Conical choices for a 1-48 54cal. Hawken

I have a Investarms Hawken 54 cal. with 28 inch 1-48 twist barrel. I want to work up a load for deer and I am looking for recomendations on full lead conicals or powerbelts (non-jacketed). In your opinion, what range of bullet weights, (and brands) will work well with this rifle. Also what type of pyrodex (powder) should I try first? Thanks.

 

[jdixon]

I have what sounds to be the same rifle. My best hunting load for fast knock down, a .54 Harvester Sabot (red) and a .452 Horandy JHP 250 gr. pistol bullet in front of 100 gr. of Ffg. This projectile is not very long and is stabilized well with the 1:48" twist. Very hard hitting and dumps a tremendous amount of its available energy into the target, mushrooming well. I have hit several whitetails out to almost 100 yards with this load and they have dropped on the spot. Both the sabots and bullets are available through Cabela's. :front:

 

Thanks, but sabots are not legal in my season. Only roundballs, non-jacketed conicals and Powerbelts. Sorry I did not make that more clear.

 

[Tahquamenon]

Check these out:

http://members.aol.com/noexcusesb/page3.html (54cal/535gr Conical)

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https://www.hornady.com/shop/
54 CAL 390 GR HB-HP
Item No. Price
6629 $7.33

The three-diameter bearing surface makes Hornady's Great Plains bullets easy to load while ensuring a tight fit to the bore. Pre-lubed with all-natural lube, and cold-swaged for greater accuracy. Packaged 15 per box.

54 CAL 425 GR HB-HP
Item No. Price
6630 $7.56

The three-diameter bearing surface makes Hornady's Great Plains bullets easy to load while ensuring a tight fit to the bore. Pre-lubed with all-natural lube, and cold-swaged for greater accuracy. Packaged 15 per box.

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Thompson/Center Maxi-Hunter or Maxi-Ball

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http://www.prbullet.com/ul54.htm

For powder I would recommend the following:

Traditional Black Powder: Swiss 3FG or 2FG preferred or Goex as a the next best. With 3FG, reduce your 2FG max load about 15%. www.powderinc.com.

For Substitute Powder: Black Mag'3 or Hogdgon 777 3FG (also reduce these powders 15% from your standard max 2FG BP loads). www.midsouthshootersupply.com or www.cabelas.com (also can order conical's from midsouth and cabelas.

I would not even mess with Pyrodex.

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Also, get a package of 54 cal wads to try with your conical. Load the powder, then the wad, then the conical.
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Lastly, RWS Dynamit-Nobel #1075 caps.

:thumbsup:

:m2c:

 

[flaming canvas]

Go with a hollow base bullet. They will seal better than flat bottom bullets and give more consistent velocity. The Hornady Great Plains works well in my Renegade.

 

[mtharney]

I have a Knight Disc 50, I know they're two different animals, but I had good luck with No Excuses bullets. Dave was real helpful in matching my 50 up with a good starting load.
If I can get a 54 by this fall, that is what I plan to use.
http://www.muzzleloading-bullets.com/index.html
Mike

 

[SCATTERSHOT]

I've always had real good luck with the T/C Maxis. They hold lots of lube, are accurate in my rifles, and hit like a freight train. 1;48 is the same twist as T/C rifles, too, BTW

 

[cayugad]

I have a Investarms Hawken 54 cal. with 28 inch 1-48 twist barrel. I want to work up a load for deer and I am looking for recomendations on full lead conicals or powerbelts (non-jacketed). In your opinion, what range of bullet weights, (and brands) will work well with this rifle. Also what type of pyrodex (powder) should I try first? Thanks.

I have the same rifle only mine is a "Lyman Trade Rifle." It will shoot the 300 grain R.E.A.L. conicals with 80 grains of Goex 2f real well. I also shot the 405 grain Powerbelts out of it and they also did a good job. If all I was hunting was deer, I personally would just load the rifle with 90 grains of Goex 2f and a patched roundball. That will still knock a deer down as fast or faster then most any projectile. It is all in the placement.

 

[lonewolf5347]

http://www.blackjackhill.com/
Here is a guy from FLA. that sell cast REAL CONICAL for the 54cal. in 300 @ 380 grainers,I like the 380 over a wad and 85 grains of 3f goex

 

Thanks Guys...You gave me some good options to try.
I'm thinking a shorter (less weight) bullet may be better with a slower (1-48) twist. I know each rifle is different, but as a general rule is that correct?

 

[SCATTERSHOT]

You are correct. The slower the twist, the shorter the bullet. That's why roundball rifles have twists of 1:66 or even slower. T/C designed their Maxis for their rifles, and that's good enough for me.

 

[powerstroke]

The powerbelt line of bullets has treated me very well. I actually started using them before powerbelt bought the patent. they used to be made by a company called big bore express and they called the bullets "black belts". A company rep gave me a pack of "black belts" at an archery/muzzleloader convention about 10 or 12 years ago and I have been hooked ever since. I am shooting a T/C 50 cal. hawken. I shoot the 348 gr hollowpoint powerbelt on top of 80 grains of 777. accuracy is nothing short of amazing and the knockdown power on big Illinois whitetails is very impressive. If conditions are perfect and shooting from a good rest I can print ragged holes at 50 yards and 3 inch groups at 100 yards. I have anchored 2 nice bucks and countless does with this setup over the years. Both bucks were between 180 and 190 lbs dressed and both traveled less than 30 yards. The does rarely moved more than a few steps after being shot. I have also turned a few unsuspecting coyotes inside out with those babies!! ::

 

[microbe1]

HI, As another chap endorsed... can't beat the maxiballs...same principle as artillery shells...the driving band... you engrave the rifling as you load it and my TC Hawken is as accurate as all get out with them...I reckon they're only marginally slower to load than minies but 10x more accurate...and you're facing a deer trying to get away... not lines of advancing infantry the Minie was designed for.
See ya, Al

 

[THBailey]

Another Maxi-Ball recomendation here. I shoot the 435 gr Maxi out of my 1-48 twist .54 New Englander over 100 gr (measured) of Pyrodex RS, with Natural Lube 1000. Out of my light New Englander I have to make sure my tooth fillings are glued in tight before I touch it off. I have taken several big Mule Deer with this combo. At the range I get about 4" at 100 yards with it. By the way, 45 gr (measured) with a RPB hits dead center into 2" at 50 yards with the same sight picture for a very mild rabbit load out of the same gun.

 

Just an update and a chance to blow my own horn
I went out yesterday and shot a 2 shot, one hole group at 100 yards.
I had replaced the factory sights with a XS ghost ring and was shooting 105 gr. Pyro Select with a 348 gr lead hp Powerbelt to get those results. Thanks for the help.

 

[roundball]

Just an update and a chance to blow my own horn
I went out yesterday and shot a 2 shot, one hole group at 100 yards.
I had replaced the factory sights with a XS ghost ring and was shooting 105 gr. Pyro Select with a 348 gr lead hp Powerbelt to get those results. Thanks for the help.

That'll bring home the venison !!
:front: