Traditions PA Pellet

[papellet]

I am new to muzzle loading, in fact, just got a PA pellet for my birthday and dont have a clue on how to load it, what to load it with etc. The manual is a bit vague. Do I use pellets only? What kind of bullets can I shoot? Any help appreciated.

[savageT]

Traditions PA Pellet............hmmmmm??
I can help you to get started, here's what I do know:
No, you don't need to use only pellets. 2f Triple 7, Pyrodex, Cleanshot loose powders will work fine as well as the pellets.  If you don't have a volumetric measure (that thingie that has a rod with numbers stamped on it and a tube to dump in the powder), get one at Wal-Mart.  It will allow you to measure out the powder safely.  Start with a 70-100 grains.
If using pellets, use 50 grain-two ONLY.  NOTE: Examine the pellets and notice that there is a black side on the pellets.  That side goes down the tube FIRST, facing the breech.
As far as bullets/sabots in 50 cal.:  T/C's packaged XTPsabots or PowerBelts work well and try a couple different weights.  If you have a 1:28 twist rate, it should like just about anything in sabots or PowerBelts in .50 cal.  I would go to Cabela's.com site under muzzleloading bullets and pick out the basic sabot and lead bullet.  They are made by Precision Rifle.com and work fine....cheap!
You'll have to try various powder and bullet weights to know what works in your gun.  Questions on cleaning will come next.  Give us a little more info on what this model is like (side-hammer or in-line). Good Luck.

Jim

[papellet]

Thanks for the info savageT. This is the kind of info I need. I might add this is a left handed flintlock with a 1:48 twist.

[savageT]

Thanks for the info savageT. This is the kind of info I need. I might add this is a left handed flintlock with a 1:48 twist.

Ah SO!

I have a Traditions in a side-lock, 1:48 twist also.  I have found with mine that T/C XLP's are too tight to load comfortably for the bore.  The PowerBelts load great, and are very accurate using 90 grains of Hodgdon-T7.  Give that a try.  If you have a breech-plug, as I do, make sure to use some anti-seize lubricant on the threads after cleaning.  Does yours use musket percussion caps?

Jim

[savageT]

Follow-up........I see when checking the Traditions site that you have a left-hand flint-lock action.  I would suggest that MamaFlinter step in and get you up to speed on flinting!  There are some necessary tricks to learning about flints and how to knapp one, where to get flints, etc.  I'll give you her site address:
http://mamaflinter.tripod.com/beginningguidetomuzzleloaders/

Jim