Any ideas on how i canbuse a .50 hawken for squirrels

I'm a believer in small calibers for small game and I always shot squirrels with either a .32 or a .36. Even a body hit with either between the front and rear quarters or the neck/head area is no worse than a .22LR. But a larger caliber with low velocity will work if you're careful.

1 cardboard card with a felt wad then 3/4 to 1 oz. of loose # 6-7 shot with another cardboard card to hold it in. Should be good out to 20 yds. if I remember correctly. I think I was using either 40 or 50 grns. of Goex 2F. What you don't want is to encapsulate the shot in anything otherwise the rifling will throw the shot all over if it comes out spinning. You'll need a 1/2" punch. I picked up a 25lb. bag of 7 shot at a garage sale last summer for 3 bucks, good luck! I was using an old TC Hawken with hardly any rifling left so your results may differ but if you have the stuff give it a shot, you might be surprised!

I shoot grouse and rabbits with my 50 cal Traditions Kentucky flinter loaded with shot. I actually use a 50 cal sabot on top of 35 Gr 2F, then I add in a lee powder scoop full of #6 shot (150 grains worth).I top it with a felt wad and Bob's your uncle. If it works for rabbits and grouse it should work for squirrels. we can't hunt squirrels here so never tried.

Sun City said:

Easy! Just shoot their heads off!

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From my one and only experience with large bore ML on squirrels, head shots are not that important. Much to my surprise, I did not loose much meat, if any, from a mid body shot with a .54 full power deer load.

See if you can get a drop in barrel in a smaller caliber. Green Mountain used to make them for TC'S. That is providing you have a TC. On checking I didn't see that you said you did. Soft leather may get you there with a 40 cal ball

I regularly shoot grouse and rabbits with a 54 and 80 or 90 gr 3f. Head shots. No problems The squirrels could be in danger too if on the ground. NOT launching 54 balls into the air though.

I was hunting small game with a friend once and he was upst that I shot a squirrel out of a tree with a "smooth bore". He said he was taught that shooting squirrels with a scatter gun was unethical. When I asked him if he was concerned about where his bullets ended up with a miss he honestly reconsidered.

I've headshot hundreds of squirrels with 50 and 58 cal Hawken Rifles. I use 50 gr FFFG in the 50 and 70 in the 58.

Nowadays, I just use my 40 flinter.

I sure wouldn't jack with sabows or undersized balls in a 50. Honestly, a 50 ain't that big anyhow.

HH

This sounds like a great excuse for getting a new muzzleloader!

muzzleloadingat18 said:

I'm trying to avoid slinging that much lead for the sake of efficiency. I dont want to waste that much lead any other ideas?

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The difference between a 50 cal prb and a 36 cal is 109 grains. So if you shoot 64 times you have Lost a pound of lead. IIRC lead is going for approx $3.00/lb. So your losing .046875 cents per shot. Less then a nickel per shot Lost.
I doubt many here have shot 64 times squirrel hunting in a season.
I'm for trying 15-20 grs of fffg and see what happens at 15-25 yards. Most of my squirrel shots are closer than that.

Sometimes crunching the numbers helps make a decision.
Good luck, get those bushytails!!

First thing, make sure it's legal to do. In Pennsylvania, using a .50 for small game is a no no.

Ya, but if'n you blow their heads off, you can't have boiled squirrel brains.

I have no trouble shooting them w/my 50 cal. 46 in. Getz brl. VA. Style rifle gun.