Powder charge question

With my .50 flintlock, I've worked up "the load" for it and generally charge it the exact same way everytime, regardless of whether in fun shooting, hunting, etc. I use 80gr of 2f Swiss.

So, given the powder shortage, if im just shooting for fun offhand at 25-50yds, I'm guessing I can use less than 80gr and still be accurate. Is there powder charge that folks "go down to" when just target shooting? 40 or 50gr instead of the usual 80gr? I know dropping the charge matters more at longer distances, but at 25yds, does it matter much?

If shooting at just 25 yards try 40 grains and see what it does. You can always go up.

Lots of folks develop a load just for plinking. I shoot a reduced load in my 54 renegade when I just want to shoot it for fun. 40 grains 2F vs my 80 grain hunting load. I keep the range under 30 yds or so.

I used to do a "half load" in my .54 of 42 grains of 2F (one fill of a spent .45 Colt case) for squirrel and rabbits. VERY accurate out to 50 yards.

I'll try a 5 shot group with 40gr at 25yds from a rest then 80gr for comparison, then again at 50yds maybe bumping it up to 50gr. If no real group difference, I'll just save the powder! Thx

Yup. In my .62 smoothrifle my heavy load was 80 grains 3f with a .610 ball sandwiched between a lubed wad and an overshot card to hold it in.
I found that 65 grains 3f and a .595 ball with .010 patch shot just as well at 25 yards and almost as well at 50.

The .45 rifle I used to have shot great at whatever distance I tried with 60 grains 3f. For 25 yard plinking and paper punching, 40 grains 3f was just as good.

I don't hunt anymore but sight in my 50 caliber rifles for 100 yard silhouettes. (Hitting them off hand is another matter.) Like Stumpkiller, for plinking under 50 yards I found half the heavier charge works pretty well.

For what it's worth, I do more casual plinking with 32 caliber rifles and 36 caliber C&B revolvers. Both do well with 20 grains of 3F which really extends the powder supply. It helps having a good supply of percussion caps.

Jeff

See, this is a big reason I like muzzleloading...being able to change the load from shot to shot.
Big guy wants to try the .50 Hawken? Sure. Give him a good dose of powder.
His young daughter? A good poofer load and go from there.

wm

Fadala recommended using a measure set to throw half your usual hunting charge. When plinking, you can just dump one measure down the bore and pop away at targets of opportunity without all of the recoil and fuss.

For plinking and the 25yd monthly postal matches I load 55gr of 2f in my .50 cal pedersoli pennsylvania flinter. For shooting from a rest I up the charge to 85gr of 2f or best accuracy. I use a homemade antler tip measure, i bored out the inside with 2 different size bits fill to the first step for 30gr or all the way for 55gr. I also use 30gr as my standard charge in my harpers ferry pistol just to keep things simple.

Chris

Start with 50gr and and work down 5gr at a time until accuracy falls off.

I shoot the same charge I'm going to hunt with, regardless of whether the target is paper or game.

Me too, BUT.....given the run on powder, I figure, 1lb=87 loads of 80gr. Or 174 of 40gr.8f the point of impact at a 25yd paper target is roughly the same, why not conserve a little BP until this situation settles?

Sidney Smith said:

I shoot the same charge I'm going to hunt with, regardless of whether the target is paper or game.

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In a couple of 58s that I have that shoot pretty much dead on at 90 yards with 80-90 grains of 3F Swiss (90 grains hits a bit higher), I found that 30 grains or so of 3F or 4F are just about right on at 25 yards in a ragged hole, and no more than 1-1/2” low at 50.

For an accurate plinking load that is both kid and spouse friendly, I usually start with 20-25 grains and go up until I have a satisfactory group at 25 yards, and more often than not, find it works at 50, though maybe an inch or two low, at least for 45 caliber or larger guns. Actually use 12-15 grains of powder in my 32s as both a target and squirrel load zeroed at 25 yards.

I would suggest going to the range and see what you get starting at 20-25 grains at 25 yards. Then work your charge up and down until you have a group that suits your fancy, both accurate and working with your sights without adjustment. No one here can tell you what will work in your particular gun, all we can do is tell you what works in our guns.

To be kid, spouse, or kind to someone who would be adverse to recoil, I use my 36 caliber rifle. Its accurate and a good performing rifle to be introducing someone to muzzleloading.

you won't know until you try it

I don't go after small game with anything over .36. But at 25 yards - never shot it at a target farther out - my .50 shoots one hole groups with 30 grains of 2F. The standard load for it is 70 grains of 3F. The .32 & .36 are much more economical with powder and lead.