.54 Cal Hawken at 100 yards

[BrownBear]

I have yet to get the paperwork from a deer complaining about beeing shot with a 75 or 80 grain load from a 50 cal. rifle,which is about 1.5 times the caliber in grains.

Of course, if you wound him for a loopy trajectory he's not sticking around to sign papers. The point most of us are making is about velocity and trajectory and not killing power. In lots of parts of the country, you simply have to prepare for longer shooting. I don't like to do it and usually pass, but my guns are ready if it comes down to it. Not a whit about killing power, and no one following me around with a broom to sweep up anything that doesn't burn.

 

[William O.]

Original Poster here.

Thanks for all the advice and lively discussion.

I went to the Clark Brothers range on Sunday and set up a target at 100 yards.

Increased my FFg black powder load to 70gr and raised my aim point to the top of the paper sighting target, 10 inches above the bulls eye.

Shot 8 lead round balls (.535" diameter) with .018" pre-lubed pillow ticking patches.

Result was a 5-inch group centered 2 inches above the bulls-eye. Whoever said I would get an 8-inch drop got it right.

Tomorrow (4th of July) I plan to go to the range again and adjust my rear sight elevation to zero my aim point on the bulls eye at 100 yards using the same 70gr load.

Sounds like a good plan, glad you got good results. I would increase your powder charge by 5 grains and see if your groups get smaller or maybe change some other things and see if that helps, but if you are satisfied with those groups and get consistency then stick with 70 grains. I know that I'm thrilled when I can hit the gong at 80 yards shooting offhand with my .54 so have fun with yours.

 

[TraprMike]

Original Poster here.

Thanks for all the advice and lively discussion.

I went to the Clark Brothers range on Sunday and set up a target at 100 yards.

Increased my FFg black powder load to 70gr and raised my aim point to the top of the paper sighting target, 10 inches above the bulls eye.

Shot 8 lead round balls (.535" diameter) with .018" pre-lubed pillow ticking patches.

Result was a 5-inch group centered 2 inches above the bulls-eye. Whoever said I would get an 8-inch drop got it right.

Tomorrow (4th of July) I plan to go to the range again and adjust my rear sight elevation to zero my aim point on the bulls eye at 100 yards using the same 70gr load.

Sounds like a good plan, glad you got good results. I would increase your powder charge by 5 grains and see if your groups get smaller or maybe change some other things and see if that helps, but if you are satisfied with those groups and get consistency then stick with 70 grains. I know that I'm thrilled when I can hit the gong at 80 yards shooting offhand with my .54 so have fun with yours.

yes, please post the results after the sight adjustment. I, too shoot a 54 and have been working at 50-60 yds. went back to 100 and it was quite an eye opening.
I'd like to sight in at 100 yds, and adjust for shorter ranges.
have fun with the .54, I am!!

 

[AllenHawken]

I went back on the 4th of July, adjusted the sight and got 12 shots in a 5 inch group centered an inch left of the bulls eye using 70gr FFg before I dry-balled a load (forgot to pour in the powder before ramming in a spit-patched ball - DOH!) and spent the rest of the afternoon at home successfully extracting a stuck .535 lead round ball with a ball puller and .018 pillow ticking patch with a patch puller. Hope I never have to do that again.

On July 7 I reconfirmed the sight elevation at 100 yards (have not fixed the 1-inch left windage yet) and tried a few at 50 yards to see what my aim point below the bulls eye would need to be with the sights calibrated for 100 yards. Figured it at 2 inches below the bulls eye and the range closed before I could do any more shooting.

I'm getting there, and learning more each time!

 

[Zonie]

The next time you dry ball at the range, remove the nipple. Pour some powder into the area under the nipple and work it down towards the barrel thru the connecting hole.

With 3 or more grains of powder inserted, reinstall the nipple, aim downrange, cap and fire the gun.

That much powder will shoot out almost any ball or slug with more power than you would expect so don't aim it at anything you like when you fire it.

If it doesn't blow the ball/bullet out, reseat the ball/bullet and try trickling more powder under the nipple. 99.8 times out of 100 it will fix the problem.

 

[Rat Trapper]

The next time you dry ball at the range, remove the nipple. Pour some powder into the area under the nipple and work it down towards the barrel thru the connecting hole.

With 3 or more grains of powder inserted, reinstall the nipple, aim downrange, cap and fire the gun.

That much powder will shoot out almost any ball or slug with more power than you would expect so don't aim it at anything you like when you fire it.

If it doesn't blow the ball/bullet out, reseat the ball/bullet and try trickling more powder under the nipple. 99.8 times out of 100 it will fix the problem.

:thumbsup: This is way easier and faster than trying to pull a bullet.