BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[Hawken .54]

Hey,

I was just curious to see what you guys prefer to shoot out of your smokepoles. I use nothing but the .535 round ball. For a projectile with such poor ballistic characteristics, it sure is devastating. So far I am 6 for 6 with the furthest shot being 115 yards. What is your favorite?

Hawken .54

[donmillion]

I use a conical in my .54 caliber Lyman Great Plains Hunter. I chose that mainly because I liked the improved ballistics and because I wanted something big enough to thump a moose if/when I finally draw a tag here in Colorado. My rifle has a 1:32 twist and shoots the conicals very nicely.

It really depends on the rifle you have and what shoots best out of it. Of course, if you're buying a new rifle for hunting, you should decide what kind of projectile you want to shoot and get a rifle with the appropriate twist.

A slower twist (1:66 or thereabouts) is usually best for round balls. A faster twist (like my rifle's 1:32) is usually best for conicals. Some rifles come with a compromise twist of 1:48. These usually work okay with round balls and moderate loads, or with very short conicals. Some of them, though, achieve their compromise by compromising accuracy--they just don't shoot anything all that well!

Whatever you shoot, hunting with a muzzleloader is a great experience. It forces you to get close and get the job done with one shot. When I hear of "hunters" who lost an elk after shooting 4 or 5 shots from their rifles at 500 yards, I'm glad that I use a muzzleloader and actually HUNT my elk!

[Darkhorse]

I only use the round ball. I shoot a .530 patched round ball in both my .54's. They have proven to be very effective.

[shieldingarrow]

I have used a .570 swaged round ball in my 58 cal. T/C big bore hawken for several years, an seem to work. My longest shot has been about 80 yds.

[mohuntress]

Round balls for me

MoHuntress

[ADKBEAR]

I have 2 50's (caplock and a flint'r) and a 54 greatplains pistol (back-up for my bear hunting!). I am a ball and patch guy with my patches soaked in bear oil. I have been experimenting with the power belt bullets tho and I am kind of thinking I like them? A tough thing to say coming from a wanabe traditionalist!

[captchee]

I to use a .535 RB for deer give a tight fit with .15 patch.
For elk I use a modified 438 grain Civil war conical with a deep hollow base, she is very accurate in my long gun out to 150yrds
" That’s the limit that I shoot"

[HsmMiner]

Roundball for both my .54cal trade rifle and for my .50cal flinter.

[Ssp]

I see a lot of round ball action here. Is this because of the accuracy, or more of a traditional thing. ?

[HsmMiner]

For myself, I cast roundball as it stretches out a pound of lead further than if casting larger boolits...

[tom333]

Just getting back into the sport here.

Round Balls only here... .495 with my .50 cal. Hawkins Tradition.

[saskie]

.50 cal 240 gr sabot. I took up M/L hunting solely to get around the non-res deer season restrictions in back home.

[PaRu]

Glad i checked this site, for a while i thought i was the only one who shot round balls, they just hold better groups for me, and plenty of knock down.

[Wapiti Wacker]

I have guns with 1:66,1:48 and 1:32 twists I shoot both roundballs and conicals.I just love to shoot blackpowder :thumbsup1:

[Ironwood]

I use all three roundballs, bullets, and sabots. I really like shooting roundballs best. I cast .490" and .375" balls. I also cast a 320 grain REAL bullet. If I know the shot might be 100 yards or so I'll use a green sabot with a 255 grain .44 caliber bullet that I cast.