how many guys use a muzzle loader?

grumpyvette

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Ive got two front stuffers ., ones a 54 cal and ones a 58 cal, both do a very effective job at 100 yards or so on deer/hogs with the correct loads

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not one of my elk ,but one dropped with a muzzle loader at close range

SENECA, 36 CALIBER
Round ball loads (.350", 65 grains):
40 grains FFFg - 1894 FPS - 518 ft.lbs
50 grains FFFg - 2034 FPS - 597 ft.lbs
60 grains FFFg - 2150 FPS - 667 ft.lbs

Maxi-Ball loads (128 grains):
40 grains FFFg - 1761 FPS - 882 ft.lbs
50 grains FFFg - 1843 FPS - 965 ft.lbs
60 grains FFFg - 2001 FPS - 1138 ft.lbs

SENECA, 45 CALIBER
Round ball loads (.440", 127 grains):
50 grains FFg - 1584 FPS - 707 ft.lbs
60 grains FFg - 1701 FPS - 816 ft.lbs
70 grains FFg - 1800 FPS - 914 ft.lbs
80 grains FFg - 1904 FPS - 1022 ft.lbs
90 grains FFg - 1980 FPS - 1106 ft.lbs

Maxi-Ball loads (240 grains):
60 grains FFg - 1369 FPS - 915 ft.lbs
70 grains FFg - 1456 FPS - 1036 ft.lbs
80 grains FFg - 1541 FPS - 1160 ft.lbs

HAWKEN, 45 CALIBER
Round ball loads (.440", 127 grains):
50 grains FFg - 1605 FPS - 732 ft.lbs
60 grains FFg - 1720 FPS - 841 ft.lbs
70 grains FFg - 1825 FPS - 947 ft.lbs
80 grains FFg - 1929 FPS - 1054 ft.lbs
90 grains FFg - 2003 FPS - 1140 ft.lbs
100 grains FFg - 2081 FPS - 1231 ft.lbs
110 grains FFg - 2158 FPS - 1324 ft.lbs

Maxi-Ball loads (240 grains):
80 grains FFg - 1564 FPS - 1195 ft.lbs
90 grains FFg - 1659 FPS - 1345 ft.lbs
100 grains FFg - 1743 FPS - 1485 ft.lbs

RENEGADE & HAWKEN, 50 CALIBER
Round ball loads (.490", 175 grains):
50 grains FFg - 1357 FPS - 761 ft.lbs
60 grains FFg - 1434 FPS - 850 ft.lbs
70 grains FFg - 1643 FPS - 1115 ft.lbs
80 grains FFg - 1838 FPS - 1396 ft.lbs
90 grains FFg - 1950 FPS - 1571 ft.lbs
100 grains FFg - 2052 FPS - 1739 ft.lbs
110 grains FFg - 2135 FPS - 1883 ft.lbs

Maxi-Ball loads (370 grains):
80 grains FFg - 1271 FPS - 1328 ft.lbs
90 grains FFg - 1344 FPS - 1484 ft.lbs
100 grains FFg - 1418 FPS - 1652 ft.lb

RENEGADE & HAWKEN, 54 CALIBER
Round ball loads (.530", 230 grains):
60 grains FFg - 1263 FPS - 815 ft.lbs
70 grains FFg - 1469 FPS - 1102 ft.lbs
80 grains FFg - 1654 FPS - 1397 ft.lbs
90 grains FFg - 1761 FPS - 1584 ft.lbs
100 grains FFg - 1855 FPS - 1758 ft.lbs
110 grains FFg - 1931 FPS - 1905 ft.lbs
120 grains FFg - 1983 FPS - 2009 ft.lbs

Maxi-Ball loads (430 grains):
90 grains FFg - 1263 FPS - 1523 ft.lbs
100 grains FFg - 1345 FPS - 1728 ft.lbs
110 grains FFg - 1428 FPS - 1948 ft.lbs
120 grains FFg - 1499 FPS - 2146 ft.lbs

RENEGADE, 56 CALIBER SMOOTHBORE
Round ball loads (.550", 265 grains):
80 grains FFg - 1195 FPS - 840 ft.lbs
90 grains FFg - 1285 FPS - 972 ft.lbs
100 grains FFg - 1300 FPS - 992 ft.lbs

Source: "Shooting Black Powder Guns," Thompson/Center Arms Company, publication designation "CR October, 1980.
 
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I have two, a reproduction 1841 Mississippi and a reproduction 1862 Cook and Bro., (a Confederate rifle). Both are 58 Caliber.

I make my own bullets and weigh and size them. I get fair accuracy out to 100 yards but would not hope for much at greater distances. At 100 yards I can consistently shoot a 3" circle. Admittedly this takes a lot of effort in making my bullets weigh the same and being very careful with loads. I strictly use black powder and not the substitute stuff.

My bullets weigh in at 515 grains. I am told I can get a mold that will make bullets that weigh 315 grains and supposedly they are much more accurate. I'm happy with a 3" circle. Shots further than that are not very common here. For paper punching I wouldn't mind improvement though.
 
3" 100 yard groups with iron sights is very good shooting, mounting tang mount peep sites will normally shrink the groups more than 1" further
the 315 grain mold is only accurate in my experience from a bore that's cleaned every few shots, well lubed and with mild charges in the 70 gr range in my 58 cal
 
I haven't fired either of my muskets in over 5 years. I reckon it's time I took them out of the closet and gave them a real reason to be cleaned. I'd have to check my notes, assuming I can find them, but if I remember correctly I was using only 70 grains of powder anyhow. Don't quote me on that. I still have some cartridges I can break open to check how much powder I have in it. I used to make my own cartridges exactly as they were made when the yankees attacked America in the 1860's. They work better than any store boughts I've seen. I also reproduced the lubricant that was used back then. It's also better than what they sell today.

I do remember shooting over 100 rounds and never swabbing the bore down and never having trouble reloading. I also remember the musket getting too hot to hold for any length of time.


Mmm I seem to recall setting the grass in front of me on fire too. :shock:
 
sounds like fun!

the last deer I shot , was at about 90 yards,with my hawken, he took off like a hot branding iron had be crammed up his butt, he made it exactly two big bounces and landed on his nose at the end of the second, the ball hit just over the heart and had flattened to silver dollar size under the far hide
 
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Sadly, I have never had the opportunity to shoot a deer with either of my muzzle loaders. Not that I haven't tried but I've never come across a deer when I had my muskets with me. You can bet I will continue trying.

There is a difference of opinion on the distance of the last deer I shot. Not meaning, nor wanting, to change the subject I mention it here for two reasons. I am definitely proud of the shot and it also says something for the weapon. The last deer I killed I believe was at 375 yards. My son insists it was 475 yards. Either way it was a one shot kill using open sights. The weapon was an SKS.

Unfortunately my eyes are dimming as I age and I will have no choice but to use a scope. If I can find a reproduction Confederate scope I will mount it on one of my muzzle loaders, probably the Cook and Bro.
 
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