[Realtree1014]

I took in my grandfathers muzzleloading stuff when he passed away. He has a T/C hawkin 50 cal that i will be using this season. I was wondering what powder charge to use? It looks like he was using 90gr of FFF for the round ball. I will be trying the 275gr maxi hunter from T/C. Will 90 gr of FFF be enough or should i bump it up to 100 gr? Thanks

 

[barneydog]

90 gr is more then enough, it will shoot better using the maxi hunter IMO

 

[PA-Joe]

You should check the TC webpage and download the manual. 90 grains of FFF is a big charge. 70 should be plenty.

 

[Realtree1014]

Thanks guys. I checked the t/c manual and it says to use FF powder, all i have FFF. Will it make that much of a difference?

 

[SnoodStretcher]

I agree that 90 is way than you need, 60-70 should be plenty. My Hawken will shoot one hole groups with round balls so don't count them out just yet either. FFF powder will also serve you well.

 

[mountainman09]

3f is more used in a 50 and 2f is used for a 54 you said it was your grandfathers it might have a 1;66 twist barrel which is a roundball [rb] barrel

 

[tundragriz]

2F is more common for 50 but recently FFF seems to be popular because it can also be used in the pan. 3F burns faster/hotter so reduce a 2F load by about 10% for 3F, I usually figure about a 10gr reduction. 90gr of FFF would be about a max load. In my Hawkens I shot 2F and 4F pan.

http://www.goexpowder.com/load-chart.html

 

[Copperhead]

My t/c renegade shoots the best with 70grns of 3f and a 275grn maxi hunter

 

[410-er]

I kill deer with 50grs of FFFg out of a 45 cal.That 70 grs is more than enough.I have 2 50 cal TC Hawkens and both shoot well at 50yds.

 

[rugered]

I would buy 2F (use 90-100 gr) and use 4F in the pan, especially using that heavy of a bullet. You will be building some serious pressure in the chamber with 3F. Never good to not follow instructions when using firearms. Just look at pics going around on the internet for many examples of people that new more than the OEM and now can only count to seven or eight without taking their shoes off.

 

[wis bang]

90grn. FFFg in a 50 will smack your jawbone!

You should start w/ 50grn. and increase 5grn. at a time until the group opens up then drop back 5grn.

My Bro in law shoots 80grn FFFg w/ round balls in his t/c 50 and I use 80grn. FFg in my .54 for a round ball.

I use 100grn. FFg for my 435grn maxi balls in .45...MAX load is 120grn. in the T/C table at 1200fps while 100grn is still over 1000fps and that is a big hunk of lead...I wouldn't want to stop it at 1000fps.

 

[410-er]

Remember that with Blackpowder,more is not always better.
Goex loads.

http://www.goexpowder.com/load-chart.html

TC Manuals

http://www.tcarms.com/manuals/

 

[oakhill1575]

Wait so if i start to decrease my powder loads it will tighten up my groups? I have a hawken 50 cal and my groups are pretty wide at fifty yards. I have not been successful in hitting deer with this gun in the past i currently use 100 grain of 2F with 350 grain maxi hunters. Do not need to get beat up on my load choice just looking for some help to be more accurate with the hawken.

 

[410-er]

That 100gr load is stiff.Chances are you are also getting blowby on that bullet.Conicals like shallow cut rifling and faster twist.If you insist on the bullet,try a felt wad under to keep those gasses behind the bullet.Try backing down to 80grs also.

 

[oakhill1575]

what is blowby and do you suggest a different bullet

 

[410-er]

Blowby is when the gasses seep around and between the rifling and the projectile instead of completely behind.The split second it leaves the bore,it gets pushed off target.Happens with conicals and thin patched RB's.

 

[oakhill1575]

what bullet would prevent this?

 

[410-er]

I have used and killed deer with Maxi's.I have used felt wads.My biggest concern when using them was having them slide off the charge when carring the gun muzzle down.This makes it an obstruction instead of a projectile.
All I use now is strickly patched RB's.

 

[Landngroove]

I would not use FFF with a conical, use FFG, 70 to 100 grains. With a patched round ball (.490) however, FFFG is fine. 70 to 90 grains. The reason is pressure, and recoil. Much more pressure with a conical than a roundball. Shoot both conical, and patched round ball with a load of 90 grains of FFG. You will clearly feel the difference between the two.

 

[BuckStalker]

3F is all I use anymore. 60 to 70 grains is great place to start working up your load.