.45 Investarms Hawken

[1-12 Inf (M)]

Was at my local shop and it was sitting in at the end of the consignment rack - $99.  Looks brand new.  So I took it home.

I've been tinkering with my 1862 Springfield replica, with FFG and Minie balls - can anyone recommend a good starting load for this gun?  Is the rifling right for a projectile or a patched round ball?  Do I need to use FFFG in it?

Thanks...

[tacklebury]

I would think typically FFG or 1.5FG.  I would also believe that a Minnie would be right on for that style gun.  If the twist is 1-48 to 1-66 it should shoot round balls ok as well.    Don't know much about the brand, so I'd probably play it safe and stick to 60 gr. max until someone can tell you for sure what it can handle.  

[rsl]

I like shooting round ball in my Civil War rifles.. I use a Lee .562 mold and .15 thou. patch... I hate real black powder and use Pioneer or Triple 7 ... good luck.

[Winter Hawk]

Generally, a good starting load is (in grains) 1 1/2 times the caliber.  So for .45 caliber it would be 1.5 x 45= 67.5 grains.

You can use either FFG or FFFG.  I believe the recommendation is to use 2f for over .50 caliber, and 3f for under .50 caliber.  However, when I started muzzle loading 40+ years ago, all I had was FFG DuPont (now Goex) and it worked fine in a .36 Navy Colt as well as a .45 caliber Hopkins & Allen underhammer.  I'm using FFFG in a .54 Lyman GPR now and it also does well.  It's a flintlock and I prime from the horn so don't need to pack 4f around for priming.

-Winter Hawk-

[lakota]

My buddy had a Cabelas .50 Hawken which I believe is the same as Investarms and the stock was gorgeous. How does yours look? I always wondered if he got lucky or if they all had nice stocks.

[jcn59]

I bought a .54 sidelock Investarms at a yard sale recentlybut haven't shot it yet.  Nice looking wood, rifle almost new looking.   Don't know the rifling twist.  Don't like balls, hope it shoots maxiballs or something I already have.

Can anyone recommend a good starting load for a rifle like this?

[Winter Hawk]

For a .54, go 1.5 x 54 = 81 grains as a starting load, then go up or down to find the most accurate one.  YOu don't need the 100 grain + loadings to kill deer or even elk & moose, unless that is where you get the best groups.

IIRC, that rifle has a 1:48" twist.  It should shoot elongated bullets well.  Try the REAL bullets from Lee.  I found they worked very well in a .50 flintlock I had and give mroe oomph at 100 yards than the patched round ball.

Be aware that there can be a problem with bullets shifting off the powder charge when you are walking in the woods.  Keep the muzzle tilted up as you carry the rifle, and very so often run the ramrod down to seat the bullet again.  This doesn't happen with PRB, nor does it happen with every gun.  It's something to remember, though.

-WH-