Good Morning Bob,
It is not my intention to engage in or fuel a heated raging "Last man standing" debate on this subject of maximum powder charges for 50 caliber PRB muzzle loading rifles.
With that said, I must still respectfully disagree with your all inclusive blanket statement,
"Anything over 80 grains is wasted on a 50 unless you like seeing a fireball at the muzzle."
If you had instead stated that in your deer hunting experience with a 50 caliber PRB ML hunting rifle, a powder charge over 80 grains is wasted, then I would not be in diagreement with you.
Before I quit hunting 10 years ago, my 50 caliber hunting load in a 33" barrel was/is 85 grains of Goex 2FF black powder, unless it is a damp, rainy day. Under those conditions, the powder charge was/is 75 grains of 3FFF. I know that a 50 caliber 80 grain load of 2FF is quite adequate for dispatching deer size animals.
However, not all muzzle loading rifle shooting is in the field for game. The other side of the shooting coin is the target game, and even this side has two parts: the buckskinners and the dedicated paper punchers.
I camp with the latter group.
For the past 30 - 40 years numerous loads have been personally chronographed in scores of rifles. During these years, my chronograph was taken to and set up at ML shooting events where for $1.00, the shooters could shoot 5 shots over the screens.
Calibers ranged from 28 to 69 with barrrel lengths from 26 inches to 46 inches. The rifles were factory models to custom made heavy barrel bench rest types.
With of all of this information, one would think that hard conclusive data could be found. NOT SO!. Too many variables! Only certain generalities could be concluded.
A particular point of interest was chronogaphing a rifle that was set up to shoot as either cap lock or flint lock.
In all instances, when using the identical load of powder, patch, and ball, the muzzle velocity was always significantly less with the flint action. In this one instance, with calibers of 50 and larger, the average muzzle velocity difference was 163 fps. In calibers of 45 and smaller, the average muzzle velocity difference was 105 fps.
In regards to what is a maximum powder charge in relation to velocity increase in calibers 50 to 58, powder charges of 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120 showed significant velocity gains in barrel lengths of 34 inches and longer. Barrels shorter than 32 inches showed lesser gains.
The chronograph and targets were aligned in a manner so that targets could be simultaneous impacted at 25, 50, and 100 yards. With this arrangement, not only was velocity determined, but trajectory and bullet impact could be measured. It was also possible to observe the effect of wind on the PRB at the different ranges.
One thing in particular did stand out. Light loads that were wonderfully accurate at 25 yards did not shoot correspondenly well at 50 yards and were down right dismal at 100 yards.
The general consensus was that as the target range increased and velocity fell off even more, the longer the various elements had time to affect the ball. There was not only more horizontal dispersment, but also more vertical displacement.
As the powder charge was increased, the groups tightened back up. In the light, hunting type rifles, most of the 50 caliber shooters use a 50-55 grain charge at 25 yards, but increase the charge to 65-75 grains at 50 yards. Charges at 100 yards run from 75 to 110 grains.
Now the gentlemen that shoot the heavy barrel, unlimited class bench rest rifles are in an entirly different class unto themselves. Try to tell them that 80 grains of 2FF powder is all that they need in their 50 caliber rifles. That kind of comment will be politely ignored while they get back to shooting 10,s and x's with powder charges that start at 100 grains in barrels with 1-72 inch rate of rifling.
Fifty caliber is nearly the offical caliber for the cross sticks shooters. In this game, there is an old saying, "It takes X's to win at 50 yards, and 10's to win at 100 yards". The X ring at 50 yards is 7/8's inch in diameter, while the 10 ring at 100 yards is 2".
Most of these shooters use 85 t0 100 grains of 2FF black powder in 12-14 pound rifles.
By the way Paul, I did not state the size of the groups that my rifles will shot, but they are smaller than what was stated in one of the post.
Deer in Texas are not any more difficult to kill than deer in any other state, the the terrain of the county across Texas varies greatly. In the forrested East Texas area, 25-50 yard shots are the norm. As you move West from there, the shooting range becomes more distant, where shots are taken at 100 plus yards.
Anybody who knows anything about the PRB is not going to chance a shot at a deer at 100 plus yards, but shots at 75-100 yards in many parts of Texas are not uncommon. I normally used 85 grains of 2FF black powder, but have used 90 and 95 grains. My chronograph tells me that extra powder is not being wasted.
My black powder shooting began at age 14. My mentor was the late "Judge" H.E. Resley of Fort Stockton, Texas. A number of his friends contributed to my education in loading and shooting the PRB. These were men who built and shot these rifles on a regular basis. Judge Resley hand rifled barrels. Some of these men were shooting original rifles that had been carefully taken care of and handed down through their families. They were kind enough to let a mere kid shoot these originals.
It was only in later years that I realized what a rare opportunity had been gifted to me.
As I approach my 70th birthday, I have 56 years of shooting the patched round ball behind me. This encludes the hunting field and competitive events. Even so, I am still learning about the muzzle loading rifle.
By the way Bob, Texas is different. For starters. Texas is the only state to join the Union by way of treaty, not territorial annexiation.
Best regards and good shooting,
If you are not an NRA or NMLRA Member, why not? I am carrying your load.
Liberal Ploiticians LIE!!! USA FREEDOMS DIE!!!!
