I just got a new muzzle loader, a few questions

[Big Richard Hertzer]

Im all new at this I have a Thompsen center 50 cal and i have no idea how much powder i should load in this thing, or what bullet, weight, size etc is the best .I'm looking to shoot some deer  come muzzleloader season, and i want to get this dialed in.. where should i start?

[upnorth]

if you have an encore, 2-50gr pyrodex pellets and a 275 precision bullet dead center groups under 1/2 inch at 100 yds. 777 might gve you some grief to start with, but if you have the time to experiment, it's worth it.

[Charles/NM]

What model rifle do you have?

[Big Richard Hertzer]

Thompsen center Hawkin type rifle.... Sidelock
Not sure about the twist rate on the barrel

Thanks rollingb  for the INFO Thats Just what i was looking for!

[rollingb]

Is it "side-lock" or "inline"?? Who made it??

[rollingb]

Disregard my last post (posted on top of yores)!!

.50 cal. TC Hawken, I believe has a 1-48" twist,.... so, if it were mine,.... I'd start with .490-.495 "roundball" and .018 "spit lubed" pillow-tick'n patch, over 60-70 grs. FFFG or FFG blackpowder, with #11 CCI percussion caps.

[crow_feather]

Big Richard,
First you have to have the proper cup on the rear end of your barrel, then you have to find some 777 powder that costs about 30 bucks a pound.  Then you have to find some bullets that cost a dollar a piece and learn to shoot them out to 500 yds.  Then you need to find a 10 power scope  so you can see out to 500 yards. Then you have to know how to say "well, it loads fron the muzzle" with authority........................oops - you said side lock.

Never mind the above,
You can't do much better than what rollingb told you.  I myself use 70-80 grains of 3f for hunting. (.54 round ball)  I also use moose milk and never touch the inside of the barrel with a patroleum product(oil).  Mamaflinter has good information on moose milk. (90% water 10% water soluble machine oil).

[mamaflinter]

Big Richard Don't you have an owner's manual to go with your rifle? If not I suggest you call T/C and ask for one. They will send you one out free of charge. In it you will find loading data. I'll give you some loading data for both roundball and conicals. The first one will be round balls.

.490 dia. rb            bp charge          muzzle vel.       muzzle energy

175 gr. rb              50 gr. 2fg          1357 f.p.s.        716 ft. lbs.
175 gr. rb              60 gr. 2fg          1434 f.p.s.        799 ft. lbs.
175 gr. rb              70 gr. 2fg          1643 f.p.s.        1050 ft. lbs.
175 gr. rb            * 80 gr. 2fg         1838 f.p.s.        1313 ft. lbs.
175 gr. rb              90 gr. 2fg          1950 f.p.s.        1478 ft. lbs
175 gr. rb              100 gr. 2fg        2052 f.p.s.        1637 ft. lbs.
175 gr. rb          110 gr. 2fg        2153 f.p.s.        1772 ft. lbs.

Notice the charge with the (*) is in the middle. This is recommended by T/C for optimum accuracy. The bolded load is maximum load. Now for the conicals.

.50 cal. lead bullet wt.   bp charge    muzzle vel.      muzzle energy

275-320 gr. bullet         80 gr. 2fg    1494 f.p.s.       1586 ft. lbs.
275-320 gr. bullet       *90 gr. 2fg    1551 f.p.s.       1709 ft. lbs.
275-320 gr. bullet        100 gr. 2fg   1629 f.p.s.       1886 ft. lbs.
275-320 gr. bullet    110 gr. 2fg   1661 f.p.s.       2314 ft. lbs.

350-370 gr. bullet         70 gr. 2fg     1327 f.p.s.      1447 ft. lbs.
350-370 gr. bullet         80 gr. 2fg     1418 f.p.s.      1652 ft. lbs.
350-370 gr. bullet      * 90 gr. 2fg     1465 f.p.s.      1764 ft. lbs.
350-370 gr. bullet    100 gr. 2fg    1525 f.p.s.      1911 ft. lbs

460-470 gr. bullet         70 gr. 2fg      1225 f.p.s.     1566 ft. lbs.
460-470 gr. bullet      * 80 gr. 2fg      1297 f.p.s.     1756 ft. lbs.
460-470 gr. bullet         90 gr. 2fg      1374 f.p.s.     1970 ft. lbs.
460-470 gr. bullet    100 gr. 2fg     1416 f.p.s.     2093 ft. lbs.

If you want to get in touch with T/C their number is 603-332-2333

Another thing I'd like to invite you to check out my Website http://mamaflinter.tripod.com/ I think you'll find a lot of useful information there.

[clodbuster]

"Big R"  The guys have given good info to start your process.  Start with safe loads and work up to good accuracy.  Don't believe that anyone else knows what your gun likes for a load.  They are individuals ( the guns).  I wished I had a dollar  for every time I've heard that 1 in 48 TC's aren't accurate with 385 gr bullets.   Mine shoots 2" groups at 75 yds with a peep sight.  No deer walks far after receiving one of those 2" from where I intended.   Good luck.  Just remember to clean, clean, clean your gun every time immediately after shootin'.