Reduced loads

[crmyers]

Just for fun I decided to try some reduced loads in my TC 50 flinter. 40 grains is a tack driver at 20 yards out of the GM barrel. I thought I would see if that load would kill a lawn mower. Shot an old junk MTD rider through the hood with it. Went through the hood, both sides of the air cleaner, and knocked a hole in the cylinder. That is way more damage than I was expecting with such a light load, but it sure was fun.

 

[bingo1952]

Well now I know that if I ever have any lawn mowers that need killin' it won't take a lot of powder. :youcrazy: :v

 

[roundball]

My experience as well...seems like 30-40grns in most any caliber makes an excellent small game load...and is sure a lot less expensive if you do a lot of fun shooting too

 

[Bill Bryan]

I decided years ago that it doesn't take much black powder to push a lead ball through a sheet of paper. 25 to 35 grains in my .50 cal works fine.

 

[J.D.]

30 gr FFFG in a 54 will put a real hurt on squirrels at close range. Trajectory past 20 yards, or so, is like a rainbow, so ya gotta put a good sneak on those squirrels to hit 'em consistently with light loads.

 

[oldwolf]

What do you think the minimum load is? You might not get ignition if you decrease the load too much I'd think.

 

[Golfswithwolves]

I've gotten the impression lately that half loads in my .54 do not give as much accuracy as heavier loads. :hmm: I am thinking that with the rifle's slow rifling twist, a bit of velocity is needed to stabilized the ball best. I'll continue to experiment, but so far at least 3/4 loads (in my rifle) seem to be needed. I don't know if others have noticed this tendency in their own smokepoles, but it has got me thinking anyway.

 

[Moloch]

Would be kinda cool to reduce loads to that extent that you can see the balls traveling through mid air like low power air rifle pellets, like 400 feet per second. :grin: Than set up targets (like apples as example) at 100yds and try to get the elevation to knock them around. That would surely be a lot of fun. :grin:

 

[laufer]

Well now I know that if I ever have any lawn mowers that need killin' it won't take a lot of powder. :youcrazy: :v

i've used 60gr of pyrodex rs in the cva 12ga double under 90 gr of #6 shot, have one rabbit down at ~25 yards, will try it again this weekend. thanks again.

 

[Deadeye]

My .75 Hawken shoots great at 25 yds. with 600 gr. ball and 10 grs. 3F.
We have fun shoots sometime where a small steel target is placed at around 100 yds. or so and the shooter is only allowed 10 grs. of powder or 20 grs. if the target is farther.