Powder load for whitetail deer

[steve bliss]

What powder Load would you recommend for a Hawkin Hunter .54 cal using round ball to kill whitetail deer. barrel length is approximately 22 inches. It is a short barrel carbine model. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Steve

 

[rafterob]

Whatever load is your most accurate load. I would guess that is somewhere between 65 and 80 grains for that rifle. You don't need big loads for a whitetail.

 

[cynthialee]

each rifle in its own thing, even 2 rifles of exact same make and model may require a different load than the other

I'd start at 55 grains and work my way up in incremints of 5 grains until I find the best groups.

Now my guess is that 75 grains and 120 grains are the average sweet spot loads depending on what distance you are shooting at.

Keep in mind you do not need a huge powder load. If 55 grains gets you in the bullseye then use 55. If it takes more it takes more. But I can assure you that if you smack bambi in the boiler with a PRB, he isn't going to quibble with you that he desereved a shot with excess powder.

 

[Des52]

You have to shoot it to find out what load, patch and ball it likes. I would start at 60grs and move up 5grs at a time till you find the best load. I use only tight weave cotton patches from .010 to .020. I have one .54 that has a tight bore and likes a .526 ball instead of a .530 standard.

 

[longcruise]

What powder Load would you recommend for a Hawkin Hunter .54 cal using round ball to kill whitetail deer. barrel length is approximately 22 inches. It is a short barrel carbine model. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Steve

Is that the Investarm rifle?

The standard answer as above regarding accuracy is a good answer. There are some minimal loads that should be avoided and some heavier loads that exceed what is needed. You would think that amongst the many experienced hunters here there would a simple consensus.... but there's not.

Myself, I'd pick 60 grains as the bottom end and say anything over 80 is unnecessary. We hunt elk with 54 and 80 grains. Works fine. A friend and member here killed a mature cow last season with a 54 and 60 grains.

Pinpoint accuracy is essential in match shooting but in the hunt it is good to go out to the distance that you can consistently put the ball into the vital zone of the hunted game under the most demanding field conditions. So, that's for you to determine.

 

[PEARL DRUMS]

That short barrel may very well have a fast twist. That will make working up a round ball recipe a bit more finicky. Still doable. Just be patient with your experimenting.

 

[steve bliss]

Is that the Investarm rifle?

The standard answer as above regarding accuracy is a good answer. There are some minimal loads that should be avoided and some heavier loads that exceed what is needed. You would think that amongst the many experienced hunters here there would a simple consensus.... but there's not.

Myself, I'd pick 60 grains as the bottom end and say anything over 80 is unnecessary. We hunt elk with 54 and 80 grains. Works fine. A friend and member here killed a mature cow last season with a 54 and 60 grains.

Pinpoint accuracy is essential in match shooting but in the hunt it is good to go out to the distance that you can consistently put the ball into the vital zone of the hunted game under the most demanding field conditions. So, that's for you to determine.

yes it's the Investarm rifle. I've got it set up right now with 60 grains and 530 RB. I hit a water bottle at 50 yards.

 

[steve bliss]

Thanks guys for the info