Blackpowder advice

urapigg

August 25, 2002 08:27

I built myself a Cabela's .54 calibre Hawken and want to use it for whitetails and maybe hogs. Any advice on powder / bullet combinations would be greatly appreciated.

The PIGG

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  Nighthawk

  August 25, 2002 08:55

  It seems as if pyrodex powder is used more than standard Black Powder.AS for bullet weight in grains goes,I would experiment some to see which your gun likes the best.
  
  
  Good Luck!!
  
  Rugster
  
  
  Toujours Pret
  
  Edited by - Rugster on 08/25/2002 12:56:41

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  redcedars

  August 25, 2002 09:03

  Dear Pigg:
  
  Try 90gr Pyrodex rifle or FF black powder under a patched ball and also under a pistol bullet in a sabot. My TC Renegade (.54 cal)will shoot a couple of different pistol bullets en sabot and the patched ball to nearly the same point of aim at 100 yards, although they have different trajectories. While you can get higher velocities with bigger charges, I find accuracy begins to drop off over with over 100 gr, and I can comfortably (and cheaply) shoot patched ball over 90gr all day.
  
  But one of the greatest things about blackpowder is that EVERY load is a handload! Pick one powder and a couple of bullet types, shoot them enough to get a baseline notion of performance, and then try different powders and bullets. I think you will find not one but several loads to suit different situations, and you will have fun getting there.
  
  redcedars

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  allen griggs

  August 25, 2002 12:22

  I have hunted the whitetail and the hog quite a bit with the T/C .50 Hawken. This is close range stuff, mostly under 50 yards in the swamps in Ga. I used the patched round ball and 90 gr FFg. This load was very effective on both species. I always went for the lung shot and somehow, this load killed them better than my 30-06 did. They never got more than 50 yards when hit in the lungs with that round ball. So, your .54 would work even better, with a round ball. I havn't used sabots but hear they are good. What is the twist in your rifle? The T/C is one in 48 inches. Guns that are most accurate with sabots are 1:28. If you have a 1:48 give them that round ball with 90 to 100 gr. I messed around with Pyrodex at the range and it worked fine but I always hunt with black powder, makes me feel closer to Davy Crockett or something.
  
  "Not as deep as a well, or as wide as a church door, but it is enough."

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  txnhntr

  August 25, 2002 14:46

  90 garins sounds about right. i would do like you were suggested and try different loads and see what works. if you know what tist your barrel is that would help you decide on what type of projectile to use. just do not try any of those pyrodex pellets, they work great in an inline gun, not worth a dam in a traditional weapon. my 2 cents aint much but its all i got in my pocket .
  
  glen e nuinez

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  gskyhawk

  August 26, 2002 03:57

  urapigg: in stead of using pyrodex try using clean shot , it shot just as good in my 54 cal T/C hawkens and is a lot easlier to clean up after wards , also try using CVA Power Belt bullet , these are a full cal. size bullet with just a small plastic sabot on the base of the bullet , they shoot really good and are the easily pushed down the bore shot after shot, I've shot over a dozen times without having to swab the bore with this set up

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  buddyb

  August 26, 2002 16:50

  I have a T-C New Englander in 50 cal and a Renegade in 54.I boughtT-C Maxi-Ball moulds for both calibers and cast my own.I have had good results on whitetails out to about 130 yards.I use 90 grains of Pyrodex in the 50 and 100 in the 54

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