Black Powder Ballistics

[gramps73]

Can someone enlighten me on the ballistic capabilities of a 50 cal black powder
thanks g73

[eltorro]

ball, sabot, minnie?
we need more info to help...

[catnthehat]

Patched round ball weighing 180 grains with 110 grains of FFfg will will kill a deer at 125 yards.
Not quite like a 30/30, but almost.
Dunno about the maxi ball, minie ball, bullet, etc., never used one....
Cat

[gramps73]

Cat
thinking of one for hunting elk in the 212 primative weapon season..can you reach out and touch something at 200 yards..
as far as what ammo to use I have no idea, i was under the understanding that you can buy pre packed ammo..
g73

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by gramps73

Cat
thinking of one for hunting elk in the 212 primative weapon season..can you reach out and touch something at 200 yards..
as far as what ammo to use I have no idea, i was under the understanding that you can buy pre packed ammo..
g73

Not with a traditional patched round ball.50, I would not even attempt it.
Heck, I wouldn't even try it with my .58's!
Cat

[gitrdun]

Neither would I gramps. Like I said in the pm, Ian did take a cow moose at 150 I believe. It took two shots. Not implying that elk are armour plated, but they go a lot further and faster than moose when wounded..

[benamen]

What type of 50 Caliber do you have? With a modern inline, these bullets http://lehighbullets.com/products.asp?cat=24 , proper sabots and a good dose of Blackhorn 209, you should be able to hurt an elk out to 200 yards. With any caliber, bullet placement is key.
With a 250 grain bullet and using blackhorn, you should be able to get 2150 fps. Better than a 30-30 shooting 170 grain bullets.
Couple of excellent forums are www.modernmuzzleloader.com and
http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/black-powder-23/

[209x50]

A 250 grain SST driven by 150 grains of Pyrodex or T& pellets will hit 2250 or so for me out of my 50 cals. I just recently used the IMR White Hots and did that speed or better, very accurate and the barrel didn't foul as much as the others.
I sight my ML in 3.5" high at 100, which is zero at 200 and 3.5 low at 230 or so. I've killed elk to 200 moose to 210 and deer to 221.

[twofifty]

I can't really give you load specifics, but the Hawken .50 can shoot amazingly flat. I was certainly surprised at how much accurate point blank range these patched ball rifles have.

[eltorro]

In order to tackle elk / moose with a patched ball, I believe a .54 is minimum. .58 is better, and ranges for all should be max 100m.
With conicals / sabots the story changes, a .50 being adequate....

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by eltorro

In order to tackle elk / moose with a patched ball, I believe a .54 is minimum. .58 is better, and ranges for all should be max 100m.
With conicals / sabots the story changes, a .50 being adequate....

Yup, 150 and inside maybe for my .58, a 280 grain round ball does amazing things to moose at 100 yards or so.
The problem with the range getting out there is being able to hit the danged thing with open sights.
I don't think I would ever even attempt a 200 yarder on an elk with my Hawken, but I have shot a deer at 150 with it- my eyes were a lot better then and I shot the rifle almost daily.....
Cat

[eltorro]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

...... and I shot the rifle almost daily.....
Cat

Until one tries to shoot at least twice a week for a - say one year - there really is no appreciation for proper practice. After a long winter - no practice, since I live in the city - I can't believe how bad I shoot. Specially with a ML, skill is everything.