1980 i joined a group of muzzleloaders every other sunday after church for a shoot.sme of the shooters were shooting such powerful loads.shooting 50 yds offhand...i had 45 thompson center perc....thought i would try a light load,,when i shot my rifle went poof...i shot my whole target with lite load...the guys asked what i was shooting..i told them 10 gr powder,,,,they said it wasnt enough powder...i said take a look at my target..it was all bulseyes..... :shake: i was a lot steadier then than i am now...i just wanted to show them you dont need a hot load to tardet shoot 50 yds.... :nono: :nono: :nono:
-
Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight.
We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.
Use this link to sign up please; https://membership.nra.org/recruiters/join/XR045103
target shooting
- Thread starter brubincam
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
:agree: I agree with you Brubincam ; One of the best woods walks that I ever participated in was up in McAdam New Brunswick. The range officer gave each one of us 100 grs. of powder and wouldn't tell us how many targets were on the woods walk. We were told there would be penalty points for running out of powder. As it turned out there were 12 targets and most of us had at least 1/2 of our alloted powder left when we finished. Not a good day to be carrying a big ole .75 cal. smooth bore though :crackup:
:agree:
I use the same load no matter what I am shooting at (hunting or targets), because my gun realy likes this load and I know what it does all the way out to 150 yards. I use 60 grains of 2F in my 50 caliber Hawkins with 177 grain roundball.
Good job Brubincam showing them you don't have to rip off your shoulder to get needed results!
I have found in some old mounatin men readings that they generally only used 30 grains of powder in a 54 caliber muzzleloader for deer sized animals...WOW they must have been some good hunters! :RO:
I use the same load no matter what I am shooting at (hunting or targets), because my gun realy likes this load and I know what it does all the way out to 150 yards. I use 60 grains of 2F in my 50 caliber Hawkins with 177 grain roundball.
Good job Brubincam showing them you don't have to rip off your shoulder to get needed results!
I have found in some old mounatin men readings that they generally only used 30 grains of powder in a 54 caliber muzzleloader for deer sized animals...WOW they must have been some good hunters! :RO:
Guest
or a flint 
I recently joined a group and was told at one of the paper shoots that I didn't need to us a hunting load to score well. I need to work out the details with my gun, but they are right. 50 grains worked fine at 50 yards in my .54 cal and I think I could use less at the 25 yard targets. I was consistently low on the 100 yard targets however, so I'll start working up a minimum load for that distance. So much to learn, so little time for shooting.
Tahquamenon
45 Cal.
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2005
- Messages
- 825
- Reaction score
- 3
I also like shooting light little loads for targeting and small game. :thumbsup:
The "poof or puff" sound is because your projectile is well below the speed of sound (about 1086 feet per second depending on atmospheric conditions). :winking:
The "poof or puff" sound is because your projectile is well below the speed of sound (about 1086 feet per second depending on atmospheric conditions). :winking:
kodiakemt414
40 Cal.
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2004
- Messages
- 123
- Reaction score
- 0
40 gr. at 25yds for me.
Speaking of light loads for hunting, I have a book written a long time ago. I believe the author was Dan Davis. In it he talks about all his experiences with shooting flintlock rifles. It really is an excellent book for someone starting out.
He talks about a favorite hunting load for deer out of his .50 caliber rifle being 50 grains of Goex 2f and a patched roundball. He claims that it all that is needed for deer out to 100 yards.
We were shooting short charges one afternoon when the kids were over and wanted to shoot. We were loading 40 grains of powder and roundball. The accuracy was exceptional. As with the inline rifles, if you load them down you can shoot accuracte roundball as well.
He talks about a favorite hunting load for deer out of his .50 caliber rifle being 50 grains of Goex 2f and a patched roundball. He claims that it all that is needed for deer out to 100 yards.
We were shooting short charges one afternoon when the kids were over and wanted to shoot. We were loading 40 grains of powder and roundball. The accuracy was exceptional. As with the inline rifles, if you load them down you can shoot accuracte roundball as well.
hobbles
50 Cal.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2005
- Messages
- 1,031
- Reaction score
- 1
I don't know why I am fightin this so hard,, I am thinkin of tryin 70 grns,, but after readin what youall have said, I should stay at 60, I like the way it shots and all, and I am still fightin it in my lil brain,, I worry bout me some times,,,
Guest
Hobbles, I have seen the pictures of your hunting area and live only a few minutes drive up the road.
We have some thick country with ravines and gullies that can hide a deer in a heartbeat. Even with super heavy charges deer often run for a bit before they pile up.
While I agree that more powder than it takes to drive the ball from one side to the other on the average deer is a waste, I feel (and this is just my opinion after years of tracking game) that you need at least enough punch to go completely through the deer.
I do not feel that less than 50 grains is adequete (also opinion), I consider 60 the minimal charge with perfect placement.
If your gun will hold good groups with 70 grains use the heavier charge. I would say to try 80 grains and use that charge if the groups hold.
One of my close friends takes 7-8 deer each year using a .50 and 80 grain charge.
I shoot mostly a .45 and use 50 grains on targets and find 65 grains still shoots very close when hunting.
Our advice means nothing in your gun or in your territory. You have to get out and shoot your own groups and test your own loads.
:front:
We have some thick country with ravines and gullies that can hide a deer in a heartbeat. Even with super heavy charges deer often run for a bit before they pile up.
While I agree that more powder than it takes to drive the ball from one side to the other on the average deer is a waste, I feel (and this is just my opinion after years of tracking game) that you need at least enough punch to go completely through the deer.
I do not feel that less than 50 grains is adequete (also opinion), I consider 60 the minimal charge with perfect placement.
If your gun will hold good groups with 70 grains use the heavier charge. I would say to try 80 grains and use that charge if the groups hold.
One of my close friends takes 7-8 deer each year using a .50 and 80 grain charge.
I shoot mostly a .45 and use 50 grains on targets and find 65 grains still shoots very close when hunting.
Our advice means nothing in your gun or in your territory. You have to get out and shoot your own groups and test your own loads.
:front:
hobbles
50 Cal.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2005
- Messages
- 1,031
- Reaction score
- 1
ghost
This is what I am fightin,, 95 grns are 0k, I could try 100 but I don't want to,, yet,, The 85 and 80 don't seem to cut it,, The 60 does and I like it,, That's why I was wonderin bout the 70,, all these targets are after I put the nose touch on, I know it's a personal thing,, but where I place the POI is important to me,, That IS the fun of huntin,, I want to hit it and watch it go down and don't even know it has been hit, I have let a lot just mosey away cause I can't get to where I want a hit,, 0k,, so I'm a lil weird
This is what I am fightin,, 95 grns are 0k, I could try 100 but I don't want to,, yet,, The 85 and 80 don't seem to cut it,, The 60 does and I like it,, That's why I was wonderin bout the 70,, all these targets are after I put the nose touch on, I know it's a personal thing,, but where I place the POI is important to me,, That IS the fun of huntin,, I want to hit it and watch it go down and don't even know it has been hit, I have let a lot just mosey away cause I can't get to where I want a hit,, 0k,, so I'm a lil weird
hobbles
50 Cal.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2005
- Messages
- 1,031
- Reaction score
- 1
Old Salt
thank you sir,,
I think I might of wrote that one wrong tho, I didn't mean they drop right on the spot, the last one made it bout 100 yards before it dropped, the one before made it 20 yards and took one step backwards and fell, never moved an ear after it went down,,
The yote just went down
thank you sir,,
I think I might of wrote that one wrong tho, I didn't mean they drop right on the spot, the last one made it bout 100 yards before it dropped, the one before made it 20 yards and took one step backwards and fell, never moved an ear after it went down,,
The yote just went down
If those targets were fired at your expected hunting distance there ain't a one there that would make me sit out the season. If those are regular 8.5x11" sheets your worst showing is still under 3".
Figure a deer's lungs from a broadside are just about the size of that sheet tipped lengthwise. Looks fine to me. :front:
Figure a deer's lungs from a broadside are just about the size of that sheet tipped lengthwise. Looks fine to me. :front:
hobbles
50 Cal.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2005
- Messages
- 1,031
- Reaction score
- 1
Stumpkiller
thank you sir,, but these are all under a controled situation and not out huntin, you know how thing's change out there, they are 8x11 and the circle is 2",, at 50 yards,, I have seen postage stamps that look bigger, You boys shootin the 3x5 cards impress me,, I put out 4x6 and can't even sea the X on em,,
thank you sir,, but these are all under a controled situation and not out huntin, you know how thing's change out there, they are 8x11 and the circle is 2",, at 50 yards,, I have seen postage stamps that look bigger, You boys shootin the 3x5 cards impress me,, I put out 4x6 and can't even sea the X on em,,
Good on ya fer recognizin the difference. :hatsoff:
Do I ever. Murphy was a hunter, I'm guessin.
That's why I do most all of my shootin standin up in the woods behind the house. That's where I do my hunting, or in woods very similar.
A load that requires a "range rod" for fear of breakin the wood rammer does me no good, and a slow ball from a rest might not be as accurate as a fast one from offhand . . . or viciousversa. Recoil effects the ball while it is still in the barrel.
Target practice is practice for shoot'n targets. Hunting practice is different. Not just testing the load, but the equipment, accessories, method of carry, etc.
After about six months of futzin with a gun that was not happy to begin with I ended up with 84 gr FFg and the right lube combination in my .50 for a hunting load. When I started she was gacking up hairball groups of 6" at 50 yards from cross-sticks. :curse: Now I'm keeping her at 3" at that range offhand, sometimes half that. They're all different.
Do I ever. Murphy was a hunter, I'm guessin.
That's why I do most all of my shootin standin up in the woods behind the house. That's where I do my hunting, or in woods very similar.
A load that requires a "range rod" for fear of breakin the wood rammer does me no good, and a slow ball from a rest might not be as accurate as a fast one from offhand . . . or viciousversa. Recoil effects the ball while it is still in the barrel.
Target practice is practice for shoot'n targets. Hunting practice is different. Not just testing the load, but the equipment, accessories, method of carry, etc.
After about six months of futzin with a gun that was not happy to begin with I ended up with 84 gr FFg and the right lube combination in my .50 for a hunting load. When I started she was gacking up hairball groups of 6" at 50 yards from cross-sticks. :curse: Now I'm keeping her at 3" at that range offhand, sometimes half that. They're all different.
I did a silhoutte shoot last Saturday. My first one. My score was not very good. A few things working against me.
Bad eye sight and a new used gun. I didn't have much range time with my TC Hawken 50 to get a good feel for it. Only shot 5 shots before putting 40 plus shots through it last Saturday. I was using 55 grains of Pyrodex P and .490 ball with .015 oiled patch and was shooting consistently high. It was most likely me and my poor marksmanship that caused all the misses. The load seemed good and I knocked over a few of the rams at 100 yards. Just wondering what others have used for such shoots and types of loads. I'm going to do it again next month. Man was that fun.
Bad eye sight and a new used gun. I didn't have much range time with my TC Hawken 50 to get a good feel for it. Only shot 5 shots before putting 40 plus shots through it last Saturday. I was using 55 grains of Pyrodex P and .490 ball with .015 oiled patch and was shooting consistently high. It was most likely me and my poor marksmanship that caused all the misses. The load seemed good and I knocked over a few of the rams at 100 yards. Just wondering what others have used for such shoots and types of loads. I'm going to do it again next month. Man was that fun.
