Black powder hunting

9 on the floor

I drew a blackpowder mule deer tag this year, my first try.

I know my way around the guns, but have never hunted big game with one before.
I'll be shooting a TC Renegade .54 loading 100g of Pyrodex and a 300g home-cast Lee conical. I don't know the velocity, but I can group this load into 3-4 inches at 75 yards with the rough iron sights from a sitting position.
I will be hunting in a river bottom and don't anticipate a shot beyond 100 yards.
What do you guys think of this rifle/load/group combination?
Am I up to the task? I have till Sept. 10th and will keep practicing.

bull300wsm

Sounds like a good combo to me. I have the same gun and it is a lot of fun to shoot. Pretty accurate gun with plenty of power. I use 90 grains of 777 with a .54 cal Hornady patched round ball...bull

9 on the floor

Thanks, bull.

Anyone else?

bobbyrose512

I shoot a 30 year old CVA Hawken which is the same gun. I use 90 grains Pyrodex a 230 gr patched round ball. Of course I've got a 1-66 twist and bullets don't shoot well.

Here is some info for loads and muzzle energy.


Renegade & Hawken, 54 caliber
Round ball loads (.530", 230 grains):
60 grains FFg - 1263 FPS - 815 ft.lbs
70 grains FFg - 1469 FPS - 1102 ft.lbs
80 grains FFg - 1654 FPS - 1397 ft.lbs
90 grains FFg - 1761 FPS - 1584 ft.lbs
100 grains FFg - 1855 FPS - 1758 ft.lbs
110 grains FFg - 1931 FPS - 1905 ft.lbs
120 grains FFg - 1983 FPS - 2009 ft.lbs

Maxi-Ball loads (430 grains):
90 grains FFg - 1263 FPS - 1523 ft.lbs
100 grains FFg - 1345 FPS - 1728 ft.lbs
110 grains FFg - 1428 FPS - 1948 ft.lbs
120 grains FFg - 1499 FPS - 2146 ft.lbs

9 on the floor

Thanks bobby.
I've tried up to 120g Pyrodex with my bullet but groups open up quite a bit. 100g seems to be the ticket with that bullet, but the giant front bead covers a lot of target at 75 yards so it's hard to tell. I considered switching to a post front sight, but I think I'll leave it alone and keep my shot under 100 yrds.

allen griggs

Believe me, you will slay the mule deer with that load.

I have killed over a dozen whitetails and wild hogs with a .50 patched round ball and 80 grains of black powder, all one shot kills, no shots over 80 yards.

Whatever my rifle will do yours will do it better.

9 on the floor

Thanks allen.
You guys are instilling a lot of confidence in me about this hunt.

slumlord44

The gun and load will kill whatever you hit properly with it. I have been shooting a CVA side by side double rifle with 90 grains of triple seven and a 50 cal round ball for years. Will put down a whitetail within a 100 yards if I can do my part. Usually shoot at 75 yards are less.

andersk

Just keep practicing ... shooting muzzle loaders is a tinkerers game. So you want to be all practiced up BEFORE you get out to the river bottom hunting!