How fast is a Hawken ball?

[LME]

I’m not a powder pincher by any means, because I’ve several pounds looking for the most accurate load for my Lyman .54 cal GPR. Even with only 65 gr. of 3f Goex behind a round ball, it will still push a ball through both shoulder blades of deer 75-80 yards away. I’m good with that. I can certainly understand needing more power for the bigger game, so what ever works for you, I’m ecstatic with.

I have had a few .54 cal. rifles and they all shot 80 grains of powder best.They also shot Pyrodex as well as black powder. I have never tried any other types of powder. My few friends that had .54 cal rifles had the same results. I did try 120 grains and the group was to wide. The same thing happened to a lesser degree as I decreased the load until we reached 80 grains. If shots were close any load would do but I strive for accuracy and this was my findings. These are with a 1:66 twist barrels. This may not apply to fast twist barrels?

 

[hanshi]

The .54 rifle in my battery has a 33" bbl and has been fired quite a few rounds using 110grains of 3F. It even killed a deer DRT with that very load. And I can tell you that load really does shoot! Velocity is about 1730 + or - fps. Although the rifle weighs in at some 10.5 lbs the recoil will get one's attention right off the bat. Twist is 1-66".

That heavy load is, admittedly, a bit much for most uses so the normal "everything" load is 60 grains of 3F. This load groups around 1" at 60 yards with a velocity, IIRC, around 1300 + or - fps. That's good for deer up to 100 yards, IMHO, which is about 3X the distance I actually shoot them.

 

[LME]

The .54 rifle in my battery has a 33" bbl and has been fired quite a few rounds using 110grains of 3F. It even killed a deer DRT with that very load. And I can tell you that load really does shoot! Velocity is about 1730 + or - fps. Although the rifle weighs in at some 10.5 lbs the recoil will get one's attention right off the bat. Twist is 1-66".

That heavy load is, admittedly, a bit much for most uses so the normal "everything" load is 60 grains of 3F. This load groups around 1" at 60 yards with a velocity, IIRC, around 1300 + or - fps. That's good for deer up to 100 yards, IMHO, which is about 3X the distance I actually shoot them.

That is faster than my 45/70? I have seen the results of my rifle and I can gurantee that it is enough to take down everything from a mouse to a Sherman tank!

 

[Eterry]

This is something I have wondered for some time. The .54 Hawken rifle below is my first build - a Kit Carson from TOW. I have taken several bucks with this gun but I have pondered about what velocity I was getting. My standard load has been 125 grains FF, Now, I realize there are some "powder pinchers" here who will jump to explain why this is an unnecessary heavy load in terms of game lethality. And they are right, however I believe the Hawken was intended as a heavy hitter and I enjoy the laser flat trajectory this load gives me at any reasonably hunting distance.

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Today I was at the range to zero a replacement rear sight and was delighted when a fellow shooter suggested I put a ball through his chronograph. I had a guesstimated number in mind, extrapolated from online tables but now thanks to the chronograph we know for certain. 125 grains of Swiss FF pushes the ball at 1979 FPS.


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No wonder the balls recovered from game are flat and quarter sized.

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Not to rain on your parade, but how many shots did you run across his sky screens? How far was his sky screens from your muzzle?

I've used a Pact Chronograph for 20 years. A big problem using it and muzzleloaders is inconsistent readings due to powder smoke. I have to set my equipment WAY out there to get consistent velocities.

I would be suspect of one shot across the sky screens.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Not to rain on your parade, but how many shots did you run across his sky screens? How far was his sky screens from your muzzle?

I've used a Pact Chronograph for 20 years. A big problem using it and muzzleloaders is inconsistent readings due to powder smoke. I have to set my equipment WAY out there to get consistent velocities.

I would be suspect of one shot across the sky screens.

An excellent observation. Actually we had to move the screens quite a bit forward in order to obtain good results. We were wondering of the billowing smoke bloom had something to do with it.

 

[Eterry]

I had to stop using one range because they don't allow anything in front of the firing line and I needed my screens about 20 feet away from the muzzle.
Yes, the smoke definitely has an impact.