Good Start load for .50 patch & Ball

hakx

hakx

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I am really getting into the more traditional side of muzzleloading. Well, tradition - ish.

I have a Traditions Kentucky w/ 1:66 twist. Right now, I am shooting .490 balls w/70 grains of Pyrodex. I have forgone the #11 cap, and upgraded to the musket cap.

Is this sufficient for deer at 70 yard or less? Is 70 yards unrealistic?

Thanx, Hakx
 
IMHO for a .50 caliber round ball on deer 70 yards should be the extreme maximum range. I did never had a problem with #11 caps, I use CCI caps on a Spitfire nipple. The night before loading for the hunt I always do pour into the bore some rubbing alchool then swab it dry with to eliminate all oil that will contaminate primers. Then just before loading I blow 2 caps and keep the nipple clear. Never had a problem even on rainy day... my 2 cents.
 
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I agree with eight ball that 70 yards is getting towards the extreme range for me and my .50 with a prb and i would prefer to keep my shots to 50 yards. however I am limited by my ability to shoot opens sights much farther than that. I would only take a 70 yard shot from a steady position not off hand.

My .50 hunting load is 80 grns of 2F behind a prb. This has worked well for me in several .50's.

You might be a better shot than me and can push this load out to 100 yards. Test yourself and determine your maximum range by seeing how far you can consistently hit a 8 inch circle from a hunting position. That will be you maximum hunting range up to 100 yards. After that the prb runs out of energy and drops like a stone.

sluice
 
90 gr of 3F would kill a deer inside 100 meters. A good gun like a Lyman or T/C .
A note on guns from the day, well they were made with the off hand shooter in mind, not a bench bag or bipod warrior. :D Me thinks todays hunter is not at any great loss shooting a RB BP rifle. :) Best caps RWS , with green underside. Just Awesome
 
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I have taken many whitetails from 12 feet to 120 yards using a .495 round ball and 80g of Pyrodex. Three Deer that where taken around the 100 yard mark were double lung shots and the ball exited the animal. The fourth deer taken at 110 yards was a strait on shot that smashed the spine. That is an absolute max range for me, and I would sooner not shoot past 75 yards. You might try working that load up a bit [80-90] by using a wad under the patch or a heavier patch. My wife uses 70g in here rifle and gets Deer every year, but I can sure tell the differance shooting past 75 yards.
 
Watch your pressures. Most Italian/spanish BP guns are proof rated to about 10,000 lbs safe, meaning you want to keep your ball/powder combo below that pressure for safety. Lyman, for example, rates to 110gr of ffg, but that's max, and is slightly higher than most Breschia guns. The Lyman Blackpowder book by Fadala has a fair bit of load data for various combos of shot and powder. I would be wary of pushing the Traditions beyond 80-90gr of ffg, but 80-85 should be safe.

These types of guns grew up in the woods - they're 50 yard guns, used originally in wooded, light agricultural areas, and required a degree of stealth, just like bow-hunting. You won't make many "over the horizon" shots successfully with a traditional blackpowder... :)
 
80-90 grains Max, eh? That is the figure I was concerned about. The gun itself was bought on impulse in 1984 by a buddy of mine. He shot at 3 gophers with it, threw it in his rafters in disgust. He gave it to me 18 months ago, so Hunstman and I got'r shoosting again.
 
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Its about pressure - The combination of bullet and powder creates wide variations in safe loads. 80gr will bring down a deer, and likely a moose with a well placed shot, no problem. Did for about 300 years... :D

It may be a modern gun, but its a "primitive" firearm, so, you have to use hunting techniques consistent with the tool, and you have to get to know the gun VERY well, it order to compensate for its shortcomings.

There's a reason why firearms evolved...;) I learned to shoot woodchucks at 200 yards with a .22 by holding about 6-10 inches over his head, and still drop 'em with one shot. Too many hunter's today want flat to 1000m. Hey the closer you drop 'em the less work you have to do dragging them out...:)
 
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I've been working with 80grs of Pyrodex and prb in my Pedersoli Frontier and have been quite happy with the groups out to 50yds(as you have witnessed),Now for my Lyman GPR,I will start at the max and work down.I would like to see if I can stretch the yardage beyond 75yds?
 
2 years ago i shot a deer with 50 caliber ball and patch with 70grn of #3. It jumped at the same time i pulled the trigger. I hit in on front shoulder blade at about 50yrds. Deer took off running on three legs. Tracked till dark then went back next morning and continued. I spooked it later and while it was running again... i placed a nice shot in the lungs. While skinning the deer.. the original ball was just barely lodged into the shoulder blade and fell out while skinning. Ive hunted since with the 50 cal but am abit hesitant to shoot anything again with it over the 50yrds as 70 grains of powder did not have enough punch/wallip to go through bone. I just might try the 90 or 100 grains for rough insurence next time.
 
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Traditionally the 54 cal is better with round ball for hunting purposes than a 50--more mass in the ball. With the 50, sometimes you can get Lee REAL bullets to shoot acceptably in the 50--gives more striking energy on the target. 50 roundball is adequate for hunting but I personally would limit it to 70 yards tops.

FWIW, 44Bore
 
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