deer hunting load data for TC Seneca 45cal.?

[hansg/Ups]

We have a TC Seneca 45cal.,haven't shot it in a long time,and have forgotten the loads.
What are suggested patched ball and maxi ball deer hunting loads [with Goex FFFg powder]?
Thanks.

[Swampman]

70 grains of 3f behind a Maxiball.  I would avoid the roundball on deer.

[DennyRoark]

Mine liked 90gr with the maxi, but she kicked like a mule.  RB doesn't have a lot of energy left at 75, but it'll still punch both lungs.

[Screwbolts]

I have taken many deer with 70 gr. and a PRB.  My Gun would Crony 1960 FPS with 70 gr. of Pyro RS. 

Ken

[Swampman]

Snapping on the heels of the .30 Carbine and the .32-20.

[coyotejoe]

More like a 45/90, which was/is a first class blackpowder cartridge hunting rifle. Manuals and suggested loads for the Seneca are still available for download from T/C.
http://www.tcarms.com/assets/manuals/noncurrent/Shooting_TC_Side_Lock_Black_Powder_Guns.pdf

A 320 grain soft lead bullet at 1420 fps ain't no popgun!

[Swampman]

With a conical which is going to weigh not more than 290 grains yes it's close to a .44 Mag pistol but with a round ball it's not enough.

[coyotejoe]

Swampman, the ballistics I quoted are from the T/C website so presumably T/C did, at least at one time, offer a 320 grain .45 caliber maxiball, and that is way hotter than any load from a .44 mag revolver, in fact it beats the factory loads from a .454 Casull.
 The Lyman BP Manual lists a 325 grain Buffalo bullet in excess of 1600 fps. That load is probably excessive for the little Seneca in which T/C recommends only the 80 grain powder charge which I first mentioned with their 320 grain bullet.
 I've never tried a .45 roundball on deer since Colorado sets a minimum of .50 caliber for elk and I want my rifles to be good for both. However, if I wanted a rifle exclusively for deer I would be happy with a .45 ball leaving the muzzle at over 2000 fps. At one time the hunter for Bent's Fort who was expected to provide all the meat for that busy trading post got it done with a .45 caliber cap lock rifle and they didn't have maxiballs in his day.

[DennyRoark]

I bounced a .45 PRB off a deer at a little over 125 yds with 70gr 3F.  Found it in the mud looking for blood, hair marks on one side, patch marks on the other.  Those little balls loose energy fast.  I read somewhere that it takes 700 Ft. Lbs. energy to kill a deer (maybe in the Hawken/Seneca manual), and with that load you are pretty close to that at 100 yds.  After that day, I switched to maxi balls for hunting.  I also bounced a PRB off of a 1/2" plate hinged "turkey head" at 75yds, at a Thanksgiving shoot with 60gr Pyro.  Hit it right at the bottom at the hinge.  They gave me the turkey, and repainted the target.  Is a 127gr .45 PRB a deer killer?  Yes, in the right hands....

[Swampman]

A 7 1/2" Super Blackhawk will push a 320 grain bullet at 1400 fps.  That's enough for deer as is the .45 Maxi.  The roundball is good for small game.

[spooked]

I don't know about the Seneca, but the Cherokee .45 with 70gr. P pyrodex and the maxiball will turn my shoulder black 'n' blue for several days with very few shots..Got me to flinching Switchin to a 200 gr. R.E.A.L. and aboot 60gr. methinks.. .