Powder Grainage question..

[Triton Mike]

I used to shoot muzzleloaders competitively for years when I was younger with the NMLRA and NSSA and averaged over 3000 rounds a year with 45 and 58 caliber rifles. I have been out of the scene for quite a while and Granted I don't know diddley about the newer modern inline muzzleoaders.

My question is I see alot of guys shooting 85 to 100+ grains of powder in their rifles? In competition I and most of my friends and compeititors rarely shot more than 45 to 50 grains of FFF powder up to 200 yd events and did quite well. Actually my dad had the range record shooting the 200 yd event at Friendship, Indiana the first time he ever shot @ 200yds using 48gr of powder and a 58 caliber Mini Ball, which is bigger than most muzzleloaders available from what I remember. If we shot significantly more than 45 grains that we had a helluva cleaning job at the end of the day.

Whats the concensus on using that much powder?

Mike

[wildmantaz]

I would say that most of the shooters on here are hunters.

I am thinking to get the energy needed for taking deer that you need 80 to 110 grains of powder according to the bullet used.

[SASS249]

I agree that most of the loads I see people posting here seem pretty stout. I am a roundball shooter and in my 54 caliber I still only use 80 grains of FFG. This load performs well on deer at any range I am comfortable in shooting.

I know little about inlines, but it seems people do use a heavier charge than I would use.

[Triton Mike]

Originally Posted by wildmantaz

I would say that most of the shooters on here are hunters.

I am thinking to get the energy needed for taking deer that you need 80 to 110 grains of powder according to the bullet used.

Wildmantaz, I'm a hunter too. I actually haven't even killed a deer with a high power rifle they allude me when I bring out the heavy artillery LOL. I've killed dozens of deer with my 58 Caliber Musket and never had an impact problem using 45 to 48 grains of powder. I think guys are misjudging the power of their muzzleloaders. I shot a buck a few years ago that was facing me at 80yds. Went in just below the neck and came out 2 inches to the left of his poop hole and through a 2 inch tree behind him and thats with a 58 caliber bullet

Mike

[NCHillbilly]

I have a .50 percussion Hawken that likes 350 grain conicals, and 90 grains is what seems to push them the most accurately. They're devestating on deer with that load. I would like to use less, but that's the load that seems to work best with that heavy bullet. With my .54 flinter, I shoot 75 grains behind a patched round ball.

[7Mag Hunter]

I think lots of guys are hung up on "magnum load" syndrone.....
More is better......Some of the inline mfgs advertise 100-150gr
loads for their products, so some guys want to replicate what they
hear on TV with their muzzleloaders....In truth you can get the best
accuracy with modest , fine tuned loads....
I shoot a 54 cal Hawken and i use a volume measure set at 85gr
with round balls....

[ironhead7544]

The heavy loads are for the sabot guns. The idea is to get a flat trajectory for 200 yards and more. I use 70 grs 2F and a 54cal RB.

[Triton Mike]

NC, Have you tried smaller load sizes? The way I check my accuracy is by the size of my groupings. Take a 45grain load and put it on a bench at a 25yd target and shoot your best 5 shots. Take 50grains at a 25yd target and shoot your best 5 shots and on up the line. Then measure the overall size of the groups with each load and that is the load I went with. You'd be surprised at what you will find and how much powder you can save.

I can certainly understand the flatter projectory part but thats a different topic of discussion ie muzzleloaders vs centerfire, Compound bow vs stick and string.

Mike

Originally Posted by NCHillbilly

I have a .50 percussion Hawken that likes 350 grain conicals, and 90 grains is what seems to push them the most accurately. They're devestating on deer with that load. I would like to use less, but that's the load that seems to work best with that heavy bullet. With my .54 flinter, I shoot 75 grains behind a patched round ball.

[Cknerr]

I agree with "magnum load syndrome"!!
When I was a kid, dad gave me a cap and ball revolver (probably Navy Colt). That 45 with the 6 or 8 inch barrel shot the ball through *3* Denver phone books and buried the ball so deep in frozen dirt I gave up digging for it. Granted the phone book was a lot thinner in 1976.....you still gotta be impressed.

In the days of yore, powder and ball was expensive. This made calibers in the lower to mid 30's as standard for putting food on the table. Mostly smaller game certainly, but there was enough deer brought home....and those critters where not the over grown dog sizes we have today.

Chris

[Jim Thompson]

I would also think that most folks here (could be wrong of course) are measuring their loose powder by volume and not by weight.

for instance I shoot 100 grains of BH209 by volume...which is roughly 75 or so grains weighted

[Triton Mike]

Jim, Good point there. I measure by volume myself on my 25 and 45 calibers and weight on my 58 muskets and carbine. Muskets and carbines are alot more sensitive especially since they have a hollow base. The more expansion or less expansion causes the bullet to grip the bore differently and can have impact on accuracy (competition accuracy but not deer hunting accuracy that is).

mike

Originally Posted by Jim Thompson

I would also think that most folks here (could be wrong of course) are measuring their loose powder by volume and not by weight.

for instance I shoot 100 grains of BH209 by volume...which is roughly 75 or so grains weighted