load info please

[koz]

I recently won a like new T/C, Hawken #11 cap rifle. I only paid 260.00 for the gun. I need to know what would be a safe load?

I want to use it for deer hunting. My hunting area is NJ-PA wood lots. My longest shots are in 75 yards.

 

[bang]

Caliber?
Twist rate?

 

[koz]

Opps. 45 cal
I and 48 twist rate.

 

[azmntman]

For a .50 caliber start at 55 grains. For a .54 caliber start at 60 grains. Shoot 5 shoots and up the charge 5 grains at a time till you see what it likes (smallest group). Then ya start on patch thickness, then patch lube. Then chewing tobacco (I have found the best groups are had while chawing Grizzly long cut wintergreen, you'll wanna shoot with Skoal, Coppenhagen, Redman etc etc). When yer thinking yer done then ya can try different brands of powder and try 2f vs 3f. Some say caps can even make a difference? Remember to make ONLY 1 change at a time or you'll always wonder if the groups tightened cuz you used mink oil instead of MAP or if its cuz you opened a new can of Cope instead of last weeks Skoal. WRITE DOWN THE CHANGES/RESULTS.

Keep us posted. BTW the best load for deer up to 75 yds is anything over 45-50 gr that is your tightest shooting (grouping) load.

 

[azmntman]

.45 caliber see above and start at .50 grains

 

[bang]

My 45 would hit 8 of 10 in bull at 100 yards with a PRB and 70gns fff.

 

[koz]

lol thanks my 50 cal flinter likes 80 grains of goex 2f. I am very excited ti go shoot this weekend. I quit leaf,long cut,and snuff long time ago.

 

[Carbon 6]

Here's a Hawken manual.

https://www.tcarms.com/pdfs/uploads/manuals/Hawken_Manual.pdf

 

[koz]

awesome thanks anything else I need to get started? I am picking up can of 3 f goex and some caps. I have 45 cal balls and patches etc.

 

[Boomerang]

Do you have 45 cal cleaning jags?

 

[bang]

Powder measure

 

[koz]

powder measure-yes
45 cleaning jag not yet still looking. My local shop only has 50 cal.

 

[Rat]

I've always thought that 75 grains seemed to be the sweet spot in a .45, powerful and accurate. Personally I'll take a little more power over a slight edge in accuracy. The side of a deer is a pretty big target, and a 2" group is really no advantage over a 3" group. I envy you guys that chew, my pipe scares them away...they can smell it for miles. Then again, I myself can probably be smelled for miles.

 

[rrebuck]

I suggest having a ball puller and the tip that allows you to snag a patch and pull it out.

 

[bang]

Nipple wrench or make one out of a socket. A six side that width fits then slot it parallel to the flats. They've always worked better than the store bought for me and cheaper. You can get all the sockets you need cheap at pawn shops.

 

[azmntman]

Perhaps a file if you totin traditional sites.

 

[Sean Gadhar]

For a .50 caliber start at 55 grains. For a .54 caliber start at 60 grains. Shoot 5 shoots and up the charge 5 grains at a time till you see what it likes (smallest group). Then ya start on patch thickness, then patch lube. Then chewing tobacco (I have found the best groups are had while chawing Grizzly long cut wintergreen, you'll wanna shoot with Skoal, Coppenhagen, Redman etc etc). When yer thinking yer done then ya can try different brands of powder and try 2f vs 3f. Some say caps can even make a difference? Remember to make ONLY 1 change at a time or you'll always wonder if the groups tightened cuz you used mink oil instead of MAP or if its cuz you opened a new can of Cope instead of last weeks Skoal. WRITE DOWN THE CHANGES/RESULTS.

Keep us posted. BTW the best load for deer up to 75 yds is anything over 45-50 gr that is your tightest shooting (grouping) load.

If those newfangled yeti coolers could keep your icetea cold for the time it takes to "work up a load for a new gun" THAT would really be a heck of a cooler. Grizzly long cut wintergreen isn't HC I only use levi garrett plug, if I wanted to shoot wintergreen I'd get me a Buck Rodgers LASER gun.

 

[Sean Gadhar]

Koz when you get to the point where you are wandering around JoAnn's Fabrics with a Micrometer, all this will seem funny to you.

 

[hanshi]

I currently like 60 grains of 3F in my two .45s. If I'm worried then there is always 70 grains for a bit more muscle. I've killed lots of deer with 80 grains in the past but 60 works just fine.

 

[Sidney Smith]

Don't you know you can't kill a deer unless you fill the bore 1/2 inch from the top full of powder, then ram the ball home. I've heard it said that deer are hard to kill unless you use howitzer loads.