Black bear with my 54.caliber hawkins

[scott johnson]

I will be going on my first black bear hunt this early fall in Wisconson ,I really would like to take one with my .54 in percussion , I'm just wandering does any one know of any one who shot and killed a black bear with a round ball or am I better off using a conical bullet with more mass I shoot about 83grains of blackpowder  and feel I am quite accurate out  to 50 yards  I'm hoping  my shot will be around 15 to 25 yards, any info would be much appreiate thanks, scott 

[efremtags]

You could definitely kill a bear with this setup if you are looking for a traditional BP hunt. I have never shot bear with this setup but a good friend of mine hunts wild boar exclusively with .50cal round patch loads. They work well if you avoid the front shoulder.

A good compromise that I have used is the ballet rounds. It eliminates patches and adds some weight to the round and it stabilizes well in traditional muzzle loaders not intended for sabot loads.

[Graybeard]

I think Jeremiah Johnson did it with a .50 and RB and so did thousands of others back in the days when muzzle loaders and round balls was all they had. Still if it were me I think I'd feel better with a conical but if I were gonna do it with an RB a .54 is what I'd want.

[AtlLaw]

I'd feel better with a conical but if I were gonna do it with an RB a .54 is what I'd want.

+1

[Perkins]

I did it with a .45 Jaeger, using a patched ball.
Blackbears have thin ribs like a Whitetail.
Shoot behind the shoulder into the heart/lung area, be close and steady when shooting.
Good luck and let us know how you made out.

[kevthebassman]

I think a .54 with PRB is plenty enough for black bear.  If you want extra insurance use a conical.

[flintlock]

The NMLRA has a record book, that it came out with about 10-15 years ago, The Longhunter Society if I remamber correctly, I ordered the first one that came out, before most of the records were tainted by inlines...

The largest grizzly in the first edition was killed with a .54 and a round ball, over 120grs FF....Range was 100 yards, hit behind the shoulder the bear ran about 50 yards and piled up....The ball was found under the hide on the off side...

[jmckenney]

I've taken several black bear with the 54 Cal patched round ball and 100 gr of 2Fg. If you shoot them in the boiler room they don't go far and you will not recover the ball.

[scott johnson]

Was their a very good blood trail after being  shot with a round ball I know its  a tough question it ,depends where you hit them  but I have heard night  mare  stories of bear lost because of poor blood trails. Thanks