(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

O/T muzzler loader questions

O

old

Well-known Member
Location
Camdenton Missouri
I use a CVA 50 cal side hammer black powder rifle. I shot a 385 grain sabot type bullet. I have been using 90 grains of FFFG powder but thinking about switching to 90 grains of FFG instead. Is this good or bad??
#2 I also carry a 44 cal. revolver. That I load round balls in and use 25 grains of FFFG powder in. Is 25 grains about right or am I low or high on the load??
Thanks
Hobby farm
 
Old. I love the MZL season. Late, cold, deer are over the rifle season spooks. Usually bunched up and pattered.
I use an older T/C Hawken .54 Round balls and ffg powder only. Love the smell and lethality of the rifle.
Try some round balls, they are deadly . Stick with about 95 to 100 grains ffg. Some bench rest shooting will show you groups of one inch at a hundred yards.

Gordo
 
Check out www.pyrodex.com for load data. I think that may tell you. I black powder hunt but I'm only familiar with the load for my gun. Is that ffg black powder or pyrodex ? I have always used pyrodex as I understand it is less corrosive and has a lower ignition point. You shooting those bonus deeer or still hunting the buck? I saw the one you shot with the crossbow and posted the photos of. I passed on the bucks I saw in the firearms season. Going back this weekend to hunt with my cap and ball. Good luck and safe hunting.
 
Old, 30 grains of FFFg is about the max you can use in a .44 revolver.

If I remember correctly, 3Fg burns faster than 2Fg, so you should be fine using 90 grains of 2Fg in your rifle instead of 3Fg.
 
Both the FFFG and the FFg I have is pyrodex. As far as the deer I got a what I call 6 point buck with my 44 mag at around 70 yards. Reason I call him a 6 pointer is that he had 5 points on one side and a nub on the other side from him fighting with some thing. His atler spread would have been wider then my 9 pointer but his tines would have been shorter. Either way I think I did a good shot at 70 or so yards with a hand gun. Prefect heart lung shoot and the bullet went in one side and out the other and blew the heart up. Funny how we have not seen many does this year but buck left and right. 6 bucks taken off my place this year and only one doe, that includes bow and gun season
Hobby farm
 
There's a pretty good chance your CVA side lock has the 1:66 rifling twist, and will shoot roundballs more accurately then the plastic sabots you're using. Roundballs are effective on game, as 200 years of use will testify.

Blackpowder has much more reliable ignition than Pyrodex (or, any of the "faux" imitation powders), but some places that sell muzzleloading supplys have quit stocking real blackpowder because of the insurance regs. and can sometimes be a little difficult to find.
 
My sabots are not plastic type but the lead type. Plus since I have them I plan to use them. Some how I do not believe in buying when I already have on hand
 
Ok old, you are actually shooting a "conical" then, rather than a "sabot". (my mistake) :)

Nothing wrong at all, with shooting "what you have",... and if you run out of what you have, you might be pleasantly surprised with the accruacy, effeciency, and "price" of .490 roundballs in your .50 calibur muzzleloader. :)
 
Why are you using such a heavy bullet? I can throw a baseball a lot harder and faster than I can throw a brick. I use the 3F and it works nicely. For me a patched round ball is the hardest hitting round that I have ever found.
I would drill a hole into those bullets. This would make a them a hollow point and get rid of some of the weight. Also I have 3 flintlocks for sale if you know anyone who is loooking for one. There is a TC50 and 2 Traditions.

(fuelsandlubestechnologies.org)
 

Not really up on black powder, but I agree with Kirk's comments about 3F burning faster than 2F. Therefor The 2F should be better in a rifle since the longer barrel with give the powder more time to burn and thus produce more velocity.

As far as the round ball vs. conical bullet discussion, the conical bullet will carry further and retain velocity longer. Think of how far you can throw a football vs. how far you can throw a volleyball. Your 50 cal. round ball has the same frontal resistance as a 50 cal. conical bullet, but the conical bullet has more weight to keep it going. Example of this is in 19th century military weapons. Revolutionary War and War of 1812 smooth bore muskets had 69 cal round balls. velocity about 900fps. Civil War gun, which was rifled and more accurate, had the 58 cal. conical Minie ball( this design still used in muzzle loading hunting rifles), velocity about 1200 fps. Civil war rifles were more accurate than earlier, effective range tripled, resulting in the horrendus casulities.
Mostly because of a change in bullet design from round ball to conical.

385 grains dosen't sound all that heavy for a 50 cal. Anyway, like you said, shoot what you have.

KEH
 
Hi old,

I haven't been shooting lately so I gots CRS but 3fg was about 30% faster than 2fg in Elephant brand black powder.

In my 1874 Sharps, I always preferred the 3fg as my loads were always more consistent. This would be a center fire black powder cartridge.

You might want to do the white sheet test. Lay out a white sheet in front of the muzzle, touch one off, then look at how much unburned powder you have on the sheet, then adjust your load accordingly.

However, you will never achieve a 100% burn from turning powder into a gas. Even with starting with a gas you can not achieve a 100% burn.

T_Bone
 
use what shoots best, you'll need a faster twist for the conical bullets, somewhere around 1:20,..and the 1:66 for round ball,...but it doesn"t allways hold true, give both a try and go from there.....the pyro. powder is a lot less harmfull on your barrel and easier to clean...
 
I would not know because I have yet to shot a deer with it. Been out a few times but so far never got a shot yet but hope to this year but you never know
 
Old I shoot round balls, 110 FFG in my 54cal CVA and can drive nails at 100yds.Tried mini, and maxie but not as good of a group. Try different powder loads until you get a real crisp crack sound and a good group.Hope this helps.

Roland (AL)
 
In my Traditions .32 Cal "Crocket Tennesee" style Percussion Rifle I use Pyrodex Select FFG and Spears Balls.Works very well for me. My .32 Cal. "Kentucky Style" Percussion Pistol I constructed from a "Track of the Wolf" Kit I use Pyrodex Select FFFG and the same Spears Balls as my Rifle uses.I try to keep things simple.
 
In my Traditions .32 Cal "Crocket Tennesee" style Percussion Rifle I use Pyrodex Select FFG and Spears Balls.Works very well for me. My .32 Cal. "Kentucky Style" Percussion Pistol I constructed from a "Track of the Wolf" Kit I use Pyrodex Select FFFG and the same Spears Balls as my Rifle uses.I try to keep things simple.
 
Anyone that enjoys traditional muzzleloaders, are invited to check out the TMA at,... http://www.traditionalmuzzleloadingassociation.com/forum/phpbb2/index.php?sid=352439d6e7775e01fb4a7380e5edaf54
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

O
Any Black powder hunters here. O/T
2
Replies
25
Views
5K
teddy52food
T
O
O/T Muzzler loader problems.
2
Replies
23
Views
7K
jlmtractor
J
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top