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  1. A

    50 or 54 cal for black bear

    Went on my trip. Didn't take a blackie, but certainly had the opportunity. The one I nearly shot was within 40 yards, but in looking him over, he had a huge rubbed out spot on his rear. Not the best coat I have seen. I took a 7 footer a few years ago that was pretty rubbed, and I swore to never...
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    .54 lee R.E.A.L bullets

    I shoot them in my .54 Hawken up here in Alaska. They are good accuracy-wise, and excellent for the bears and moose-sized game. They are too much for the average white-tail, but do work. I shot a blacktail on Kodiak with one a few years ago and the bloodshot damage was extensive around the entry...
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    50 or 54 cal for black bear

    This is advise from someone that lives and hunts bears in Alaska with muzzleloaders. If you are shooting round balls, the .54 is much better. If you shoot conicals, then either is more than adaquate for black bear. I use a .54 Hawken with conicals. I have taken moose, caribou, Sitka black...
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    .54 cal loads for deer

    Very well stated. If I was still in Arkansas, I would load my .54 (if I still used it for those little deer) no more than 90 grains of FFg behind a 430 conical. However, I hunt moose and bear in Alaska with mine and need that added punch. Most don't in the Lower 48, unless they are going for elk...
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    .54 cal loads for deer

    Use as much as you feel comfortable shooting and your accuracy isn't suffering. Better to use too much than not enough. Only use within the capability of your firearm to handle it, tho. If your gun is proofed to 110 grains of 2F powder, don't exceed that with any type of equivilant. Grief and...
  6. A

    What is you hunting plans?

    I live in Alaska. I am going for moose, caribou and black bear in September with my .54 Caliber Hawken rifle. I am going to Kodiak with my .50 caliber T/C Encore for blacktail deer in November.
  7. A

    Moose with my .50 or .54

    HA!!!! :haha: However, if both do, the one on the right has a smoothbore and shoots prb's........
  8. A

    Moose with my .50 or .54

    Guys take buffalo up here regularly with .54's. As I said, a .54 will kill anything within the right ranges. It's a thumper, whether a conical or round ball. However, my own opinion is an animal this big will take a heap of killing, and I prefer conicals in a rifled barrel for these big animals...
  9. A

    Moose with my .50 or .54

    Yep, at that range, it will kill a moose dead. Much past that and a smoothbore will hit somewhere, but you never know where and never in the same place twice. Thats the main problem with smoothbores, plus the fact thea energy sheds very fast past 50 or 60 yards, and the killing penetration is...
  10. A

    Moose with my .50 or .54

    You are absolutely correct, a well-placed patched round ball from a .50 or .54 will take down any moose walking. Just shoot it within effective range of a pbr to cleanly take a moose, which is much less than 100 yards for an animal this big. A moose is relatively easy to put down all things...
  11. A

    Moose with my .50 or .54

    If it is a choice of shooting a round ball in a .54 or a conical in a .50, go with the .50. A moose is a HUGE animal, but not that difficult to kill. But, a round ball doesn't have the penetration needed to anchor one if the opportunity arises. I live in Alaska and have shot and seen a lot of...
  12. A

    Whats your thoughts on the t/c hawken flintlock

    I own a caplock T.C. Hawken and a Cabelas Hawken caplock that I hunt with regularly up here in Alaska. I sure do wish I could find a flintlock Hawken in left-hand. I'd snap it up. I had a right hand flinter once, but the sparks, flame and smoke going off in my face were disconcering, so I got...
  13. A

    BEARS IN ALASKA

    He lives in Burleson, and no cat is safe in his neighborhood. When he comes up here, my beagle goes into hiding. :haha:
  14. A

    BEARS IN ALASKA

    My brother-in-law is a Texan from outside of Ft. Worth and LOVES to shoot rabbits. Are you sure it wasn't him that caught your blue heeler hound??????? :haha:
  15. A

    BEARS IN ALASKA

    In Alaska, the bear population is not threatened or getting smaller. In fact, in a lot of areas, they are increasing the limit to two a year and in a few, you don't have to buy a grizzly/brown bear tag. Alaska is not the Lower 48, but I understand your concerns. I am going after a grizzly in...
  16. A

    BEARS IN ALASKA

    IdahoRon, great picture, and brings up a VERY important point; Brownies and some grizzlies are many times larger than the averabe black bears most in the Lower 48 are used to seeing. Your picture is a stark reminder why bigger isn't just better, it's critical for your success and maybe even your...
  17. A

    Left Handed Newbie

    As a fellow left-hander, I feel your pain. I have both a left-hand Cabelas Hawken in .54, and a Thompson Center Arms Hawken .50, but both are percussion. If you are just getting started in muzzleloading, I recommend you start with a percussion. Then, once you "master" the caplocks, move to a...
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    BEARS IN ALASKA

    I totally agree with Mart. I have killed a griz with a .54, but a percussion and conicals. The guide is the one that is taking a huge risk in allowing a flinter and round balls, and if he is confident, there is no reason not to try it. If he is backing you up with a .375, you will be fine...
  19. A

    Was this a good deal "CABELAS"

    I have a .54 Left hand Hawken from Cabelas, and it treats me nicely!!!! I have a T.C. Hawken, but use my Cabelas much more often. It fires consistantly, and has taken moose, caribou and bear here in Alaska.......
  20. A

    ignorant question so bear with me please

    These folks are right. You'd be surprised how many wonder that same issue but were too shy to ask. I am one of them who wondered this for a while....... Thanks for asking so we all get the answer. :bow:
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