Opinions wanted for PRB charge and whitetail

[Regulis7]

Have a CVA Youth Hunter 24" barrel. Currently working up a PRB load of 60gr Pyrodex RS because this is the most accurate charge weight using the round balls in my rifle.

Whats the general consensus on this load for easter whitetail at ranges under 100 yards? The area I hunt is dense so the practical shot range will most likely be under 50 yards.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Regulis7

 

[Rocky Johnson]

Regulis Hi Your 60 gr. load will work just fine. My CVA PRB 50 cal. rifle likes 90 gr. of fffg.Accurace frist I think. Rocky

 

[musketman]

Its refreshing to see people wanting to use a patched round ball in the wake of modern plastic technology.

Your load should knock the socks off of the deer, now if you can just find a deer wearing socks...

 

[weasel]

amen to rocky and musketman the current hype in magazines and tv shows makes a person think their undergunned ifn they aint stuffin 150 gr to blow out the barrel I know and you know they aint burnin 150 gr but they make hodgen happy yoour load is more than adequate
weasel

 

Accurace is the most important thing. It doesn't take much to get to the lungs/heart if you dont hit the sholder. Put the bullet where it needs to go and you will have success.

 

[tg]

I use 60-70 gr 3f in .50 guns I would think that 60 gr 2f would be would probably work well if accurate, in that short barrel you may not get much advantage with more powder. I would strongly suggest trying some real BP.

 

[Haggis]

Don't never shoot nothin' but reg'lar powder in yer rifle; 'n' don't never shoot nothin' but a roun' ball.

All them new fangled no smoke, little smoke, chemicaliscious concoctions ayr suspicous ta me, an' them long bullets worked better out o' them cedar posts they called rifles during the "War of Northern Agression" even then them so'djers couldn't a hit the groun' if t'weren't fer gravity.

If ya shoots a 37 or 38 ball ta the poun' ball ('round about a half inch bore) a .45-70 case will hold the nigh perfect charge o' 2F.

If 75 grains o' 2F coming out o' the bore o' a fifty wrong kill it, fling yer rifle at it an' fer som'eres'else.

 

[No Powder]

Over the years I have taken a lot of deer with black powder. My heavest load was probably 75gr, ffg behind a .490 rb. This was in a Thompson Center hawkens. That just seemed to be the best load for that gun. This year it was 55gr fffg in a 62cal smooth bore with a .60 rb. I have never had to load real heavy to bring down a deer.

 

[Regulis7]

Well, its been a while since I made the orginal post so just wanted to thank everyone who contributed with a thread.

I have about 2 months exp shooting the 60 and 70gr PRB loads now and have plenty of faith in them taking a deer should it cross my sights. I think hitting the vitals with the ball is more important than striking the "vitals area" and relying on blunt force trauma to make up for poor accuracy.

Regulis7

 

[leadball]

I had a lyman trade rifle in 50 cal that shot roundballs ok but i bought a traditions kentucky rifle and the slow barrel twist seems to shoot the lead balls better. I use 75 grains of pyrodex rs and it seems to be accurate enough out to 50 yards, which is as far as you're going to see a deer in northern wisc. I tried loading 90 grains but recoil was a problem. Even the biggest whitetailed buck is a thin skinned animal. By the way, I am fairly new to muzzleloading and hope to pick up pointers from the pros. I need more than shooting a deer at 30 yards with a .270 and bowhunting doesn't appeal to me. Really enjoy shooting blackpowder. any opinions on traditions rifles? It seems to be an ok gun

 

[gordy]

Leadball: I,m with You! Got rid of most all My cartridge guns.Have a shoulder that keeps Me from bow shooting even if I had a mind to do so.The reason Your getting better round ball accuracy with the Traditions Kentucky,is most likely the slow twist.Also the sight plane is a little longer and this too helps.I have a CVA Kentucky in .45cal.and for the cost it,s one accurate gun.I don't doubt that the barrels are made by the same firm.(Spainish). The Lyman Trade Rifle is probabaly a little better made,but overall I've had vey good service from the CVAs.Some time back I purchased a Traditions Panther for one Grandson,and recently bought a CVA Bobcat for another one.I think the barrels and locks would interchange,I would try them but one is here in Florida and the other in West Texas.As long as You stay within the Max.load range set by the Mfg.The traditions will give years of good shooting. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[JerryToth]

Hi Regulis7,

I have a T/C White Mountain Carbine with a 21" barrel. It does have a fast twist, I think it's 1 in 32? Anyway, I generally shoot Goex 3F blackpowder in it. I'm just guessing that the FFFg is quicker and it seems to shoot a little harder. Anyway, with a short barrel, it might be an idea to try FFFg? (Remember to reduce the load 15% or so below what would be safe with FFg.)

Several years ago, when I was first trying to figure out all of this BP "stuff", I read everything I could find about 50 caliber Roundball, blackpowder, whitetail deer loads. I actually kept a notepad and tallied up dozens and dozens of fellows' recommended "deer loads" for the 50 caliber roundball.

What I tallied up was that a few guys shoot 65 grains, a fair number more shoot 70 grains. Lots of the fellows shoot 75 or 80 grains of Goex FFg. 75 and 80 were far and away the most commonly preferred loads. Only a few shot 90 grains, and when you got to the fellows that shot 100 or higher, they were usually the sabot and conical shooters, which isn't what we're talking about.

Myself, my rifle shoots equally well with 70, 75, or 80 grains. I shoot 80 grains for Whitetail which is probably too much. My rationale is that I would prefer to shoot an exit hole to get a better blood trail. Honestly, a 60 or 65 grain load of Goex FFg would definitely kill the deer, but without an exit hole, you won't get as much of a blood trail, especially with a high lung hit. This is just my thoughts, your experience may differ, but I've spend quite a few anxious hours looking for a hit deer that didn't go down right away...(with a 243 Winchester during my "previous life" with Centerfires.)

Regards to all,

Ironsights Jerry.

 

[roundball]

That's exactly why I like stout loads for deer hunting...I want there to be no doubt about the outcome when the ball gets there, and want them to drop within sight / hearing of the stand.

I use 90grns Goex FFFg for hunting but even at that, this fall I made a heart shot on a 6 pointer with a .45cal Hornady RB, it hit a rib going in, flattened one side of the ball, and it stopped on the far side bulging out under the hide, so even that stout load didn't make a complete pass-through, but he dropped after 25-30yds. I use 60grns FFFg for targets, plinking, coke cans, etc

 

[Stumpkiller]

The textbook broadside low-in-the-vitals kill shot is one we all wish to have every time. It is the quartering away, deflected on unseen branch, distance slightly misjudged, deer took a step, shooting with heavy clothes and akward position shot where things do not go so well that a little extra 'oomph' is appreciated in putting the ball through bone or more meat to inflict a killing wound. Nothing will cure a poor shot, but a marginal hit with a marginal load stands to yield worse results than a marginal hit with a powerful load.

I have two favorite deer loads .530 PRB with 85 gr FFg and .50 Maxi-Hunter (350 gr.) with 90 gr FFg. The latter approximates the .50-90 "Big Fifty" of the plains buffalo hunter era and will kill about anything I ever hope to see in the woods from any angle. I still limit myself to 120 yards with that one and 100 yards with a PRB.

All I ask is one good shot with either.

 

[cayugad]

60 grains and a patched round ball will be plenty of power at the ranges your talking Regulis7.

I do on the other hand have to agree with round ball when he discussed liking stiffer charges with the round ball loads. The more powerful charges are still no guarantee that the round ball will get pass through, but it does increase the probability of it.

 

[bob1961]

last fall i shot a doe with a .50 round ball at 40 yds....70 grs 3f .490 hornady ball .015 patch....it went in low broadside about 5" up from the bottom and right behind the shoulder dead between two ribs and out the other side between two ribs and through the heart....and left a perfect .50 cal hole in and out....and she still ran 80 yds....good thing i was in a big field and could see her drop................................bob

 

[Ohio Joe]

Bob, there's nothing wrong with that shot, through the heart. Just follow the blood trail, it'll lead you to your kill. If you only get a scant blood trail you can always follow the tracks. Most important thing to remember is where the deer was when you hit it, and which way it went. Your load sounds fine.

 

[bob1961]

i forgot to mention it was a big grass field and was very little blood to follow as of the speed she was running....she covered that 80 yds in about 3 seconds it seemed....like she had a fire behind her or a hole in her heart....he he...........................bob

 

[Ohio Joe]

Bob, By Lymans' calculations you hit that deer with over 500 ft. pounds of energy. More then adequate. A heart shot is not a bad shot. If shot placement is a worry, go for the lungs. However, deer will run when hit through the lungs also. I've seen them drop in their tracks with a .45, .50, and .54 round ball through their lungs, but I've also seen them hightail it a ways too! Another alternitive would be to move up to a .54, or .58 caliber, or do like "musketman" and use a Bess on'em (.75 cal.) wow! That oughta knock 'em over! I still think your alright with the fifty. Terrain is just something us hunters' have to deal with. Good hunting!

 

[JerryToth]

Hi Ohio Joe;

You commented

>If you only get a scant blood trail you can always follow the tracks.

Perhaps I just need someone to teach me something about tracking, but I usually have a very difficult time trying to follow tracks. Particularly in October when there are fresh leaves blowing around and when there are deer tracks everywhere....

Generally, I shoot, then watch which way they went, then sit down for exactly 30 minutes. I thoroughly clean my rifle and reload while I'm waiting.

Tracking generally fails after 25 or 50 yards with all the other tracks. I've sometimes done better to just go the direction the deer ran and kinda establish a search grid (for lack of a better word).

If anyone would like to talk about tracking skills on a hit deer, it would probably turn into a thread that lots of us could benefit by!

Regards,

Jerry.