Best accuracy load with .50 r.b. with a hawken 1:48 twist

[Joshboyfutre]

Just wondering what everybody's best accuracy load is for a Hawken rifle using a regular 50 caliber round ball with 1:48 twist. I'm gonna do a "ladder" test from like 60g of 777 to 90g of 777 (2f). I know all rifles are different but if I can get two or three loads to give me an idea of the area tje sweet spot is in for these it would be helpful
Thanks

 

[J-Bar]

My Thompson Center Hawken is a .54, and it likes 85 grains of powder under a patched round ball, but that doesn't help you much with your .50.

Starting at 60 grains and working up is a good way to do it. Just take your time and swab the bore clean frequently. I would bet a donut that you will find your sweet spot around 70 to 75 grains of 777.

Listen for the sharp "crack" when the ball goes supersonic...it's a redneck chronometer!

 

[the Black Spot]

I have a flintlock .50 that likes 60gr 3f schuetzen with mink tallowed linen patch

 

[The Bushmaster]

80 grains of Triple 7 and plain ol' Crisco. Puts three round balls in a 4" dot at 100 yards. Late 1980s TC Hawken .50.

 

[Erwan]

Hi,

For me and in a Hawken .50 Ardesa 4.00gram swiss BP N°2 or 4cc Pyrodex RS, patchs Ø 30mm thick 0.22mm grease Ox-Yoke...
That works good for target at 55 and 100 yards. For hunting could be certainly to low, I didn't try it...

 

[noelf2]

I get best performance, with any 50 cal round ball, with 80gr ffg. My Hawken has 1:66 twist, but my traditions deerhunter has the 1:48. Both are best with 80gr.

 

[Zeke/PA]

My favorite load for .50 Cal balls in my T.C. Hawkin is 48grs of FFFG and a .013" thick patch.
From rest, at 50 yds. , one hole groups are not uncommon.
I take a "flange" micrometer to the fabric center and "mike" rolls of cloth till I find my item. A yard of cloth makes a lot of round patches when cut with a
1" gasket punch.

 

[entropy]

83 gr. of Pyrodex 'P' with .490 ball and .015 patch got me a consistent 5 in. at 100 from my Traditions Hawken 1:48. I found a .50AE case filled was 83 grains, so I have one in my possibles bag.

 

[frontiergander]

What Hawken brand do you have? That will help narrow things down.

 

[Joshboyfutre]

Ardesa. Bought it for $90 from a gun store that had hung it above a old fireplace in the shop and forgotten about it. I don't hear of them very often. Was surprised when some one mentioned one in here

 

[Skyshot]

85 grns of Goex ffg with .490 roundball and cotton tshirt patch with borebutter, T/C Hawken 1:48 Twist

 

[Ifishsum]

My .50 cal TC 1:48 starts to get wild past 75-80gr (FFFg) up to there it is very accurate. .490 RB and .018 pillow tick patch

 

[wcandres]

Ardesa. Bought it for $90 from a gun store that had hung it above a old fireplace in the shop and forgotten about it. I don't hear of them very often. Was surprised when some one mentioned one in here

The Traditions Hawken Woodsman is made by Ardesa. They seem to be pretty common around here. I still haven't really found my "best" loading (for accuracy), but it seems to be around 40-50 grains of Triple 7, under a .490 ball with a .015 patch.

 

[Erwan]

but it seems to be around 40-50 grains of Triple 7, under a .490 ball with a .015 patch.

Try it:

Hawken .50 Ardesa 4.00gram swiss BP N°2 or 4cc Pyrodex RS, patchs Ø 30mm thick 0.22mm grease Ox-Yoke...

Yesterday afternoon 97/100 (target MLAIC C50) at 55 yards, this works pretty good (ball .490)...

 

[frontiergander]

The Traditions/Ardesa Hawken rifles are good solid shooters.

70-90gr 2fg black powder ( Goex, Pyrodex RS, Select, American Pioneer) I'd stay away from T7, I never had much luck with that stuff over the years. .015" - .018" patches, .490" round ball.

There are many lubes out there that you can use, Bore butter is probably one of the worst lubes ever made, especially when it comes to protecting against rust.

Anything that's paraffin waxed based or even beeswax based, I leave it alone. That stuff just gunks up in the bore over time.

A HUGE upgrade you should look into is a Knight redhot #11 nipple. They are probably the best nipple you can install onto a sidelock and have great success when using sub black powders.

This was from 75 yards off my shooting sticks.

 

[Erwan]

That's right.

Standing shooting position at 50 yards with only 60gr of swiss black powder N°2 (3Fg):

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In Europe the common black powder good barrels are made by Pedersoli and Ardesa.
Ardesa is made of a simple wood but with a pretty good barrel and also pretty good rifling...