CVA .45 kit rifle - max load?

[tenngun]

In a 36 inch barrel Lyman records 80grains 3f as 2135 fps, 50grains as 1640.
At 2100 fps velocity is 1534 at 50 yards and 1112 at a hundred. At 1600 fps, 500fps slower at fifty is 1155 and 918 at a hundred a tad bit less then 200 fps.
A deer that will die with a 1534 will be just as dead with an 1155
The ‘step up’ for a .45 is a conical. The key to round ball is close range

 

[J. Paul]

The manual from the one I built from a kit in 1972 reccomended 105 grains 3f max. Looked at a book from about 1999 had 85 grains for max. ( I assume because of Legal Department inpjt)

 

[nightwolf1974]

So, 60 grns. 2F should be fine with a PRB?

 

[mooman76]

If you are hunting deer I would go 70 but for punching paper 60 is fine.

 

[J. Paul]

With my 50, 60 is most accurate, play with your 45a bit to find its sweet spot

 

[nightwolf1974]

If you are hunting deer I would go 70 but for punching paper 60 is fine.

It's not a deer gun, it's going to be my teenage daughter's gun. She has a .45 cal. T/C Hawken for deer.

 

[deermanok]

So, 60 grns. 2F should be fine with a PRB?

I use 60 grains of 3f with a patched ball in my 45 caliber rifle.
Very accurate load and more of a push on the shoulder than a slap.

 

[lonedave]

50 gr Goex 2f, .440 ball, and .15 patch in a .45 Seneca from about 40 yards did this Montana doe in. For hunting, I wouldn't think you'd need more than possibly 80 gr of 2f in a 45, especially with a prb. With a conical maybe as high as 90 gr, but not in a light gun like a Seneca as they had a tendency to crack stocks in the lock/wrist area.

 

[nightwolf1974]

.... With a conical maybe as high as 90 gr, but not in a light gun like a Seneca as they had a tendency to crack stocks in the lock/wrist area.

That's why I like the .45cal. Hawken, a beefier stock.

 

[sawyer04]

Well, I have been using 60 grains of 3 f with a Lee mold minnie ball.

 

[SDSmlf]

That's why I like the .45cal. Hawken, a beefier stock.

Any particular manufacturer’s Hawken?

 

[LME]

With my 50, 60 is most accurate, play with your 45a bit to find its sweet spot

I found .50 MLs to be most accurate with 60 grains as well!

 

[Red Owl]

I think you meant PRB OR maxi-ball. No one has mentioned that the internal pressure goes way up when you switch from a PRB to any sort of bullet, the heavier the weight the higher the pressure. As stated a PRB will do in any deer at normal muzzle loader ranges (say 70 yards more or less)
The PRB means no lead fouling in the bore, I am 100% committed to PRB.s. They kill better than the ballistics indicate. I friend of mine shot an elk in Colorado- some time back. I think a 50 caliber and that ball had flatten out to the size of a quarter coin, through both lungs. Elk more or less dropped.
On huge charges of powder over a PRB. There is only so fast you can drive a ball, heavy charges are a waste of powder.

 

[nightwolf1974]

Any particular manufacturer’s Hawken?

T/C