HUNTING Question.

It won't be long before deer season will sneak up on us again.
I'm developing loads for the r/b shooting flinter jeager in .58 and think I'm about there and ready for the field.
However there are two reason that I want to shoot my T/C Hawkin with 1:28 twist in .50 OR my Lyman Deerstalker 24" barrel 1:48 twist.
I have a rather limited area (and limited time) to hunt. I use a tree stand where I COULD get a 150 yard clear shot.
I know that's way too far for the Jeager, but what about the T/C .50??? It has Lyman peeps, and I'm thinking about the Blackbelt 405 bullet and 90 to 110 grains of T-7 or Goex 3fg.
Anyone with a traditional type capper have any experience with loads in this range. I'd appreciate any opinions here.
The Deerstalker really shoots the Powerbelt 245 grain hollowpoint well. With open sights it will hold 2.5" groups at 100 yards and makes a dandy bad weather tree stand rifle.
Will the 245 Powerbelt over 90 grains of T-7 or Swiss 1.5 fg take a deer at 100 or more yards?
Of course I intend to shoot 150 yards at the range before I venture into the field.
The T/C will hold 1" groups with the 405 Powderbelt at 75 yards, that's as far as I've shot it in my back yard.
I've had the Deerstalker at the STATE range and it perfroms very well with the mentioned 245 Powerbelt AND the 370 grain Maxiball at 100 yards.
Thoughts?

 

[tg]

"Thoughts?" Yeah! what in the Devil does the above have to do with "Traditional ML hunting?".... as the venerable Eric Cartman would say...#%&* you guys, I'm going home...(VBG)

 

Gee whiz tg. I just want some advise from hunters that use common factory made caplocks for hunting deer.
There are a TON of similar posts here. Peep sights for the Lyman GPR, T/C cherokee loads, buckshot for deer and much, much more.
Anyuone out there have any experience with the Green Mountain bullet shooter drop in barrel for the T/C?

 

Traditional Muzzleloader Hunting (4 viewing)
Hunting with non-inline weapons.
This forum clearly says "Hunting with non-inline weapons."
Doesn't say period correct only hand made custom or original only muzzle loaders.
Or am I missing something here?

 

[Dave K]

As far as range on that gun. How do YOU perform at that range? That is the important part. I am sure that there is enough killing power, but it would sure help if it was in the right place!

 

[Maynerd62411]

I've had rather good luck with PRB with my T/C. I have a 1:48 twist. It'll hold a 3" group at 100 yds. but I've never went over that. My son has a Lyman Deerstalker as well with 1:48 and does well at 50 yds. He's still working on his confidence in hisself. He's 14.
Now, as far as traditional......here's a real kick for you. My T/C is a GreyHawk. It's the same shape and dimensions as the New Englander, BUT...it's got a stainless steel barrel and a synthetic stock. It's a sidelock with #11 cap ignition and other than the materials it is made , is the same as other fine T/C products. I would much rather have a nice wooden stock and blued barrel, but for $100,unfired, I'm not complaining. I'm sure I'll hear about how it's not traditional and all that, but unless someone wants to pay the difference, I'll stay with my $100 shooting iron, TYVM.

 

#1 traditional requirement: it has to have a crank on the side.

 

DavidS:
Your T/C is "traditional" enough for me. I love my T/C Hawken, and Lyman GPR, GPH, and Deerstalker as much as I appreciate my custom Jeager, Bucks County, and Bedford County rifles.
I have a T/C Mossy Oak synthetic stocked cap gun that is a real tack driver. It will make a fine brush gun and as far as I'm concerned I'm traditional when I hunt with it. :thumbsup:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Hey! Whoa, whoa, whoa. Conicals may not be your cup of meat, but I insist this category be flexible. We've got a lot of members here who use conicals. I do myself - in regular season but in a otherwise traditional M/L rifle.

We can keep it light and rib each other about it - that's just more of the rich tradition of hunting. That is, good natured ridiculing the other members of our group.

If Musketman comes forward and tells us he uses plastic shot cups in his smoothie, we don't hop all over him . . . Well, we might. That's pretty lame. He should be . . . No, wait. If he wants to do that we're big enough here to politely overlook it.

This isn't the "Totally Authentic and Absolutely Throughly Documented Traditional Muzzleloader Hunting and Perfectly Researched Accoutrements, Clothing and Gear Down to the Amalgum Filings Removed from our Teeth" Category.

 

[Huntinfool]

Yes true Stumpy I for one don't care what ya'll shoot. But in the same sense I'm still not too sure that powerbelt bullets fall in the Traditional ML Hunting category.

I understand why Maxi posted here to get info as he said but his question could probably be answered better by people who shoot such critters on a regular basis. :m2c:


YMH&OS,
Chuck Goodall
The Original Huntin' Fool
&
Kanawha Ranger Scribe

 

"Totally Authentic and Absolutely Throughly Documented Traditional Muzzleloader Hunting and Perfectly Researched Accoutrements, Clothing and Gear Down to the Amalgum Filings Removed from our Teeth" Category.
Bawwwwwwwwwwwwwww-hawwwwwwwwww :crackup: :crackup:
Saying a Thompson Center, Traditions, Cabelas, Lyman cap gun or rock lock isn't traditonal is an insult to MILLIONS of fine sportsman, many of which are members of this board.
No one need apologize for using a factory traditional type rifle to hunt with.
No one need apologize for using T-7 or Pyrdodex either. Black powder isn't all that easy to come by for everyone.

Stumpy. I heard a vicious rumor that you are casting some REAL bullets. Better watch out..."they" are gonna getcha! :sorry: (can't help mawself)

 

[tg]

Well folks can redefine the word "is" and what is or isn't having "sex" to suit their fancy and that is their God given right..........don't make it so but if it makes 'em feel better what the hey, as I said the loss is not mine, I do think I will heed the sage advise of a friend who has been in this game for 50 yrs. and has forgotten more than most of us know, and quit casting pearls....

 

Sanctimonious hey.
Listen I'll never look down my nose at a guy with a T/C or Cabela's cap lock.
I know perfectly well what "period correct" is. Why? Because some wonderful PATIENT purists taught me. They didn't look down on me for posting about my factory Thompson Centers and Lymans.
I know where I came from. I know what's it's like to be able to afford just ONE muzzle loader and be greatful I have it.
For every hunter that has a period correct rifle there are a thousand with traditional factory made rifles.
What's wrong with that!?
And as far as in-lines go, what's wrong with them? I PREFER traditional, BUT, I'm not going to climb up an inline shooters arse for his choice of rifles.
I'm for ALL muzzle loading enthusiasts sticking together.

 

[Claude Mathis]

Well folks can redefine the word "is" and what is or isn't having "sex" to suit their fancy and that is their God given right..........don't make it so but if it makes 'em feel better what the hey, as I said the loss is not mine, I do think I will heed the sage advise of a friend who has been in this game for 50 yrs. and has forgotten more than most of us know, and quit casting pearls....

Relax gentlemen.

Perhaps I can help explain the category definitions used on the Forum?

We do have a category titled, "Historically Correct Clothing & Equipment ", but this isn't it.

For the purposes of this Forum only, "traditional hunting" was designated to separate it from "in-line" weapons. The term is being used in the very broadest sense. It was not meant to be restricted to hunting with "historically correct" weapons.

Agree with it or disagree with it, but that's what it means here. ::

 

[sabotloader]

Maxi,

I too use a TC .50 cal 1/28 twist Green Mountain barrel ( I did cut the barrel down from 32" to 28"). I have two loads that I use almost exclusivly in it. One for Elk and the other for Deer.

Elk 90 grains loose t7-fffg, MMP Orange .458 sabot, Nosler .458 300 grain Partition - Protected point bullet

Deer 90 grains loose t7-fffg, Nosler sabot, Nosler .451 260 grain Partition Hollow Point.

Either one of these I could and would shoot at 150 yards with open sights - provided all the conditions were RIGHT.

If sabots were not legal then I would work up a load for the 460 No Excuse conicles....and I am not sure about the 150 yard thing then.

Here is a 75 yard target...

Shot #1 and #4 are my fault - set trigger errors

 

[Huntinfool]

Hey fellers correct me if I'm wrong, I or no one else said anything about the rifles it's the loads and the modern powerbelt hollow point bullets and such that got the response.

Like I said I don't look down my nose at anyone for I too shot an inline as well as a Charles Daly chrome lined barrel rifle before I got my longrifle. But there seems to be a lot of prodding going on here lately!

Now this is your forum Claude and I respect you and appreciate the opportunity to be here. But maybe you should state that modern bullets are ok on this traditional ML hunting section also. Then no one can say anything! As I said I don't really care one way or the other I'm just sitting back lookin' objectively at all that was posted! :master:

YMH&OS,
Chuck Goodall
The Original Huntin' Fool
&
Kanawha Ranger Scribe

 

[Stumpkiller]

That's right. It;s not so much what's tucked under your arm or stuffed in it's bore that counts - as long as you didn't drive one of them father-rapin and mother-stabin ATV 4-wheeler abominations to get there. :curse:

Personally, I prefer rocklocks what are fed lead, burn charcoal and wear wood. But, I welcome anyone who ain't breakin the law, even if they're breakin my heart and using synthetic plastic dodads and powder. We'll get to 'em if given enough time.

All God's chillin got a place in the choir.

 

Fellas forgive me for my emotional side, but I well remember being skinned alive a few years back by a purist just because all I owned was a T/C Hawken and I put a G.M. 1:28 twist barrel on it.
I was told I was no different than an in-line user, as if in-line were a dirty word. It isn't of course.
I did get into p/c rifles due largely to rollingb and birddog6 who's kindness and patience influenced me deeply.
I absolutely love the grace and beauty of a p/c flinter and when I got very lucky and worked the entire Xmass shutdown, 12 hours a day I made enough $$$ to afford to get a couple nice handmade rifles. They are very, very dear to me both because they are beautiful and because birddog made them and he is a friend.
I still hold my T/C's and Lyman's in high regard. I intend to hunt deer with my birddog6 jeager flinter, but I'm here to tell ya if the weather is wet and nasty I'm taking my little Lyman Deerstalker and the custom built beauties will stay in the gun room high and dry.
In-line rifles have a place in the hunting scene, they are here and here to stay.
I'll help any shooter and most nearly everyone here has and will help me. For that I'm deeply greatful.
Now let's all have some fun, get a sense of humor, and at least tolerate each others choice of weapons. :RO: :thumbsup:

 

sabotshooter: Nice group! Either load would take Mr. Whitetail.
I don't think I'd even try a 150 yard shot without a LOT of range practice to determine the drop at that distance, AND the accuracy.
Thanks for the load data.

 

[Randal Zartman]

Maxi, I also shoot a Lyman Deerstalker. I love it so much that I hung up the centerfire rifle. Next I need to convert my daughters :winking:. Where I hunt, I never get a shot over 50yds. However, I do want to go for elk again, this time with m/l. So your question gives me a possible load to try. I have tried sabots before but I don't think I was using enough powder and probably the wrong powder(ffg).
Thanks Claude for creating this forum. It is nice to make new friends to learn from and share with. :master:
Zman