steve bliss
32 Cal
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
Powder load for whitetail deer
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rafterob
62 Cal.
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.
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.
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.
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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
70 Cal.
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.
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
32 Cal
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.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.
steve bliss
32 Cal
Thanks guys for the info
longcruise
70 Cal.
steve bliss
32 Cal
I think you are right.
like others have said, the most accurate load will do. i see a lot of people use one load for targets and another hotter load for hunting, that is not Necessary. it does not take much to kill a deer, a ball in the right place is a ball in the right place,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Rock Home Isle
58 Cal.
Obviously you’re going to use a load that is accurate in your firearm. It is critical that the load be accurate. Shot placement is the #1 concern for a humane kill. You’ll also need enough energy from the projectile, imparted into the target, to help speed things along.
I would advise you to develop a load that is north of 75 grains. I would not use anything less than 75grains for deer in a .54 calibre. And I wouldn’t use anything less than 85 grains for elk in a .54 calibre.
My two schillings…
If your target is a living critter instead of paper or steel it deserves more powder for a clean kill. Just my .02.
Trev
36 Cl.
I was using 110g 3F with a 430g Maxi in a 32" bbl. That is a VERY stout load and I have since backed it down to 90g. Round balls usually require a bit less powder than Maxis. Keep in mind that while more powder will give you more oomph at some point there will be a considerable amount of unburnt powder being blown out that short barrel.
justinoldguy
32 Cal
My "Go-To" load in about every rifle, regardless of caliber (.40-.58), is 60 grains of 3f Swiss, or Pyro P. Those powders produce identical results in every long gun I have ever fired in 50+ years of muzzloading. I shoot more .54 than any other bore, and I have killed a big pile of critters with the 60 grain load and a PRB. That combo has been supremely accurate in every rifle I own. In the past, when I hunted bigger creatures than deer, I would increase the charge to 80 grains. Now, regarding that short Investarms Hawken barrel, it does have a very fast twist barrel for a muzzleloader. Getting a PRB to shoot accurately may be problematic using anything other than a very light charge. I really prefer PRB's, but your gun may be an exception where a conical could be a better option. You will never know until you try various loads, as there are outliers to every general principle.
Double check with Kansas and be sure there isn't a minimum load. In my state the minimum deer load from a muzzle loading rifle or smoothbore is 60 grains, regardless of the caliber. That's a moderate load for a .54 but a pretty large load in a .40, but my state doesn't care. That load is just fine for your length barrel from a .54 out to 50 yards. You might experiment between 60-80 and experiment as well with 2Fg and 3Fg. Your deer will likely be larger than here in Maryland so you might try out 70-80 grains for accuracy. Because my state the minimum was 60 grains, I use 3Fg and settled on 70 grains. It normally passes through deer where I am, even as far away as 110 yards. I also use the 3Fg to prime the lock as well as the main charge.
LD
steve bliss
32 Cal
Thanks for this manual. I bought this rifle used and it had no manual. I've been trying to find one. So, again, thank you! Steve
steve bliss
32 Cal
This is a great forum! It's great to be able to reach out to get info. Lot's of experience here. I've shot muzzle loaders for a number of years, but it was with an line rifle. This cap and ball is different in a number of ways, so it's been a learning time for this old man! Thanks for all your input!
Lots of good advise by the previous posters. I have a Lyman Great Plains Rifle and my hunting load is 110grs of Graff FFFg , .015 patch ,and .530 ball . I have had very good luck with Graff powder and they are good folks to do business with.
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