Do you pour your own lead or buy the balls pre-made? Just curious. I'm thinking I want to expand my hunting opportunities. Can you list your whole set-up as far as loads, powder types, patches, balls, etc? Maybe in a different post...I don't want to hijack this one. Thanks :>)
Personally, I use swaged round balls from Hornady. Yeah, it isn't 100% HC but it's fast and easy. I have shot cast round balls and I have no complaints. It's just easier for me to buy a box of 100 swaged ones...
For my normal hunting load in my .50 I use a .490 RB on top of a .015 ox-yoke Wonderlube lubed patch over 70 gr of FFFg. I used to use 90 gr but I've found that 70 is easier on the shoulder and performs within my expectations. I have used spit lubed patches, tallow lubed patches, patches lubed with various homemade concoctions, etc. It's all good. I just like the ease of the pre-lubed patches. If I'm doing a 100% HC hunt, then I either pre-lube with a tallow mixture or spit lube.
I have a .54 I will hopefully have ready by next hunting season. I have no clue what load I'll use in it.
My .62 smoothie I mainly shoot shot out of. FFFg, then a 1/2 cushion wad, shot, then either another small bit of wad or a card just to hold the shot in place. I use just a hair more shot than powder. Instead of the cushion wad and card, some guys use stuff laying around in the woods. Tow, grass, wasps nest, whatever. These things are pretty versatile.
Maybe Supercracker will chime in. He's probably got some good stuff to share.
I use to shoot buffalo bullets, 385 I think with 70 grains. I killed my first 2-3 deer with my dad's old hawken. You'd blow the deer in half within 50 yards lol
I remember dad and I shooting patched round balls in our old T/C's. Then we switched to buffalo balls when they became main stream. They would flat knock a deer off its feet. It was like Thor's hammer
Great info. I'll be checking this out when my gun is finished. The fella who did my Marlin is fitting and finishing the stock to my .50 Panther. I think it will look great.
Thanks guys. I really appreciate the wisdom in all things hunting/shooting on this board. This is just what I was looking for. :clap
I shot my traditional ml for the first time this weekend. I went with 70 grains rs to start worked my way up to 100 and then put about 20 prbs through at 70 grains. i was shooting hornady .490 balls and tc prelubed patches .018. Hard to get down the barrel but results were good. I also have some tc maxi hunters that i may try next time i go to the range.
