New to flintlock hunting

[.204mike]

I was wondering about bullet selection for my muzzleloader.
It’s a traditions classic Kentucky with 33” barrel and 1:66” twist. What would you suggest I use for this I have 250 grain .490 maxi balls.

 

[Eterry]

Most here will lean toward using the patched round ball or pbr. I haven't used the maxi in a 50, but most on here who do use a lubed felt wad between powder and maxi. I have used the Lee REAL conical and a traditional Minie ball to take deer.
It works.
Good luck.

 

[azmntman]

Your rifle has a patched round ball twist. I would suggest that. Play with different powder charges (start at 50 gr and increase 5 gr at a time, shooting 3-5 shot groups), different powders, tr 2f and 3f, try different patch lubricants. Likely the most "accurizing" component will be the patch material. Use only 100% cotton and check out different thicknesses. Fabric shops is where most of us get it. Go buy 1/3 yard of several pillow ticking's. Those cheapo traditions barrels can be quite accurate. I went out yesterday with my spring field hawkins by traditions and out the Corolla door shot my last 3" group at a measured 75 yds that was nearly a clover leaf. Took me 20 shots to dial in for a deer hunt. lotta filing of front site.

Take yer time and have FUN!

 

[BrownBear]

One thing about it, patched round balls are lots, lots cheaper to shoot even if you buy rather than cast.

That's important because hunting with a flintlock requires that you do a bunch of shooting beforehand to make sure the gun is reliable and your shooting skills are up to par. Flintlocks can be completely reliable, but it takes shooting time to fine tune the gun and your loading to make that happen.

The .490 or .495 round balls for your gun have plenty of geewhiz for deer and they're lots easier on the shoulder than conicals like the Maxi's.

 

[DJH]

I'll second the patched round ball. It's economical to shoot, not as hard on your shoulder and does just fine on deer sized critters. I don't know how much experience you have with these traditional guns but the front site usually comes from the factory a bit tall. This is to allow you to adjust the POI elevation by filing down the front site. I would suggest doing a good bit of shooting before ever touching the file. When you do go to file the front site, go slow. Only file a very small amount and then shoot again. It doesn't take much to over file that front site. I learned this the hard way. Enjoy the new gun. It should be a fine shooter.

Jeff H

 

[Grenadier1758]

Our answers will be better suited for answering your question if you tell us a bit more about how you plan to use the rifle. Since you have conical bullets on hand, it would appear that your question is about a hunting use.

A 0.490" diameter ball and 60 or a bit more grains of 3fg black powder is more than adequate for deer. The 3fg will also work as the pan powder. I like cotton drill cloth for patching and an oil based patch lube for hunting.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I was wondering about bullet selection for my muzzleloader.
It’s a traditions classic Kentucky with 33” barrel and 1:66” twist. What would you suggest I use for this I have 250 grain .490 maxi balls.

That's basically a rifle marketed by Traditions, but I believe it's the same as they were when imported and sold by CVA, made in Spain, though yours is in .50 flintlock while mine I bought in .45 as a caplock.
Mine never shot maxi-balls well at all. They tumbled something fierce. Patched round ball though, shot very well. As others have written, a .490, patched round-ball will do you very well.

LD

 

[Juice Jaws]

I would begin with 60 grains 3F patch round ball .490

 

[Thunder14]

[QUOTE=".204mike, post: 1
Welcome Mike,I am also new to flintlock my addiction is a T/C Hawken 1:66 twist and I have learned so much from everyone on this site,I also in the beginning thought about using different types of projectiles but as people are saying round ball does do the best and a lot of experimenting with powder and patches but when you start getting it figured out you will be amazed how much you have learned about the whole process and a real sense of accomplishment when you know you made it happen.And the more range time the better i shoot 4 to 5 days a week about 5 hours a day and I’m still learning its not like cartridge shooting it takes a lot more personal input,so good luck I’m sure you will enjoy the flintlock experience.

 

[dlpowell]

I was wondering about bullet selection for my muzzleloader.
It’s a traditions classic Kentucky with 33” barrel and 1:66” twist. What would you suggest I use for this I have 250 grain .490 maxi balls.

Maxiballs are made for a faster twist barrel like a 1:48. Don't waste your time with them. Besides a 50 cal round ball is gonna pass thru any deer.

 

[Sparkitoff]

The PRB is the way to go if you have the wherewithal to find the right load. The only other projectile that is pretty consistently accurate in slow twist barrels is the Hornady PA Conical (they're 240 grain).

 

[Stumpkiller]

Patched round ball, 0.490" and a 0.017" cotton patch. I shot 90 gr FFg in my .50 T/C New Englander.

I use 85 gr FFFg in my .54 flintlock. Play around a bit to see where your rifle settle in.

 

[bldtrailer]

I had a traditions Tennessee flintlock (shorter barrel than yours) It likes 80grns 3f 15patch and .490 rb ( and good English flints not the cut ones!) with that load my son has taken his first 2 deer (and he kept the rifle) I had to buy custom flinter to replace it

 

[Cruzatte]

I was wondering about bullet selection for my muzzleloader.
It’s a traditions classic Kentucky with 33” barrel and 1:66” twist. What would you suggest I use for this I have 250 grain .490 maxi balls.

That's a twist made for round balls. Shall I assume your rifle is a fifty caliber? You could use a .490 round ball, or even a .495. Only you will be able to decide after testing out both and several powder charges and patch thickness combinations to see which combination gives the best accuracy. Hope this helps.

 

[32 ballard xl]

Yeah, takes a while to learn flintlocks! Gotta get used to that ker-whoof when they launch.

 

[.204mike]

Thank you guys for all the great information I will be getting some round balls and be trying them. Once again thank you.

 

[Rat]

Round ball has always seemed "right" to me, for a hunting rifle. In the .50's and .45's you can usually get some pretty good velocity going while still maintaining accuracy. Round balls kill very well, way out of proportion to energy levels according to flawed figures produced by the common and accepted foot pounds of energy formula. Having said that, that "PA" conical is a good bullet, and really shoots nice in my .50" pistol, but still, and again, patched round ball is just plain "right" in a flintlock rifle.