What are some good deer loads for a Kentucky type rifle with 1 in 48 twist

[gustmouse]

What are some good deer loads for a Kentucky type rifle with 1 in 48 twist. I just purchased a Cabelas Kentucky rifle.
I’m thinking with a patched round ball about 80 grains of 2F BP. But what about using sabots in this type of barrel?

[Snowshoe]

What cal is it? . If .45 try 60g of 3f and a round ball, if .50 try about 80 2f or 3f and round ball. You can try sabots, but I would stick with the round ball, or a small lead slug, like a Ball-et.

[gustmouse]

Snowshoe, it’s a 50 caliber. I used to hunt with a 1 in 66 mountain type rifle with a 32 inch 50 caliber barrel using about 70 grains of 2F and a patched ball with good results. But wasn’t sure if a 1 in 48 twist made any difference in the use of other projectiles besides a round ball.

Thanks

[flintlock]

Typically, a 1 in 48 is best suited for prbs and conicals...Anywhere from 70-100 grains of either FF or FFF is plenty for deer with either projectile...

[gustmouse]

Typically, a 1 in 48 is best suited for prbs and conicals...Anywhere from 70-100 grains of either FF or FFF is plenty for deer with either projectile...

Ok, I’ll give the patched round balls a try, I haven’t big game hunted with those in a while. I received a TC Omega as a gift earlier this year. It shoots good, but it isn't the same as a side lock ML in the woods. I’ve been using sabots in my other muzzleloaders for the past few years. But I did find a bunch of balls, patches and #11 caps in the basement this morning so I’ll be a happy camper tomorrow when the new rifle arrives.

Thanks for the help!

[tscott]

My 1:48 Hawken shoots a 245gr Powerbelt over 80gr 777 extremely well. Spit patch between shots! Oh, 50 yards!

[simonkenton]

Shoot that patched round ball! Cheapest shooting you can do, and a great deer killer. I have slayed them with 80 gr of Goex and the .490  round ball. Never let me down.

[gustmouse]

I'm going to try the PRB with 80 grains of 2F tomorrow and hope to hunt with it on thursday!

[gustmouse]

I was able to shoot the Cabelas Kentucky Rifle early this morning. Using 80 grains of 3F Pioneer Powder and a patched ball, standing and leaning the barrel against a tree was able to shoot a fist size 3 shot group. The rifle felt good while shooting this load and it sounded nice with its 35 inch barrel.
I left the set triggers as it came from the factory and probably won’t touch them, since they worked fine. It loaded easily and cleaned up the same with just plain water. As I sit here at work typing this I know that it and the TC Omega are going at it in the gun cabinet on who will be used for the last 4 days of muzzleloading dear hunting! Nice rifle for a decent price, Now only if I could get my wife to let me buy the flintlock model.

[gustmouse]

was shooting 200 feet from target

[Slamfire]

Find a fool, and sell the Omega for enough scratch to git a rocker. 

[gustmouse]

I can’t sell the Omega, it was a gift from my buddy. It does have its place for more extreme type hunting in the higher hills in our State Forests during the muzzleloading dear hunt. Just load it and forget it since it’s durable and “weatherproof” I guess just a different animal. But there is something about those traditional rifles that keep me using them!

[Casull]

I've never used the Kentucky rifle, but I used to hunt with a CVA Hawkens in .50 cal (which was a 1 in 48 twist).  The load I used alot was 90 grains of FFFG BP with a 320 grain TC maxi ball (don't know why they called it a "ball").  Anyway, off of sandbags, I was shooting about three inch groups at 100 yards.  Longest shot on a deer was a small eight point buck at about 80 yards.  Punched right through and the deer ran about fifty yards.  Never did recover a slug (shot about 7 or 8 deer with that rig), but it was always bang, deer ran between thirty and fifty yards and fell over (all one shot kills).  Hope that helps.

[gustmouse]

I've never used the Kentucky rifle, but I used to hunt with a CVA Hawkens in .50 cal (which was a 1 in 48 twist).  The load I used alot was 90 grains of FFFG BP with a 320 grain TC maxi ball (don't know why they called it a "ball").  Anyway, off of sandbags, I was shooting about three inch groups at 100 yards.  Longest shot on a deer was a small eight point buck at about 80 yards.  Punched right through and the deer ran about fifty yards.  Never did recover a slug (shot about 7 or 8 deer with that rig), but it was always bang, deer ran between thirty and fifty yards and fell over (all one shot kills).  Hope that helps.

I going to have to try some conicals, maxi balls in it. It likes a patched round ball with 80 grains of 3F. But it would good to have a load for longer range or bigger animals!