50 cal light loads
- Thread starter CapPopper
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You can go with a light load if you are thumpin them in the head. I would not go less than 25 grains, (IMO) but really would encourage you to do a penetration test at the yardage you have in mind. You also want to keep in mind accuracy, and what will be your point of aim when you start getting lighter on a charge.
Flintlocklar
:wink:
Flintlocklar
:wink:
CapPopper said:
Whatever gets the ball out of the barrel. Only way to find what is good for you is to try. It has been said that back in the day real mountain men used only a half charge for most shooting. That saved powder. If needed when going to war or hunting buff or grizz they would up it to full. Also, said (offhand I don't have proof) their powder measures were only half charges. Meaning a full was two dumps. Makes sense to me. Do some shooting and share with us what you learn.
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A word of caution....Round balls will ricochet off frozen ground and trees like crazy at low velocity.
They also can ricochet straight back.
Chose your target carefully.
They also can ricochet straight back.
Chose your target carefully.
hanshi
Cannon
Thirty grains of 2F gave me squirrel accuracy out to 50 yards.
CapPopper
40 Cal.
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Well im wanting close to 1000 at the muzzle my gun is sighted in for a 360 minie ball so im really hoping the slow balls go way higher than they would at full power my gun doesn't shoot balls good even as low as 70grs so im hoping slower will help cause 100 grains was no better than 70... Just want to know how low I can go in pursuit of reasonable small game accuracy its entirely possible ill scrap the idea if it just won't shoot round balls
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You are looking more at feet than yards if you are hunting bunnies and squirrels. A light load in the 20-30 grain range should be adequate out to 30 yards or so. I've hunted rabbits with a 44 caliber cap and ball revolver and that would be the load range I used. Granted a 50 has a heavier ball, but you also have the longer barrel which should give more velocity. I would see if a load in that range would hold a decent group at 25 yards and call it good. You probably won't be shooting squirrels or bunnies at 50 yards very often.
CapPopper
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Yeah 25-30 max and ill probably carry carry a single shot pistol as well in 223 or 22 hornet for anything farther I may want to shoot also for yotes and other vermin but I want to use the muzzleloader more and figured that would be a great way to do so... At least till I get my other barrel opened to 28 gauge when I got time to get to the lathe
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Either should be fine. I often use 2f in my 50, but have used 3f too. Many here use 3f for pretty much all of their rifles.
If you have both, just try both and see which your rifle likes best.
If you have both, just try both and see which your rifle likes best.
Hawken1820.50cal
32 Cal
Old thread but actually went squrell/rabbit with the. 50 P&B today, went with 40g 3f pyrodex.....never put a bead on one....but was curious when it would hit at lowest sight setting I have at 20yds...it was 6" high
...maybe I'll try 25-30g tomorw....that's why I have a ball screw, find out what don't work and pull it and up the charge till it dose .....I'm seriously considering taking back ramp off and fashioning a level ring for the back to match the front.
Rock Home Isle
58 Cal.
Nice Thread Ressurrection.
As a kid, I used my .50 calibre CVA to hunt rabbits, squirrels…prairie dogs. My load was 54 grains ffg, under a patched RB.
As a kid, I used my .50 calibre CVA to hunt rabbits, squirrels…prairie dogs. My load was 54 grains ffg, under a patched RB.
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I would range test with decr. powder loads until accuracy falls off unacceptably.
Hawken1820.50cal
32 Cal
Went out yesterday ..20° I lasted 3 hrs
....but did do some target on an ancient telephone pole at 20 yards.....I had pre Loaded 4 tubes of 30g of 3f and used a spit patch and 490 ball...had my TC .50 rear lowered all the way and shot 4" low....4 clicks was 1" low....left it at that....oh ya I got some where around 2" depth from what I could tell, so good enough for a rabbit/squrells head....I dident test it but, I figured if I raised barell till rear sight matched bottom of blade, it would probably hit same at 40yds....but that's a guess for now....I'll let yall know.
My dad used to kill rabbits in his garden probably 20 yards range using a crosman BB pistol!
I don't think you're going to have to go do penetration test to kill a rabbit.
I will advise though if you have a patent breach type chamber . Ya might want to make sure that your powder fills that little cavity so your ball sits on top of it.
I don't think you're going to have to go do penetration test to kill a rabbit.
I will advise though if you have a patent breach type chamber . Ya might want to make sure that your powder fills that little cavity so your ball sits on top of it.
Use to use 35 gr of 3f under a patched ball in both my TC 50 and my Pedersoli flint 50 for squirrels before the PA game commission became afraid of us taking down airplanes with our 50's!
tc 50
tc 50
