Traditional Muzzleloaders??

[Drawdown]

Are there any traditional muzzleloader hunters here? Ive had a CVA 45Cal Mountain Rifle since 1977, a kit rifle that I put together. Used it a lot up until early 80’s. I wasn't a deer hunter then, only game I ever took was few fox, we called in, something we did a lot of back then. But that rifle got neglected, almost forgotten, even stored it hung in an out building most years since then. Well I got it out last early Sept, figured it might be clogged hopelessly? But it wasn't, I cleaned and brushed beyond description! Ballistol, penetrating oil, hot water, etc. I believe i got bore slicker and better than ever, on account back then, I didn't have time or patience to fool with one.
Anyways, I put a lot into shooting it all last fall, found out it still shoots as accurate as it ever did! Got a good liad ready, even a squirrel load. But I didn't hunt with it.
But Im going to this year, Lord Willing!
It's 45Cal, and was wondering if any have taken deer with 45Cal Roundball & Real Blackpowder, cause that's all I'm interested in with it.
I even Chronoed my best load, which i forget exactly numbers? But a 45Cal ball weighs i think little less than 150gr, maybe more like 130gr i think? But I had it shooting most accurate near 1700-1800fps, and accuracy good out to near 100yds, but I'd take a 75yd shot with it and feel good!
But curious to how well that roundball really puts a deer down within a reasonable recovery distance??
I did a poor job back then as to finish, I rushed it to get shooting. But now, I'm gonna disassemble and refinish. Meant to have this past winter-spring, but didn't. It's really now obviously a dandy rifle, and I love that kinda hunting, squirrels being legal here with muzzleloader rifles, and ky has two good Mzl Seasons, and can take a doe here the last 3 days of the late season in Dec! One buck a year, and I'm outta meat by may every year!

[GunnyMack]

I have a TC Cherokee in .32, it has 1:48 twist and shoots both round balls and maxi ball bullets equally well. I shot 1 squirrel with it, even took it out on prairie dog towns just for fun!
I also have a Lyman Great Plains .54, shot lots of deer with it, never had an issue with a round ball not killing a deer. 80 grs of FFFg , .015 patch and a .530 ball is my load.
Here we are a minimum of .44 cal for deer, used to be lots of guys with TC's mostly, now everyone uses inlines. I shoot 2 different inlines, the load I use most is two 50 gr pellets behind a sabot with a 250 or 300gr .452 bullet and sabot.

You should be well off with your .45!

[JimT]

I am not a rifle guy ... but I have hunted with a blackpowder handgun ... copy of the 1858 Remington .44 ... it worked quite well. I never took a deer with it but it had plenty of power to do it.

Remington-Javelina.JPG

[Bill in Oregon]

I’ve hunted with the Lyman Great Plains rifles but never had a shot. A patched .440 round ball in the right spot will absolutely kill a deer. There has been considerable discussion over on the muzzleloadingforum.com about whether the .40 is adequate for deer — in those states where it is legal. The photos some of the lads have shared have been most impressive. The .45 has to be even better.

[Pat C]

One of these days Im going to spring for one of Jim Kiblers mountain rifle kits. Probably some of the best traditional kits made today.

[Pat C]

Not cheap but fully cnc made near perfection I here.

https://kiblerslongrifles.com/

[Griff]

Back in the '80s I hunted for a few years in CA with my Uberti .53 Santa Fe Hawken when I got drawn for the X-10 area. Had good success during the rifle season and used the muzzleloader season for scouting purposes. Only had one shot at a blacktail buck... and as I pulled the rifle up to take the shot... the buck jumped up & ran in front of me about 25 yards... the cap was missing!

hawken3.JPG

[horsesoldier03]

I have a .50 cal Hawkins that I would love to take a deer with. Unfortunately Kansas refuses to give muzzleloading season a decent date. This year it is 15-28 SEP, and normally that is full of warm weather with ticks and mosquitos. If the weather stays cool as it is forecasted, I may decide to give it a shot. However, I prefer to have a good hard frost or two before I typically hunt for game I plan to eat.

[bmtshooter]

I shot a doe with a rifle similar to yours back in the late 70s. It killed her very dead, and she was tasty.

The 45 has plenty of power to spare for deer, just put the shot in the right place.

[Drawdown]

Thanks everyone! My Rifle shoots .440 RB can't remember what that best load was last fall, ive got it scribbled on notes in my BP Stuff. I want to think 65gr FFg Goex, which is only BP ive ever used, + FFFg. Hey, I growed up with my eyes & brain glued to anything Daniel Boone. Ive roamed same woods he has i know, near The Cumberland Gap, right up to boundary of the park, ive hunted thete a plenty back in 70's and 80’s. I live on opposite end of the county now.
But was amazed at what all I learned was available today, after getting a computer & internet in 1999. By early 2000, I was convinced I was gonna get me a good custom Southern Mountain Rifle. Back then I couldn't decide between 36 or 40Cal for an all around rifle, but with what I know now, I'd probably get another 45Cal, obviously adequate for deer! I drueled all this past winter at the Kiblers! But back then I worked and could afford one, but hardly ever had time to hunt! Now I got plenty time, but I can't see me putting that kind of money into a rifle I probably wouldn't use that much, or would I! No better place to put a muzzleloader to use than here, deer, turkey, squirrels, & varmints, but a rifle is not legal for turkey here . Even the Tennessee Valley Muzzleloaders prices are sky high now!
So, I'll just settle for what ive got, it's plenty adequate, decently accurate enough for squirrels occasionally! 45cal is a bit much for squirrels, but ive killed 000's of squirrels with 22lr & magnum, shoot em in head or front half, the majority of meat in hind quarters anyway! One weekend in mid Oct for deer, and 9 days in mid Dec, + last 3 days I can take a Doe, a real + for me, no Does allowed with centerfire! Any Caliber MZL is legal for deer, 45cal minimum for bear, I think 50cal for elk. There's good elk hunting not to far from here!
All I need do is quit talking about it, get in the woods, put it to work! From late Sept thru winter, squirrels on ground mostly, a rifle is productive and lots of fun!

[Eddie Southgate]

Round balls kill as good as anything you can shoot . Quit thinking about it and go kill something .

[jnyork]

I hunted the pronghorn for 25 years with traditional muzzleloaders, only got skunked once. Used a Lyman Great Plains 50 and a flinter Tennessee Mountain rifle also a .50. Never used anything but real black powder and round balls, never had to shoot twice. Longest shot was about 70 yards and most under 50.

[Drawdown]

Looking Good boys sounding even better! The weather here for next 8-10 days looks almost like heaven on earth! And i got grass mowing n other work next two days But after that, I'll be shooting this rifle and hunting with something! Looked at my notes, in case of interest to anyone? My best load I'd came up with last year, 70gr FFg shot good @ 50-75yds, and 55gr shot squirrel accurate out to at least 25yds, hitting those plastic 8oz Ensure Bottles about equivalent in size to a squirrel! Soon, very Soon!

[Ray]

Your lower load for squirrel with two patched balls complete and thoroughly seated on the powder and on one another will simply snatch the soul out of deer. Round balls penetrate better at 900 fps than at 1400. That 1800 fps. you cite slows down to only 100 to 150 fps higher at 100 yds. than the very low starting loads in the lyman handbook ballistic tables.

My .50 and .54 eight inch barreled pistols and single round balls with only a .44 special case for a charger for the one and a .45 colt for the other out penetrates deer (ribcage) versus t/c renegades in the same calibers with and 100 & 120 gr. charges.

And......lyman and t/c proved the double balls do not slam into one another. They take a magic carpet ride of hot gas (cone of fire) down the bore. The flattening is simply physics. A single round ball foreshortens on itself no less than the double balls. In this case, air is harder than lead.

[Paladin]

I have a .50 Hawkins copy, percussion cap rifle, and a few revolvers. I have killed a couple of deer with the rifle and one with a Ruger Old Army, shooting balls. Two of the revolvers have .38 special conversion cylinders from SASS days. Haven't used them much in the last several years but have a supply of items for them.

A friend shooting the .50

Shoot Gold Mine RD 012.JPG

A friend shooting one of the Old Army Rugers.

Shoot Gold Mine RD 008c.jpg

[Drawdown]

Your lower load for squirrel with two patched balls complete and thoroughly seated on the powder and on one another will simply snatch the soul out of deer. Round balls penetrate better at 900 fps than at 1400. That 1800 fps. you cite slows down to only 100 to 150 fps higher at 100 yds. than the very low starting loads in the lyman handbook ballistic tables.

My .50 and .54 eight inch barreled pistols and single round balls with only a .44 special case for a charger for the one and a .45 colt for the other out penetrates deer (ribcage) versus t/c renegades in the same calibers with and 100 & 120 gr. charges.

And......lyman and t/c proved the double balls do not slam into one another. They take a magic carpet ride of hot gas (cone of fire) down the bore. The flattening is simply physics. A single round ball foreshortens on itself no less than the double balls. In this case, air is harder than lead.

Ray, this is a new one for me, thought of it scared me death at first! But I searched it out, sure enough, an often common practice. Saw where one guy had used it a lot on deer. And seems 45cal is the most favored for it! When you think about it, if 2nd ball is seated against the 1st, it just becomes one solid mass! Key is the right charge of powder!
Not so sure still I want to try it? But given time, I might do it! What's your guesstimate of best starting charge of FFFg in my rifle?

[TraderVic]

I assembled a Lyman Great Plains Rifle, percussion, 54 cal back in the 80's.
I hunt whitetail deer with it annually here in Wisconsin.

[Drawdown]

I am not a rifle guy ... but I have hunted with a blackpowder handgun ... copy of the 1858 Remington .44 ... it worked quite well. I never took a deer with it but it had plenty of power to do it.

Remington-Javelina.JPG

Jim, Matthew Quigley would've met his match against you!

[JimT]

Jim, Matthew Quigley would've met his match against you!

I wasn't much good with the Remington past 75 yards. I would have quietly eased out of a match with Quigley.

[barbarossa]

I still hunt with traditional muzzleloaders here are a couple a Navy Arms Buffalo hunter I in 58cal and a custom Renner in 62cal with Forsyth rifling

[Drawdown]

Ive been out mowing n weedeatting most day. It was 49 here this morning and only got to maybe 70dgr, unusually cool for this early, but I'd look up at mountains, could hear em calling plainly! Thank Lord for this time of year especially! It's in my blood, since I was 8, trasping along behind dad, he loved squirrel hunting more than eating, and he did love good eating! I miss him so much, he was my best friend, and what a picture of what a man should be!
But really my favorite time for squirrels i learned young, was really beginning about last week of Sept, most years anyway, this year breaking earlier! But the mast, mainly hickory, beech, walnut, various oaks begin loosing their nuts, falling to ground. Leaves and undergrowth dying and thinning faster, lot falling already, woods begin to open up, and squirrels, at least by mid morning start staying on ground! If you knew where squirrels where in Aug-Sept, you know where to be now. Especially they favoried the hickories, and if a few walnuts, they'll actually make trails that are visible if you pay attention. Move slow thru these areas, and sit awhile, with patience you will see em! Even squirrels that have been hunted hard and are spooky, idk why, but I've seen it before, it's as if they loose their caution! At least if you're still don't let em see you move! My dad and brother favored the early season, before this started happening. My brother would actually almost quit by early Oct, unless hunting with a dog. My dad loved this mid season almost as much as me!
I can remember in late 70's thru mud 80’s, I was married. Kids, and I swear working usually 6 days a week, and then i was in mostly 36"-45" coal. You crawl around in that all week, I'm telling you truth you gotta love it to get up at daylight on only day you get to rest! Lol, I couldn't count times he'd call me late Sat evening, "you feel like going hunting in morning " if it was late Sept-mid -Nov, I always enthused, yeah man, I'll be there just before daylight. He lived near woods we always hunted most! Next thing i knowed, Often, I'd hear phone ringing, HUHhhhh? DaWayne, you coming, I'd get my eyes open see little light coming thru windows, ???? YEAH yeah, I'll be there soon I get my clothes on!
He knew I was worn out, he'd done same all his life! I'd be there in recorx time, I had a 78 F150 4x4, 350 Cleveland, Holley, Edelbrock, and Thrush crammed and hanging out!
Didn't take me long learn be real discreet about this accidentally sleeping late, cause I'd have jug coffee, and couple bacon egg biscuits handed to me from mom when I'd get there
By time we get to woods i was %110 and back then legs & lungs like a KY Thorobred! And we knew lotta woods back then, and most hunters quit hunting by time mast falling, so we always did well, except a bad year or two seemed about every 6-7 years, it was a steady cycle! But on those good years squirrels just seemed be everywhere that last good year, then you could plan for a bad year next year!!!
Stop at creek on way out before going home, dad have his old heavy side cutters and Slimline Case xx. He'd start snipping tails and feet, and I'd start skinning! Those cutters I'm still using, and the knife in there retired, along with his favorite, a Mod 50 Win 12ga Auto!
Ain't gonna include about how often, we'd get home in plenty time, mom start cooking, while we passed out dead all over the furniture! Right after or about dark, eat like kings! No problem getting asleep tonight, cause gotta get it hard and fast starting at 6am, gonna be long week!
God only knows how much I loved my Dad, Mom, Brothers, all of this! I sure miss em! Me and brother still hunting together when we can!
But today, most those good woods been logged bare, grown back mostly with fast growing red oaks and such. Soon become decent squirrel woods in 30-40 years, but long time before they develop into a real squirrel woods, diverse with both soft & hardwoods, plenty soft mast for young squirrels, hardwoods for the mast that carries them from early fall thru winter! Plenty Beech, which easily break and loose limbs, and hollow out inside from this, which make excellent den trees, not to mention the beechnuts they love!
So in my old age, and on this end of the county especially, good hunting woods is steeper and further in between?
A good muzzleloader just seems like the most enjoyable way to go, and occasionally one my 22's! Plus today we got plenty turkey and bear, sufficient deer and even elk, not mention few Lions. Most all the Grouse are gone, and we had plenty back then, thanks to the yotes, which I'd never seen one until 1992. They even about wiped out the ground squirrels, which back then, you'd get into where there was plenty, in Oct, they'd be calling so many and loud, it'd get on your nerves, unless you enjoyed it like me!
Sorry for rambling on, but I could hear dad calling this morning, "DaWayne, you coming?"