Deer load

[bigmike]

Would 80 grains of ffg or pyrodex rs have enough velocity and knock down power using a 490 round ball? My maximum range with open sights is around 50 yards. Bad eyesight.

 

[necchi]

Yes Sir !

The best Deer Load is the one that is the most accurate in your rifle. If your rifle shoots a better group at 65-70grns your still well within a good hunting load.

 

[tatman731]

I have shot deer with a 45 ball and 60 grains with very good success! I am sure a 50 will kill it just as dead! :grin:

 

[crockett]

Ideal load.

 

[Danny Ross]

Been there and done that, and yes it will. DANNY

 

[Bugflipper]

That's my hunting load in 50 as well.

 

[vietnam71]

That's a good load you should have no issues. Good Luck....

 

[hanshi]

More than enough. I use 70 grns of 3F in my .50.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

80 grains of 2Fg is an ideal load in a Hawken-style half-stock. I use 72 grains of 3Fg which is a similar load, given the usual -10% charge differential from my use of 3Fg.

Which ever powder/patch combination you chose to use, check your patches for burns & tears and if none are present and your groups are tight, you hit the "sweet spot" and congrats to you & good luck!

Dave

 

[William O.]

The ideal load for your rifle is the one that is consistently accurate out of your rifle, not someone else's. Take the time to work up an accurate load and then put the ball where it needs to be;the deer will go down. A good starting load for your rifle is 50 grains of Goex. Arguments and advice aside, choose 3f for the time being if using Goex. Forget any notions of "knockdown" power too, it's a myth.

 

[Ron_T.]

My deer hunting load for my older CVA .50 caliber Hawken with a 24-inch barrel is just 70 grains of FFFg Swiss Black Powder because that's one of my most accurate loads plus I limit my shots to just 80 yards or less... and at that distance, a 70 grain load of FFFg and a .490" patched, round ball will shoot through an average-sized buck if the ball is placed in the deer's "kill zone" just behind the shoulder on a broad-side shot leaving 2 holes to let the blood out for a decent blood-trail.

I'm guessing my rifle's muzzle velocity is about 1600-1650 fps 'cause I haven't chronographed it, but that's more than "enough" for a 120-160 lb. deer at 80 yards or less... usually less.

Generally, the deer run only a short distance or drop where they stand if the ball is placed in the "kill zone".

Of course, I only take a shot if the deer is standing or walking slowly. I won't take a trotting, "bouncing" or running shot... too much danger of only wounding the animal.

Make "good" smoke... :grin:


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

 

[Rifleman1776]

A lot of folks (experts) argue there is no such thing as 'knock down power'.
But, yes that is a more than adequate load for whitetail deer.
I use a .45 cal. prb with a 65 grain charge. Much less gun than you are considering. The deer I have killed dropped where they stood. No 'knock down' just destruction of vital organs from a properly placed shot.

 

[mike3132]

I shot a small buck two weeks ago using 45 Hawken, PRB and 60grains of 3f OE. Shot was broadside and the deer ran about 50 yards with little blood trail. The ball shot threw both ribs and exited, hole in and hole out about the same size as the ball. The ball didn't flatten out much if any at all. It was a Speer ball. After seeing the damage I reworked a Maxi-ball load for hunting with the .45. 70 grain of 3F Goex and a 240 Maxi shot under 1" @ 70 yards.

 

[Rifleman1776]

The ball didn't flatten out much if any at all. It was a Speer ball.

That is very surprising. Pure lead balls generally flatten/expand impressively.
Here is one of mine, .45 cal., recovered from a deer.

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[George T.]

That should get the job done! There were several deer that did not live thru that load on our lease!

Geo. T.

 

[Roguedog]

That load should go all the way through with no problem.

Jeff

 

[58CAL]

that load would probably go end to end not just sideways!!!!!

 

[tenngun]

Yes when I started shooting in the 70s I thought you needed all the powder the gun could safly load. I shot 120 3f in a 50 and 140 3 in a 54. Didn't take me long to figgure out that was a waste of powder. I shoot 80 in my .62 and 70 in my 50 more then enough to go through and through.

 

[Carl Fowler III]

Yes sir, that load should work well! I find most of my shots are inside 50yds when using the ML...all my shots have gone completely thru deer I've ever shot with it! :v

 

[azmntman]

I use 70 gr 777 and .490 and have had no need to look for blood as I have always seen the deer drop in sight. All pass throughs. I'd use 50 if it shot as well as 70 but groups a bit larger with anything but 70. My pop shot a buffalooo with a .58 conical with 70 gr and it went through to the other side and was easily felt under the skin and recovered, flattened nice and MR buff took just three leaps and dropped. Play with the gun s loads and find the most accurate and thats what to go with.