Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: swampman on October 30, 2011, 09:49:46 AM
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What is the most accurate conical bullet/ powder load for a .54 cal. T/C Hawken?
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What is the most accurate conical bullet/ powder load for a .54 cal. T/C Hawken?
For me that is a tough one... I have never got 'great' accuracy from a 1-48 twist 54 cal shooting full bore lead conicals. The best conical will probably be on the shorter side of the bullet length chart.
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I shot 348 power belts in mine with 100gr of pyrodex shot great good accuracy also
Bob
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No way to be sure without experimenting enough Try different grain bullets. Start low on powder charge, say 50 or 60 grains. Work your way up in 10 grain incraments until you find the most accurate load for your gun. Remember- magnum loads almost always have higher deviation, produce huge recoil and minimum increase in velocity. Muzzleloaders aren't made to shoot as fast as your favorite modern rifle. They do shoot heavy enough projectiles that they easily kill what you shoot(obvious variables aside). Speed doesn't matter if you can't shoot well.
Remember the old 45-70 buffalo killers? That's .45 cal and 70 grains black powder.
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Never have shot a 54cal but my 50 cal hawken did best with 80 grains of powder and a 370 grain maxi ball. tried to take it up to 100 grains but about every 4th or 5th shot the bullet would fly on us with no consistant pattern.
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I like the TC Maxi-Hunter in my hawken. excellent accuracy and great bullet performance even with lower velocity loads.
