40 cal. Load suggestions?

[Brad]

I'm going to get a .40 cal IBS drop in green mt barrel for my hawken, 32'' 1:48 twist. I'm going to use this for small game and target. What size roundball and patch would be a good combo for this cal and twist?

 

[Slowpoke]

For target work, I like to use a bore size or greater ball, I shoot a .405 out of mine. Now this isn't something that you would want to do while hunting because I have to use a hammer to tap the ball to get it started. For hunting I would use a .395 or .390. As far as powder is concerned, for targets I use 60 gr of 3F because I don't have to change my sights for 25 and 50 yards. To be honest with you, I couldn't tell the difference in my groups between 50 and 60 grains but I prefer 60. For hunting, just use the same charge as you do for target. The ball is going to pass threw whatever small game you shoot at so, I would just use what you're uses to.
Not with this said, take it with a grain of salt. Do your own testing and have a good time. By doing so you'll get to know your rifle.

 

[Hawkeye]

Brad,

Typically a good starting load is about one grain per caliber, ie 40 grains in a 40 cal. Mine likes .395 round balls .015 ox yoke lubed patches, (too lazy to mess around experimenting) and 40 grains of FFFg Swiss. I've found with this rifle I need about 50 grain of Goex to get the same point of impact and the Goex seems to foul a little worse than Swiss. At any rate I hope this helps and have fun, the .40's are a ball to shoot.

 

[Dave K]

I use 25gr. of Swiss 3F for squirrels or 25yd. targets and double that for deer or 100yd. targets.

 

[No Powder]

The 40 cal. at one time was considered the all around cal. but here in Iowa you must have at least a 45 cal to hunt deer with, so it has fallen to the way side. I have a 40 cal. Green mountain barrel for my old Thompson Center it likes 40 grains fffg, .012 to .015 patch 390 ball. My grandson used this setup for his first ever shoot and won the match. He's 10 and Grandpa likes to slip this fact in when ever possible. Not proud or anything. :applause:

 

[Java Man]

That's great No Powder. I am getting my 13yr old started with a .50cal T/C Hawken I assembled for my Dad about 20 years ago. Gonna try to get my nine year old a light short stocked something before summer, so he can shoot a couple matches too.

Java Man