Author Topic: hunting load for tc hawken .50 cal.. (Read 5893 times)

rebel57 · « **on:** July 12, 2010, 02:12:19 PM »

my deer load is 90 grns of fffg, and a .490 prb//....am i wasting powder?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2010, 03:08:40 PM »

Not if it's accurate, I use 95gr FFF and a .495" PRB, I can happily say that no legal deer that's crossed paths with me lived very long, one fell where he was hit with a high shoulder shot, all the others left a blood trail that wasn't long to follow.

Tim

Swampman · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2010, 03:18:03 PM »

IMO that is a very heavy deer load but if it's the most accurate load for the rifle it's fine. I've never owned or seen a .50 that would accept a .495 without using a mallet to load it. I like the .490 or even smaller.

Foxfire Rod & Gun · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2010, 04:20:08 PM »

I have used 100 gr. FFg with a TC 370 grain Maxi-ball in my TC .50 caliber Hawken Flintlock. At 75 yds. from a rest with open sights it will group under 2 inches. The very best group that I have shot from a rest was a three shot, one hole, clover leaf group using this load. Now I will admit that it is hard on the shoulder, but who really "feels" the recoil when firing a potential kill shot on a nice buck?

FR&G

spikehorn · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2010, 05:35:55 AM »

I am new to traditional MLs does PRB= patched round ball?

bubba.50 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2010, 07:46:56 AM »

hey spikehorn,

that's exactly what it means.

pbr means pabst blue ribbon. just so ya don't confuse the two

.

have a good'en friend, bubba.

spikehorn · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2010, 08:17:37 AM »

Hey bubba I've had my share of pbr don't think I would confuse that unless I had two many pbr's and then I should probably stay away from the PRB's

Rock Home Isle · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2010, 06:59:01 PM »

Quote from: rebel57 on July 12, 2010, 02:12:19 PM

my deer load is 90 grns of fffg, and a .490 prb//....am i wasting powder?

I would not think so...I use 100 gr FFg behind a roundy and 90 gr FFg behind a TC conical.

Recoil on the TC conical is memorable to say the least, but it is very effective on elk here in Colorado. I did have problems with "shoot-throughs" using the conical, so I started taking an 1/8" drill bit and hollow pointing (HP) the projectile. None HP Conicals were at 24-28 inches of penitration in wet news-papers with no bullet deformation, and the HP Conicals were at 14-17" of penitration in the same material with deformation increasing the diameter to around .90 inches. After years of using the HP Conicals I no longer have "shoot-throughs" and my groups went from 10" at 100 yards to ~4". I'm not exactly sure why, but I'll call that an improvement.

simonkenton · « **Reply #8 on:** July 14, 2010, 02:44:14 PM »

I have killed a bunch of deer and wild hogs with my .50 TC Hawken. I use the patched round ball.
Sometimes I hunted with 80 grains of black powder, sometimes I used 90 grains.
I couldn't tell any difference.
Both loads were quite lethal on the big game.

Swampman · « **Reply #9 on:** July 14, 2010, 02:58:25 PM »

I've seen a bunch of .50s that shot best with 80 grains of 3f.

Anduril · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2010, 09:43:30 AM »

Quote from: rebel57 on July 12, 2010, 02:12:19 PM

my deer load is 90 grns of fffg, and a .490 prb//....am i wasting powder?

if you like it and your rifle likes it I would say no, you are not wasting powder.
have you tried 2f to see if it shoots any better? or worse?
..

koger · « **Reply #11 on:** July 19, 2010, 04:41:52 PM »

My .50 Hawken and Renegade both love 90-95 gr 2FFg, and the Hornady Great Plains, 385 HP and the T/C 350gr. HP, both are deadly, have taken deer out to 165 yards. Have taken 42 deer with these b ullets in .50 adn .54, never lost one. Round ball is great out to 100 yds, but energy levels drop quick after that.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2010, 04:58:22 AM »

I started with ff way back when and shot four five shot groups using 70, 80, 90, & 100 grains of the Goex.

The groups tightened up nicely at the 80gr loading and I have stayed with it ever since. 75 grains of fff also does well, it might just be me but the fff seems to burn more complete causing less fouling.

Swampman · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2010, 08:27:12 AM »

I wouldn't use 2f.

Anduril · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2010, 12:46:30 PM »

Quote from: Swampman on July 20, 2010, 08:27:12 AM

I wouldn't use 2f.

how come?
..

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #15 on:** July 20, 2010, 01:02:38 PM »

When I got my grey hawk the loading data said round ball and 80 grains of Black powder.
I was using Pyrodex RS and it said to use 80% by volume.
So set the volume measure to 64 grains.
I use a .490 ball with a patch. licked if practicing greased if hunting.
Loaded rifle stood up and shot a red dot sticker on a log at 75 yards.
Log fell off the stump and I had hit the Sticker.
Reloaded and tried it again to see if it was a fluke.
Cut the dot again.
Have not changed the load since then.
Figure it is about like shooting a 44 mag handgun in power.

mspaci · « **Reply #16 on:** July 21, 2010, 04:08:04 AM »

All my rifles shoot well with 2f & 90 grains. Mike

lakota · « **Reply #17 on:** July 21, 2010, 09:04:31 AM »

Mine seemed to show no preference between 2F and 3F but I thought the clean up was alittle easier with the 3F.

And maybe it was just me but I though the 3F went off with a sharper crack kind of like a center fire rifle as opposed to a boom with the 2F

Anduril · « **Reply #18 on:** July 23, 2010, 06:33:25 AM »

sharper crack = bullet breaking sound barrier?
boom = subsonic?
..

Semisane · « **Reply #19 on:** July 23, 2010, 07:40:36 AM »

Quote

sharper crack = bullet breaking sound barrier?
boom = subsonic?

And pop = dryball.

spooked · « **Reply #20 on:** July 27, 2010, 09:34:43 AM »

My .50 Traditions shot the Lee R.E.A.L. so well with 80gr. pyrodex P, that i filed the sight for that load and use nothing else in it..