NEW TO BP SHOOTING

HELLO to all you cap and ball shooters. I've been a center fire shooter and reloader for over 60 years and shoot my 300 rum out to a mile. just bought a T/C 50 Hawken on line from a add in a state publication from Idaho, my brother lived close to the seller so he is picking it up and shipping to me. the serial number on the barrel is 5 digits 85xxx. spent the better part of yesterday and today reading posts here to gain a little knowledge about this sport. I really enjoy and appreciate the knowledge you guys have and willfully share. my question is - what would be a good load to use to reach out to 200 to 400 yards? I gave up hunting several years ago and now shoot paper and steel, I'm fortunate to have a 600 yard range at home.

CWKNOX said:

HELLO to all you cap and ball shooters. I've been a center fire shooter and reloader for over 60 years and shoot my 300 rum out to a mile. just bought a T/C 50 Hawken on line from a add in a state publication from Idaho, my brother lived close to the seller so he is picking it up and shipping to me. the serial number on the barrel is 5 digits 85xxx. spent the better part of yesterday and today reading posts here to gain a little knowledge about this sport. I really enjoy and appreciate the knowledge you guys have and willfully share. my question is - what would be a good load to use to reach out to 200 to 400 yards? I gave up hunting several years ago and now shoot paper and steel, I'm fortunate to have a 600 yard range at home.

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As with the "other" types of firearms, methodical load development is key. As for the distances you mentioned, round ball is going to be sketchy as it sheds velocity really fast. For reaching out there, a conical is probably in order. I'd also strongly suggest you learn to cast.

CWKNOX said:

HELLO to all you cap and ball shooters. I've been a center fire shooter and reloader for over 60 years and shoot my 300 rum out to a mile. just bought a T/C 50 Hawken on line from a add in a state publication from Idaho, my brother lived close to the seller so he is picking it up and shipping to me. the serial number on the barrel is 5 digits 85xxx. spent the better part of yesterday and today reading posts here to gain a little knowledge about this sport. I really enjoy and appreciate the knowledge you guys have and willfully share. my question is - what would be a good load to use to reach out to 200 to 400 yards? I gave up hunting several years ago and now shoot paper and steel, I'm fortunate to have a 600 yard range at home.

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Shooting for distance you’ll want to use a conical. There’s a gentleman that has some short videos on YouTube where he shoots for distance out to 1,000 yards with TCs. He shoots with custom bullets, S&W 500 paper patched lead bullets, etc. His channel could definitely help you out.

Idaho Lewis YouTube Channel

TScottW99 said:

Shooting for distance you’ll want to use a conical. There’s a gentleman that has some short videos on YouTube where he shoots for distance out to 1,000 yards with TCs. He shoots with custom bullets, S&W 500 paper patched lead bullets, etc. His channel could definitely help you out.

Idaho Lewis YouTube Channel

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thanks

CWKNOX said:

just bought a T/C 50 Hawken on line from a add in a state publication from Idaho, my brother lived close to the seller so he is picking it up and shipping to me. the serial number on the barrel is 5 digits 85xxx.

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ZIdaho is a great place to find guns. I, too, live in the same town as the gun.

Double down on Idaho Lewis if that is the type of shooting you want to do.

chorizo said:

ZIdaho is a great place to find guns. I, too, live in the same town as the gun.

Double down on Idaho Lewis if that is the type of shooting you want to do.

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thanks just watched a couple, he's good. I liked his comments about being a previous center fire guy and carefully measuring powder weights.

CWKNOX said:

what would be a good load to use to reach out to 200 to 400 yards?

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Answer: None.
Muzzle loading rifles are a thing of the past. Practical and humane hunting beyond about 100 yards is about the best you can expect. For that kind of long range hunting get a modern rifle. Reconsider if the ml avocation is for you.

Rifleman1776 said:

Answer: None.
Muzzle loading rifles are a thing of the past. Practical and humane hunting beyond about 100 yards is about the best you can expect. For that kind of long range hunting get a modern rifle. Reconsider if the ml avocation is for you.

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thanks, but as i said i no longer hunt . paper and steel is my sport now. i shoot a 300 rum out to a mile. now i want to enjoy a new sport that will challenge my old age

OP says for paper and steel. No longer hunts. Lewis was making good hits with RB at very extended ranges, again for fun Not hunting. Good sights will be needed.

Sights are everything

I'm proud of myself when I can put hits on a silhouette at 200 with a .58 Rifle-Musket. At 300 it's pretty much area fire for me.

There are guys with Pedersoli Hawkens shooting 2" at 200 yards too , with Tang Sights and heavy bullets.

harleysboss said:

OP says for paper and steel. No longer hunts. Lewis was making good hits with RB at very extended ranges, again for fun Not hunting. Good sights will be needed.

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yes i watched several of his videos. do you know what sights he is using. tried searching here for info but could not find the right post's

Agree with @Rifleman1776. And if you want to shoot out to 200-300 yards just for the fun and challenge, I'd suggest that each load is carefully weighed as @dave951 likes to do with his target shooting.

I used to do a little shooting with Lewis and I know he was a big fan of the Lyman 57 tang for Hawken/Renegade and the Lyman front globe sight. He also had one of his long range fast twist rifles set up with a Vernier Tang sight from Lee Shaver. Idahoron also has a similar set up on his "hot rod" Hawkens. Maybe he'll be along and shed some light on what he uses. I personally have a rifle set up with a GM LRH 1-28 50 cal. I'm using the Lyman 57 tang sight as well. Inspired by Idahoron.

harleysboss said:

I used to do a little shooting with Lewis and I know he was a big fan of the Lyman 57 tang for Hawken/Renegade and the Lyman front globe sight. He also had one of his long range fast twist rifles set up with a Vernier Tang sight from Lee Shaver. Idahoron also has a similar set up on his "hot rod" Hawkens. Maybe he'll be along and shed some light on what he uses. I personally have a rifle set up with a GM LRH 1-28 50 cal. I'm using the Lyman 57 tang sight as well. Inspired by Idahoron.

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thanks for your help.

That is quite a goal and it certainly is achievable by somebody who is dedicated to making it work. As you're shooting paper and steel you can take your time over however long it takes. When I hear folks talking about hunting at 200+ yards with a ML I just cringe. What I have witnessed at many deer camps and at public ranges is that your average Joe shooter has trouble beating a 4 inch group at 100 yds with scoped unmentionables. Perhaps it's regional but I tend to believe it's a bit more widespread that that. I know there are folks here that have pulled off that 200 yd deer shot and continue to do so. It's just that average Joe is more likely to miss completely (Ok by me but possibly dangerous) or end up with a badly hit deer which may never be recovered. I do wish you success in your endeavor and please post your progress here.

Disregard the naysayers. Many read the title and the first post, absorb little then tell you what you can't do based upon their limited knowledge of what can be done

Take up the challenge and see what you can do.

I am a hunter and my rifles are equipped to hunt and cleanly kill out to 125 yards on elk. A different load, sight and set of circumstances Idaho Lewis SHOWS it can be done out to several hundred yards for target shooting

I am working on my own version of a carbine "hotrod" for hunting. Been told I can't and shouldn't hunt beyond 50 yards. Below is an elk I "couldn't" kill at 85 yards. I really enjoy the freezer full of meat that I couldn't have.

CWKNOX said:

yes i watched several of his videos. do you know what sights he is using. tried searching here for info but could not find the right post's

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As others have said, Lewis likes, (he ai’t dead yet!) the Lyman 57 rear and Lyman 17 front for most of his shooting. Lee Shaver inserts for the front sight and Hadley apertures for the rear. Lyman also makes a model 20MJT front sight which is substantially larger diameter than the Model 17… Shaver also makes inserts for it which I really like for lower light conditions. At any rate, with proper sights, triggers, and load, muzzleloaders have the potential for exceptional accuracy on a par with similarly sighted modern rifles.

LOTS of experiments and shooting are ahead to get dialed in. What's not to like!?

I started out the same as you and just maybe I can save you a little frustration. The following has been my experience. It is a whole new ball game you are playing.
Yes; as others have said, sights are everything.
When first dialing in change your powder load in 5 grain increments then play with your best group. Just like any other rifle except the 5 grain change seems a huge to a centerfire loader.
You will get more flyers than you are used to. That's just how this game is. One wild shot, in isolation doesn't mean a damn thing.
Black powder guns are like people, some just slip right in no problem and others can be so fussy they drive you to distraction.
The TC Hawkin is a good gun to start with, i love my renegade but it's no good for precision at more than 100 yds. But, to be fair I have never seriously tried.
As others have said before me, round ball is best considered a short range, by your standards, projectile.
.After about 100 yds they tend to wander off, and develop a trajectory like a golf ball.

I play a guitar and thought I could change over to a banjo easily. I did it, and my previous experience with strings helped a lot because I knew what I was trying to do, but it was not as easy as I thought it would be.
Persist and you'll get where you wanna go.
It's all good fun mate

Maybe try the I bullet molds from Accurate Molds inc. designed by Idaholewis for the Thompson Center Renegade and Hawken rifles. accurate molds inc.