help on loads for GPH

[Napper]

Very new to this site and was wondering about loads for a 50 cal. GPH I aam using 80 gr. of 3fg now and wanted to know if you all though that this was a lode that could be used for elk? I know that it will kill deer as have killed a few I Use a 350 to 370 t/c maxie ball that I cast myself. also 80gr. 3f and 100gr. 2f are max for GPH in 50 cal. do you think one could use a larger charge or not? tomm

 

[Uncle Jed]

It is my opinion that you would be a heap better off going with something in the 100 grain charge range of FFg powder behind that large projectile. Elk are big critters, big critters require a wee bit more power to humanely put down than smaller critters.

 

[paulvallandigham]

What pojectile are you going to use on Elk?If you are using conicals, that 80 grains is more than enough! If you are going to use a round ball- and there is no reason not to do so, as that 230 grain lead ball does an awesome job on elk at reasonable, open sight ranges- then try using FFg powder to take some of the recoil out of the gun. You will be a better shot, and shot placement is the name of the game when hunting animals with any PRB.

 

[Zonie]

I don't think a roundball is a viable selection in this case. The GPH has a fast (1:32)twist.

The Lyman BLACK POWDER HANDBOOK doesn't list the T/C slug but it does list a 370 grain Lyman Maxi.
The 80 grains of 3Fg will give about 1408 FPS muzzle velocity with 1629 Ft/Lbs of energy. At 100 yards the velocity is shown to be 1009 FPS with 837 Ft/Lbs of energy.

Although Lymans book shows a 100 grain load using 3Fg with this slug, the barrel pressures are up around 19,400 PSI which IMO is getting a bit high.

If you use 100 grains of 2Fg powder (with the Lyman 370 grain slug) the pressures are a little less than the 80 grain 3Fg load (15,500 PSI vs 16,800 PSI) and the muzzle velocity is shown to be 1503 FPS (a gain of 95 FPS) with an energy of 1856 Ft/Lbs.
At 100 yards, the velocity drops down to 1047 FPS with 900 Ft/Lbs of energy.

zonie

 

[BrownBear]

One of my 54's likes 90 grains of FF behind the 370. Never used it on elk, but I have whacked all my elk with single shots using 100 grains FF behind a PRB, so you should be just fine. Gotta say I did take a nice buck a couple of years ago with the 90gn FF/370 maxi combo at about 60 yards. And the doe right behind him with her head down. It was a three-deer area so that wasn't a problem, but it was surely a surprise. BTW- It was through-and-through penetration on both deer, so I have no doubt you'll do fine with the maxi on elk, too.

 

[Napper]

Thanks for the replays guys I will try the 100gr, of 2f to see if it shoots as good as the 80gr. of 3f about 2" at 100 yards well thanks agean tomm