mild loads with something like Hornady's PA Conical or Buffalo Bullet Ball-et. I used to use Buffalo Bullet conicals and can tell you they make a great product.
