Good load for deer hunting

[deermanok]

I'm not much of "poster" but I do enjoy reading all of the others threads and I gain a lot of useful information.
I recently bought a Traditions Deer Hunter rifle in 50 cal. I've sighted it in at 50 yards with patched round ball, .490 with a .20 patch. using 60 grains of 3f Goex powder. The rifle seems to shoot very well but am wondering if my choice is good enough for deer at distances out to about 75 yards. The New England woods were I hunt are pretty thick and 75 yards is probably a very long shot. Most shots are really at about 50 yards or less.

 

[russellshaffer]

I sure hope so - I carried a 50 with that load this deer season. I didn't even see a buck to shoot at, though, so I don't have an informed opinion. Waiting for some expert advice here.

 

[longcruise]

I have killed two mule deer with .50 balls and 60 grains of powder. One with a TC Hawken 60 gr goex ff at about 40 yards. That on dropped where it was hit with a double lung shot.

The other caused me to sit up at reading your post because it too was a .50 Traditions Deerhunter. The load was .495 ball, 60 gr Scheutzen 3f at 80 yards and was also a double lung shot. That deer went about 60 yards.

So, I'm convinced by actual experience that it's adequate as long as they are hit in the vitals.

 

[Logcutter]

Well I'm no expert at all Deermanct. But I have killed several deer with a .50 cal. PRB over 60 to 65 Gr. of FFF. Some balls passed clear through and a few I found up against the hide on the far side of the deer. None of the deer went far and some fell where I shot them. That load is up to the job in my opinion.
I edited to add none of my shots were over 80 yds and most much closer.

 

[azmntman]

More than adequate. With a good hit it wouldn't matter if you bumped up to 90 or likely down to 50. SHOT PLACEMENT

 

[trlrider]

Our son dropped two this past weekend with a 70 grain patch/ball load out of a Traditions Woodsman!
Both shots went clean thru. One through the heart and broke the opposite shoulder. The 2nd went through both lungs. Neither went more than 50 yards.
Picture here is Sunday's Buck!

 

[Sparkitoff]

I have a Deer Hunter model and it likes 70 grains a little better than 60 grains. The actual velocity on the chronograph shows only a 43 fps difference. The velocity doesn't jump significantly until you add 10 more grains and get to 80+. Nonetheless, your 60 grain load is very close to my 70 grain load and it has proven to be lethal on deer. So far it has been used out to 70 yards. I can hit the target out to 100 yards but groups open up due to distance, sighting and human error. For what you described it should be great!

 

[hanshi]

I shoot 70 grains of 3F in my .50 simply because it's the most accurate load at 100 yards.

 

[deermanok]

Thanks to all for your replies. I plan to do more target shooting as soon as I can. I only have about 20 or so shots through the rifle right now. I know that the barrel needs to season more and will get better with time. It sure is a nice light rifle to carry through the woods.
On the opening day of our muzzleloader season, I had a chance at a nice 8 pointer but held back as the buck I call "Big Boy" who I've been trying to kill for the last 5 years was also present but he stayed back quite a ways and never presented a shot. Hope to see him again.

 

[necchi]

If your shooting that thing accurately with 60grns,, your golden. There is no need to worry about that load for Whitetail.
Your rifle choice and load is good. Focus on the hunt with no worry of the rifles performance and ability,

 

[Blackpowdersmoke]

trlrider...
That's a beautiful buck your boy shot with his muzzy... I'm sure he's proud! Tell him Congrats for me!! 70g of fffg black is the preffered load in several of the ML's I hunt with as well.

BPS

 

[Kansas Jake]

The Deerhunter is a light rifle and once you get over 70 grains it will punch both ways. 60-70 grains and you should be golden if it is accurate with that load.

 

[trlrider]

Thank You! Much appreciated! This was his second buck ever, the first was taken the morning before and of the same quality. Was a outstanding weekend.
Sadly we had to come home early, otherwise I would have probably gotten mine that evening.
We have been using (choke) Triple 7 in his rifle, as no one stocks BP in our area, and only places I have found that will ship it, have a 25 pound minimum.
He shoots the same rifle in 4-H competition also.

trlrider...
That's a beautiful buck your boy shot with his muzzy... I'm sure he's proud! Tell him Congrats for me!! 70g of fffg black is the preffered load in several of the ML's I hunt with as well.

BPS

 

[S.Kenton]

I'm not much of "poster" but I do enjoy reading all of the others threads and I gain a lot of useful information.
I recently bought a Traditions Deer Hunter rifle in 50 cal. I've sighted it in at 50 yards with patched round ball, .490 with a .20 patch. using 60 grains of 3f Goex powder. The rifle seems to shoot very well but am wondering if my choice is good enough for deer at distances out to about 75 yards. The New England woods were I hunt are pretty thick and 75 yards is probably a very long shot. Most shots are really at about 50 yards or less.

My advice to you is this; work up the very most accurate and consistent load you possibly can...then hunt with that load. No matter if it's 50 grains and a .015 patch or 100 grains and a .025 patch. Also keep in mind that even the most accurate load can wound a deer and not kill...so practice practice practice...shot placement is everything. There are others who have already touched on these subjects..I'm just elaborating. Good luck and have fun!!

 

[reddog]

"I shoot 70 grains of 3F in my .50 simply because it's the most accurate load at 100 yards."

And that is the name of the game.
My .54 GM likes 90gr of 2F Swiss, My .50 GM flint likes 80gr 2F Swiss, and the .58 GM likes 115gr 1.5 Swiss.

Many .50's like 70gr of 3F, seems to be a good load for a lot of 50 cal.

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

Your load of 60 grains of 3f is probably equal to a 70 grain load of 2f so I'd say it is good to hunt. You can not "season" the bore. That is an old saying. Your barrel is made of modern steel, not iron as the old muzzleloader barrels were. What you will do is "condition" the bore, smoothing the rifling by repetitive shooting and swabbing, which makes it better. As said above, shot placement is critical with lighter loads. Myself, I would try to keep the shot off the shoulder but still try for the heart and lungs. That load will kill any deer with good shot placement.

 

[renegadehunter]

We have been using (choke) Triple 7 in his rifle, as no one stocks BP in our area, and only places I have found that will ship it, have a 25 pound minimum.

Just an FYI, I believe Graf's only has a 5lbs minimum.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Just an FYI, I believe Graf's only has a 5lbs minimum.

PowderValleyInc has no minimum, mix and match with primers, caps, etc....

 

[Idaholewis]

I'm not much of "poster" but I do enjoy reading all of the others threads and I gain a lot of useful information.
I recently bought a Traditions Deer Hunter rifle in 50 cal. I've sighted it in at 50 yards with patched round ball, .490 with a .20 patch. using 60 grains of 3f Goex powder. The rifle seems to shoot very well but am wondering if my choice is good enough for deer at distances out to about 75 yards. The New England woods were I hunt are pretty thick and 75 yards is probably a very long shot. Most shots are really at about 50 yards or less.

Shot placement is key above all other. Load data below is from my Lyman Load Manual, This is with 24” Barrel 1:48 Twist, Your rifle should be right in here

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I shoot 70 grains of 3F in my .50 simply because it's the most accurate load at 100 yards.

I do the same with my .54, and I use the same powder for priming. It was the most accurate load for my previous .50 caliber rifle, so when I got the larger bore, I tried it on that. I tried other loads too, but found I was lucky that the same load worked for both. My longest shot has been 110 yards on a large doe, and went through her broadside, going through a rib, and passing between a pair of ribs as it exited. I think in the OP's case, out to 100 yards it would be fine.

LD