Patched round ball vs. maxi ball

[Rat Trapper]

..... power belt bullets are junk.

Rat Trapper, you should have said "power belt bullets are expensive junk". :grin:

Ok, I stand corrected!

 

[MSW]

yes

if you switch to conical bullets, the bruise on your shoulder will shrink to a distinctive shape
:rotf:

PRB will put Bambi into little white packages just as well.

if you're interested in accuracy, here's a link to Dutch Schoultz' system ... now this will shrink your groups, and for a lot less money. http://www.blackpowderrifleaccuracy.com/

good luck with your project, and

Make good smoke! :grin:

 

[Katahdin]

Your accuracy will depend on how much you practice,,every rifle is different and the projectile/patch/lube you use are just as different. Get your gear and head for the range and practice,,,That has been my experience anyway...
My question ,,why change from PRB ????If you hit the target/animal where you should it will lay down,knowing your limits and the limits of what you are shooting makes all the difference.Shot placement will over come fire power everytime..

 

[Vaino]

Formerly used the .50 TC Hawken for elk and felt the PRB wasn't quite enough, so went to the 410 gr Buffalo Bullet and it does the job.

Didn't like the "loopy" trajectory of the Buffalo Bullet and also the fact that w/ a clean bbl, the conical moved off the powder charge. Built a .54 Hawken and used a PRB for elk and it solved both of my objections of the Buffalo Bullet.

Both did kill elk w/o complications.....Fred

 

[Billnpatti]

if you're interested in accuracy, here's a link to Dutch Schoultz' system ... now this will shrink your groups, and for a lot less money. http://www.blackpowderrifleaccuracy.com/[/quote]

:metoo: I agree :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Conicals are a passing phase that all shooters seem to go through at one time or another....just to end up back shooting round balls.. :haha:

 

[crockett]

Well that rifle is supposed to have a 1/48 twist so I'd say the accuracy will be pretty much the same. You would use the conical for better momentum downrange. The mountain men used to crawl up to "shooting range" which seemed to be 70-100 yards. That's for big game hunting- not NDN fighting. If you plan on shooting an elk at 150 yards, etc. or a buffalo at any range- the conical is probably best.
One of the mountain men tried a 1" long bullet in his Hawken so actually very rare but pc.
Since there are a lot of different conical shapes- you'll just have to try different sizes to see what is most accurate. Probably a rather light weight- short conical as the longer sizes often need a faster barrel twist to stabilize them.
Plus- as was said, bigger bullets kick harder and increase internal pressure. You should have a booklet with the rifle that gives the maximum safe weight conical that can be used in that rifle and what the maximum powder charge for that weight conical is. In other words, with a patched round ball most folks never even consider internal pressure issues but powder charges/conical weights do become an issue and you need to follow the charts.

 

[longcruise]

I let the Boy shoot them up to 70 grains but.not.over. it's a drum after all and even though the tradition's system is well designed just made me nervous.

After 30 or 40 shots the nipple is burned out.

 

[coloradoclyde]

After 30 or 40 shots the nipple is burned out.

In all my years I cant say that I have ever "burnt" a nipple out.

I've had to drill a lot of them out though.... :hmm:

30-40 shots use to be a short afternoon....

 

[Rifleman1776]

Formerly used the .50 TC Hawken for elk and felt the PRB wasn't quite enough

Have to respect personal experience. But, could you explain the "felt" part?
Did you lose wounded game that you believe should have fallend to a round ball? Are you sure bad placement was not part of the equation?
Just asking.

 

[Vaino]

Never shot at an elk or shot one w/ a .50 PRB...but did kill a few whitetails.

Perhaps under certain conditions, a .50 PRB would kill an elk, but didn't have the confidence that it would suffice for most other circumstances. So...went to the 410 gr Buffalo Bullet and it has killed quite a few elk, so why change?.....Fred

 

[longcruise]

Well, there is a first time for everything.

Here is all you have to do to get there; install a new high quality nipple in your .50 capper. Inspect it carefully and note the size of the flashole. Go to the range with 40 370 gr Maxi Ball or a similar size conical and shoot them over 80 or 90 grains.

Then inspect the flashole again. I guarantee you will be having your first burnt out nipple experience. :haha: If you are shooting a TC you may find the hammer being blown back before you are finished :shocked2:

There is a reason why long range muzzle loaders use platinum lined nipples.

 

[Vaino]

I dunno....built my TC Hawken in 1977 and it still has the original nipple and the hammer doesn't blow back. Have shot a 410 gr Buffalo Bullet over 100 grs of 2f more than 150 times w/o enlarging the nipple hole. Perhaps the new nipples aren't the same steel as the original one in my TC?.....Fred

 

[fleener]

I have burned out a platinum lined nipple shooting conicals.

Fleener

 

[daniel collums]

the only traditions rifle i have is a kentucky with a 1-66 twist and it does very well with prb. it also does very well with other bullets we dont talk about.

 

[azmntman]

Never shot at an elk or shot one w/ a .50 PRB...but did kill a few whitetails.

Perhaps under certain conditions, a .50 PRB would kill an elk, but didn't have the confidence that it would suffice for most other circumstances. So...went to the 410 gr Buffalo Bullet and it has killed quite a few elk, so why change?.....Fred

SHOT PLACEMENT My first bull elk was a 4x5 shot with .50 PRB. Died withing 40 yds. I just moved up cuz I was young an .54 and .58 were "cooler". Now I use .54 or .58 cuz I have em. A .50 in the boiler room means meat on the table. Just give em a bit before you approach, like in archery.

 

[Rifleman1776]

....built my TC Hawken in 1977 and it still has the original nipple

That is excessive. Nipples are almost disposable items. Time to toss it and replace with a 'hot shot' style.

 

[Vaino]

Have plenty of spare nipples...until the original nipple "acts up", don't see a reason to replace it.

After many years of hunting elk and also being a "meat hunter", came to the conclusion that a .50 PRB just won't suffice in many situations. I really wish that my .50 TC Hawken was a .54 w/ which I have killed a few elk using a PRB and my son continues to do.

I'm not completely satisfied w/ using Buffalo Bullet loads mainly due to its "loopy" trajectory which can be a cause for a miss....so closer shots have to be taken which is unnecessary w/ the .54 PRBs w/in reason......Fred

 

[nkbj]

Just shooting round ball in my Deerhunter... unless it gets rifled.