Working out the ball/patch size

[bradmartin]

I have the Hawkens .50 from Cabelas. The best gift my wife ever got for me. I've always wanted to try M/L but never did. No one I've known had any. I made an off hand comment about wanting to try. The next thing I knew, there it was. It took me a month or so to get it put together. I rushed it to go to a News Years day shoot that my family does every year. But it was raining. So I pulled it apart to do a better job. Sand the stock, polish the brass, restain the stock. Its not perfect, but not bad for my first build.
Once I got past the misinformation I got from the first gun shop, I went to out the range to try it out.(Sure, you can go up to 200 grains of powder with your .50 Glad I didn't try that!) I started out with 50 grains of pyrodex, .495 round ball with a pre-lubed .010 patch. What fun! With that combo I didn't need the ball starter and almost no force to get the ball down the berral. When useing a .015 patch I'm afraid of breaking the rod. Its such a tight fit. After shooting the patch will have a section cut from the side. So the question is what ball/patch size should I try next?

 

[hobbles]

Mornin scarecrow
I just went thru all that and got a lot of help from here, I am new here but will say I have a T/C 50 cal. Hawken and I use a 490 ball with the .015 patch, The .010 was too thin and I would smoke em,, I also CAN'T use anythin over ffg, or I will smoke em,, I wanted 50 to 90 grns but I am stuck with 100, it will keep a 4 to 5 inch POI at 95 but I am at 2 inch or touchin at 100, These bp rifels are touchy lil critters,, Maybe not much help,, but it's a start,,,,

 

[silverfox]

scarecrow: I'll give my opinion and others will follow. You said your new to this. The .50 Cabelas should take up to 110 or 120 gr loads with PRB but I wouldn't go over 100 as that is enough to kill almost anything in the lower 48 besides not kicking that hard. You should find that somewhere between 50 and 80 grs. will give you a very accurate load. Now to patch and ball. If you can try .490 with the .15 to .18 patch it works in my .50's. The .495's I use in older broken in .50's. What lube are you using? Also get a range rod for loading. That would be Stainless Steel or Brass or one of the Super rods. I only use the ramrod that came with the rifle when I'm in the field hunting and then carefully. Be sure you get a Muzzle guide with the ramrod. You probably need a patch ball combo that is tight enough that you need the ball starter. It should be a firm fit and may require you to hit the starter with a light slap to seat the ball in the muzzle. First the short side then the long side should be smooth. Next the ramrod to take the ball and patch to the powder should be a smooth and easy push. Don't pound or crush the ball into the powder just a firm pressure, try to be the same each time. Just remember powder first!!! If you forget Its not a big problem and there are several posts on this forum explaining how to solve the problem. If you have questions don't hesitate to ask.
Fox :thumbsup:

 

[bradmartin]

The first gun shop I went to only had .495 balls and .010 patches. But thats too loose. I can start it with my finger. But will not be able to find the patch after the shot.
The guy from that same shop was having a hard time answering the questions I had. When I asked him about patch lube He started talkin about cap size.(All they had was #11 so I think I lucked out there.)He meant well I'm sure.
But thanks to forums like this(this is the best so far)I've managed not to blow myself up.
The next time I get into town I'll get the .490 balls and try them out.
As far as patch lube goes, I've been running prelubed patches. What would ya'll suggest.
Thanks to everyone for all the help.

 

[cayugad]

If a .495 ball and .010 patch is too loose then go to a thicker patch. Go to Wal Mart and buy some 100% cotton pillow tick (blue stripe). Take the tick home and wash it then line dry it.

It will tear real easy. Tear off a strip about two inches wide the entire length of the cloth. Then lube it with borebutter or moosemilk and try patching with that. All you do is lay that strip over the muzzle, seat the ball under the muzzle and cut the cloth off the ball. Then drive it down. I do not think it will be too loose that way.

You need a thicker patch not a smaller ball...

 

[hobbles]

You need a thicker patch not a smaller ball...

Yep, He's right,, I couldn't even get a 495 ball to start in my 50, You might even want a .018 or a .020 patch for that,,

Couldn't find any patches, huh?? Did you sea any smoke commin up from the ground in front of you ?? I used to,, usin .010 patches,, I could even hit the target NEXT to the one I was aimin at when the ball went down the barrel easy,,

 

[bradmartin]

I tried a .015 patch and it was too tight. It was all
i could do to seat it.

 

[cayugad]

Pillow Tick measures somewhere between .015-.018 most of the time. If a .495 and a .015 patch is too thick then maybe you should try a .490 and a pillow tick patch. It would not hurt to try...

I personally do not like the patch and ball loose, but then again I do not want to have to beat the works down with a mallet...

Since your rifle is an investarms make which is the same as my trade rifle. My Trade rifle being a .54 caliber shoots a .530 patch and a pillow tick patch. If your .50 was similar, then it might work with a .490 and a pillow tick patch...

Good luck.

 

[vsparto]

I picked up a used TC Hawken .50 Cal about three weeks ago (serial number low 100K) It was in very nice conditon. Just shot it for the first time yesterday. When I got it home it had dust in the barrel. I cleaned it and put bore butter down for storage. The first patch I loaded was a TC .018 lubed pillow ticking and .490 ball. Had to pound it to start it. Didn't hit the paper from 50 yards standing no support. Tried a few more. Very hard loading still not on the paper. Tried another and the rifle kissed the concrete adding some more character to the appearance. Nice line of knicks in the barrel. I was really pxssed to say the least.
After I settled down I greased the barrel with a bore butter patch and then loaded a an ox yoke oiled .015 patch and hit a 3 inch bulls eye from 50 yards free standing. I think I'll stay away from the .018 patches till I have fired a lot more projectiles through it.

 

[hobbles]

I'm goin on my 9th or 10 th box on my new barrel. It will not take a .018 patch with a 490 ball, I figure if I pound it in, the ball might not be a ball anymore,, If I don't bump it in with my palm it won't shoot stright, .010 is too loose, T/C told me to use a .015 patch and there is a big difference, It wants the .015 patch, I'm startin to think T/C knows what they are talkin bout,,,,

 

[musketman]

I tried a .015 patch and it was too tight. It was all
i could do to seat it.

Then a .012 patch will do the trick...

Try using the material from the knee area of an old pair of blue jeans for patching...

 

[Smokin6Gun]

I have the Hawkens .50 from Cabelas. The best gift my wife ever got for me. I've always wanted to try M/L but never did. No one I've known had any. I made an off hand comment about wanting to try. The next thing I knew, there it was. It took me a month or so to get it put together. I rushed it to go to a News Years day shoot that my family does every year. But it was raining. So I pulled it apart to do a better job. Sand the stock, polish the brass, restain the stock. Its not perfect, but not bad for my first build.
Once I got past the misinformation I got from the first gun shop, I went to out the range to try it out.(Sure, you can go up to 200 grains of powder with your .50 Glad I didn't try that!) I started out with 50 grains of pyrodex, .495 round ball with a pre-lubed .010 patch. What fun! With that combo I didn't need the ball starter and almost no force to get the ball down the berral. When useing a .015 patch I'm afraid of breaking the rod. Its such a tight fit. After shooting the patch will have a section cut from the side. So the question is what ball/patch size should I try next?

Try pillow ticking with T/C 1000 bore butter or try Mooses Milk its a liquid. The new barrel is tearin yur patches. You should never need more than 60gr of "Black Powder" and adjust for accuracy. I don't use any a the other... well stuff. The patchin along with the lube can make a big differance. I really don't know why some insist on 100gr of powder.

 

[bradmartin]

We'll it sounds like I've got some work to do.(Is it still work when it is so much fun?):hmm: I'll try to get out this weekend and I'll let ya know how it goes.

Thanks

 

[hobbles]

have fun and remember,,,,,,
Don't put to much powder in,,,,, you have to leave room for tha patch and ball,,,,,

 

[bradmartin]

You mean there is more to shooting M/L then a lot of smoke!I did drop a ball down without a patch once. Had to dump the whole mess out. Then fired a cap to make sure it was all out. LOTS of smoke. But knock on wood, so far no patch/ball without powder.

 

[bradmartin]

It just came to me. I know why I've been having trouble with my M/L. Its lonely! I need another! Thats it! HA HA HA! (now if you could all call my wife and tell her that)

 

[Zonie]

Mrs Scarecrow: It may come as a shock to you to learn of your husbands delemma, however I feel it will be in the best interests of both of you to be informed of it.

As you know, your husband is a kind hearted man, and concerns himself with the weak and downtrodden.
Even as we speak, he is trying to develop ways to ease the burden of one of his true friends.

His friend, it seems, is greatly depressed because of loneliness for others of his own kind.

Your husband would truly like to help him, and has devised a plan, which, for only $2.00 a day for a years time will give his friend the companion who is needed.

I am sure you want to give your husbands plan the full support it deserves.

Thank You For being so Understanding.
Zonie

 

[bradmartin]

She said it was cute. And if she had the money she would go out right now and get one for "my friend". :crackup:
Once we move we can stop saving and start spending again. Right now I'm looking for a driving job in Northern Idaho. The job I'm at now is not, after 3 months of telling me different, going to be building a domicile in Spokane, WA. But thats not a problem. There is no reason for any truck driver to ever be out of work. There are so many jobs out there.(as long as your not a total dumba**) So our belts are tight so we can have that extra padding for the what ifs.
Shes good at that. I'm not. :cry:

 

[bradmartin]

:master:My hats off to you all :master:
At 30 yards with three shots its one big hole. I was running a .490 round ball with a prelubed remington .015 patch. Loaded nice, shot nice, didn't burn the patch, it worked very nice.

I was going to see what kind of range I could get out of it but the rain started to come down so we had to call it a day.

Thanks to all who helped.

Brad