Leo in PA said:
Tip Curtis answered the question the day you bought the rifle.
You won't find anyone on this ML forum or any other forum with more experience.
15 years ago I bought a .50 caliber Lyman Trade rifle and when I asked Chuck Dixon about good hunting loads he said 50-70 grains 2f with a .490 ball. That is more than enough power to kill a white tail deer.
When I read a comment about 80 grains of powder for a target load I just have to wonder.
If you want to learn about flintlock shooting go to a woodswalk, go to a rondezvous, go to a local NMLRA shoot. Or just go to the range with Tip's recommendation and work it out.
This is a composite of ten 1 shot targets at 60 yards fired with a 50 cal McLemore barrel in one of our plank rest "turkey" matchs. Load was 109 gr of FFF Swiss (weighed), a .018 ticking patch and a .495 ball, Schoultz method. Open sights. The last two sighters were also in the white spot that contains the "X". So of the last 12 shots 8 would have hit a nickel or probably a dime centered over the "X".
This is the rifle and targets.
This was a string measure match and the string for 10 shots was 4.087 even with shot 5 being out due to a goofed read of the wind.
The maker uses a .500 ball, similar patch and 120 gr of FFF Swiss to do accuracy.
The barrels are made of GB quality 4150, virtually the same steel Miltary small arms and machinegun barrels are made from.
90 grains fff has been my standard starting load for 50s for decades and most barrels shoot very well with it from 48" to 70" twist.
I had a 54 years ago that simply would not shoot under about 4-5" at 50 yards with less than 120 gr of Goex. The group size magically tightened going up from 110 to 120 and thats what I hunted with.
If the barrel is of poor quality steel and/or is poorly breeched etc, then the shooter has to make a decision for himself concerning suitability.
GM ML barrels are 1137 GB quality and withstood modern smokeless pressures in testing with BPCRs years ago. But most or all makers of BP cartridge rifles now use 4150-4140 for these its being the industry standard.
So the load needs to be what the barrel wants. Not what someone's preconceived notion of what is acceptable might be. But it requires work at the range to get a firm hold on what works.
With a round ball there is little chance of blowing out nipples or vent liners and modern BARREL STEELS, are strong enough to tolerate loads in the 1/2 ball weight category and this is going to be close to the best load for most hunting rifles though some like less some more.
In hunting rifle power is not so important as a flat trajectory and higher velocity, 1800-2000 in a 50 caliber, produces a flat enough trajectory that the hunting rifle can be zeroed to 110-120 yards and will be in the deers kill zone from zero to 130-140 yards. If zeroed at 50 yards by 110 it will be hopelessly low and require calculations to get the ball back up where it needs to be.
While people in the east who hunt from tree stands or blinds and shoot at archery ranges may not need this capability its a good thing to have in many situations. I have a friend who shot and hunted with an original Hawken who said it appeared to be "on" at 150 plus.
Dan
