Skychief said:
I shoot a 50 caliber T/C Hawken and a 36 caliber T/C Seneca. My question is ...how light of a powder charge can I safely use in each behind roundballs? My concern is a "short-started" load due to an air pocket between powder and ball. If wondering, I am wanting to shoot light charges for squirrel hunting w/ the .50 Hawken and am also curious about the .36 Seneca. Thanks for you help. Skychief.
From personal experience, 30-40grns Goex 3F is excellent for squirrels with a .50cal.
Some Info:
A barrel obstruction is one thing of course...presumably where a ball is left short started and a normal powder charge is ignited, pressure waves build and travel forward, hit the obstruction, begin to create back pressure which creates all sorts of pressure dynamics with the continueously expanding gases coming from behind and often results in a damaged barrel.
The patent breech in a TC .50cal Hawken barrel hold 18grns Goex 3F...I have a couple spare plugs and have personally measured the amount that they hold;
A seated ball stops on top of a powder charge greater than 20grns, or it stops on top of the patent breech if less than 20grns is in the breech.
In a case where there's less than 18grns, say 10grns...even if it might leave 1/4" air gap, that amount of powder does not generate sufficient pressure to cause the above problem...ie: it is commonplace after dry balling to remove the nipple or vent, work 10-15grns powder in under the ball, replace the nipple or vent and fire the ball out. (it just 'bloops' out)
I think you'll find 20grns Goex 3F too light, but 30-40grns in the .50cal Hawken is perfect for a light squirrel load.
