Since, what’s his name, made a claim our flintlock muzzleloaders are not powerful enough to hunt deer, I decided to look at some figures. I am going to guess 800 Lbs. energy is minimum.
I choose 70 grains of black powder because it seems the most accurate load for me but as you can see it probably doesn’t reach my goal of 800 Lbs at range. But look what happens with just 90 grains of BP. Anything under 100 yards seems to be well within specs and certainly adequate. I included the 45-70 as a reference.
128 grain rb 70 grs. FFG 1825 F.P.S. 940 Ft. Lbs. 45 cal
175 grain rb 70 grs. FFG 1643 F.P.S. 1050 Ft. Lbs. 50 cal
240 grain maxi ball 70 grs. FFG 1522 F.P.S. 1312 Ft. Lbs. 45 cal
350 grain maxi ball 70 grs. FFG 1327 F.P.S. 1447 Ft. Lbs. 50 cal
45-70-405 70 grs. FFG 1394 F.P.S. 1748 Ft. Lbs. 45 cal
128 grain rb 90 grs. FFG 2003 F.P.S. 1122 Ft. Lbs. 45 cal
175 grain rb 90 grs. FFG 1950 F.P.S. 1478 Ft. Lbs. 50 cal
240 grain maxi ball 90 grs. FFG 1672 F.P.S. 1583 Ft. Lbs. 45 cal
350 grain maxi ball 90 grs. FFG 1465 F.P.S. 1764 Ft. Lbs. 50 cal
Did our great, great, great grandfathers ever use anything except round balls? The enegery of the heavier maxi ball skyrockets! But it still brings use back to the point of what we are doing, if you want magnum power go buy a center fire, shoot at 400 yards, and be done with it. These loads come from the TC manual that comes with the gun.
I choose 70 grains of black powder because it seems the most accurate load for me but as you can see it probably doesn’t reach my goal of 800 Lbs at range. But look what happens with just 90 grains of BP. Anything under 100 yards seems to be well within specs and certainly adequate. I included the 45-70 as a reference.
128 grain rb 70 grs. FFG 1825 F.P.S. 940 Ft. Lbs. 45 cal
175 grain rb 70 grs. FFG 1643 F.P.S. 1050 Ft. Lbs. 50 cal
240 grain maxi ball 70 grs. FFG 1522 F.P.S. 1312 Ft. Lbs. 45 cal
350 grain maxi ball 70 grs. FFG 1327 F.P.S. 1447 Ft. Lbs. 50 cal
45-70-405 70 grs. FFG 1394 F.P.S. 1748 Ft. Lbs. 45 cal
128 grain rb 90 grs. FFG 2003 F.P.S. 1122 Ft. Lbs. 45 cal
175 grain rb 90 grs. FFG 1950 F.P.S. 1478 Ft. Lbs. 50 cal
240 grain maxi ball 90 grs. FFG 1672 F.P.S. 1583 Ft. Lbs. 45 cal
350 grain maxi ball 90 grs. FFG 1465 F.P.S. 1764 Ft. Lbs. 50 cal
Did our great, great, great grandfathers ever use anything except round balls? The enegery of the heavier maxi ball skyrockets! But it still brings use back to the point of what we are doing, if you want magnum power go buy a center fire, shoot at 400 yards, and be done with it. These loads come from the TC manual that comes with the gun.