There is always people telling others how much they know that means absolutely nothing!
How Powerful are Black Powder Guns?? - Ballistic High-Speed
- Thread starter Woodwright
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
You can find loading tables. A .50 caliber round ball can achieve 2,000 fps. Above .50 caliber the returns diminish. Usually with 3F powder of around 100-110 grains.
Ballistic question regarding velocity answered.
I believe the round ball to be the perfect shape. However, hammering a patched ball down the barrel is something I don’t subscribe to. I have different views on this. It’s just the easy solution generally followed.
Ballistic question regarding velocity answered.
I believe the round ball to be the perfect shape. However, hammering a patched ball down the barrel is something I don’t subscribe to. I have different views on this. It’s just the easy solution generally followed.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2009
- Messages
- 13,055
- Reaction score
- 7,309
A case in point...
Once upon a time before President Reagan left office I got really bored one day (wasn't married yet back then) and did the math with spherical sectional density (volume increases more rapidly than diameter), internal and external ballistic characteristics and down range trajectories to figure on the most efficient and ultimate bolt out of the blue deer slaying diameter for long rifles. It came out (Eureka!) to oh about a .52 bore which of course no one uses. It was just an interesting diversion to while away the hours that otherwise means absolutely nothing to nobody whether they walk on two legs or four.
Here's a summary of my BP firearm shooting over a Chronograph. First column is a 50 cal pistol 12" barrel shooting the Hornady Pa. Conical. Second, my 54 Cal shooting a PRB. Third my T\C with a replacement GM barrel shooting the Hornady Pa. Conical. And last the same T\C shooting a PRB. I can't recall why I have only one shot with the 50 cal PRB....but I think I kept getting a "no read" on the chrony until I physically "ran outta gas" loading and shooting.
David LaPell
32 Cal
I've shot deer with everything from 6.5 Swede to .30-30 and up to a couple with 16 gauge slugs, but the two deer I've inflicted the most damage on were with muzzleloaders, both in 58 caliber using 425-450 grain Minie bullets that were .577" diameter.
One was back in 2010 with a Euroarms Enfield musketoon. I was shooting about 55 grains of powder and I hit the doe in the neck. The only place that deer went was down and the distance was about 150-175 yards. Two vertebrae were absolutely pulverized and the windpipe and artery were shredded.
The second was a small doe I hit in the head with another .577" Minie bullet at 60 yards when I pulled the shot a little high with my Navy Arms Zuoave. Another deer that went nowhere but down. The Minie bullet it the deer inside the left eye and went clean through the skull and did a lot of damage on the way through.
One was back in 2010 with a Euroarms Enfield musketoon. I was shooting about 55 grains of powder and I hit the doe in the neck. The only place that deer went was down and the distance was about 150-175 yards. Two vertebrae were absolutely pulverized and the windpipe and artery were shredded.
The second was a small doe I hit in the head with another .577" Minie bullet at 60 yards when I pulled the shot a little high with my Navy Arms Zuoave. Another deer that went nowhere but down. The Minie bullet it the deer inside the left eye and went clean through the skull and did a lot of damage on the way through.
