50 cal. load for deer ?

[BIG JAKE]

I have a lyman  50 cal trade rifle. Right know I'm shooting 50 grains of 2f behind a speer .490 ball and .020 patch at paper. Any suggestions on a charge weight for deer. I would prefer to stay with the round ball. Thanks!

[simonkenton]

You can kill a deer with 50 grains of powder, no doubt.
I would increase that load to 70 grains, and see how your accuracy does.
I have shot deer with 80, and 90 grains of black powder and the .490 round ball, and never had a problem. I couldn't tell much difference between the two loads.

[eskimo36]

I have had better luck with the finer grade of powder, the FFFG.  I shoot 55-70 grains with a patched roundball.  55 grains of FFFG is the most accurate with clover leafs at 50 yards, but 70 is still very accurate in my 1-66" barrel.  I have also had great luck with Buffalo Bullets Ball-ets with the same size powder charges.

[Plink]

Try working your load up 5 grains at a time and see what's the most accurate. It's not uncommon for muzzleloaders to have 2 sweet spots, one at a lower charge weight, and another at about 80-85% of max or so, depending on the gun. Most of my .50's and .54's have a sweet spot in the 70-80 grain range.

[BIG JAKE]

Thanks guys I'll try moving up the 5 grains at a time first. I have a good bit of 2f to burn before I try 3.

[Slamfire]

I've had acceptable accuracy with 80 grains of FFg, but am unhappy with the amount of fouling. I'm gonna try some FFFg, as soon as my 4 lbs runs out. The powder is made by Wano, a German outfit, and is labeled Graf & Son. 

[Snowshoe]

My Lyman Deerstalker likes 80g of Pyrodex and a .495 ball with 15th pillow ticking patch Wonderlube, and a felt wad under the patch. This load has taken many Whitetails, even one at 120 yards.