Load help needed

[newarcher]

I am splitting this out from my other post to get some ideas.

I have a TC High Plains Sporter which is a .50 cal and has a 1:48 right hand twist. I plan on shooting deer with it using round ball and patches. I just ordered some new, thinner patches to use with my round ball. I am using a hot-shot nipple with musket caps.

I guess I misread my original post so I wanted to know what powder I should use and at what load level. I know I will need to tweak it but I need a good starting/jumping off point. I am currently using 7773f at 80 grains.

I'm interested in both brand and load ideas and am leaning towards some form of real black powder.

Thanks,
New

 

[Steve Adams]

I use 70 grains 3fff Geox , 490 ball and prelubed T.C. Patches, Also use pillow ticken from wally world size unknown. I can start either by hand with a short starter, Never had any problems.

 

[smokeum54]

over the years ive dropped more deer then i can remember using 60gr.fff in .45, .50, and .54 cal. all with round ball. ive used goex, swiss, black elephant, and schuetzen brands. i prefer the schuetzen, it seems to burn a bit cleaner IMO.

 

[sdhunter]

My .54 gpr likes 90 grns of 2fg goex behind a round ball and .018 pillow ticking patches. I might try 3fg goex after i shoot up all my 2fg. If i was you i would just start at 60 grns and work your way up in 5 grain increments to see what load groups the best.

 

[Rifleman1776]

With that relatively tight twist I would hesitate to use very heavy charges. You can lose considerable accuracy quickly once you pass a certain 'not-so-sweet-spot'. Do some benchrest testing. Anything 60 gr. up will kill a whitetail real ded.

 

[BrownBear]

I'd get some 2f and 3f Goex black powder and try them both with your same ball/patch/lube combo. If that combo is already doing fine with T7 3f in your gun, I bet it will be fine with the black.

I will point out that due to the "hotter" nature of T7, your 80 grain charge is roughly the equivalent of 90 grains of Goex 3f or 100 grains of Goex 2f. Pretty stout, but not out of bounds if your rifle likes it. My hunting pard is using the same charge of T7 3f out of a 1:48 50 cal, and it's accurate enough to top the rest of us pretty consistently. I have three 1:48 50 cals and two 1:60's. I shoot 80 grains of Goex 3f in all of them, and many a deer has had reason to regret my choice.

Try the two Goex granulations, and let your gun decide which and how much it likes. I think you'll be real happy, and probably find a whole range of charges that shoot well.

 

[Rat Trapper]

YOu are already in the right neiborhood as far as a hunting load. You can try working up and down to see if the groups get better. Different patch lubes and patch thickness would be what I'd play with next.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Don't know about 777 but if it's close to 85 gr FFg Goex you've got a winner. I have a .50 T/C New Englander (also 1:48") and a 0.490" patched ball on top of that has served me well for many years and deer.

 

[rr11]

Try working up in small increments. My .54 shoots best with 70gr of 3F above that the groups open up. Small changes can make a big difference in accuratcy. All the deer I have shot with 70gr were pass through shots, so I can not see that more powder was needed. Work up the load for your rifle and practice it will pay you back in the deer woods.