This concerns both flint and cap guns. In my .45(s) and .50(s) I've found around 70 grains of 3F gives excellent accuracy out to 100 yards or so. In chronographing these loads the .45 gets between 1800 and 1900 fps while the .50 gets around 100 fps less speed. While velocity is not of any real importance to me I will eventually chronograph particularly accurate loads - often years later - just to satisfy my curiosity. My go-to .45 does well with that charge and can still deliver with + or - 5 grains from 70 grns. One .45 always liked 60 grains. My newest .45 started tightening up when I reached 70 grns, but I have yet to get the opportunity to continue testing any higher charges. My only .50 gets 1700 fps, I discovered a while back, with 70 grns. So for the time being I think I know each one's preference. Two of my .45s are flint and two are percussion; my only .50 is flint.
Any of you who shoots a .45 or a .50, what has been your experience with various loads of 3F (or 2F if you're of that persuasion)?
I owned a CVA Frontier .50 cal. that I used to practice with @ 25 yds. w/50 gr. of fffG and had a hunting load of 75 gr. of fffg. The loads shot to the same point of aim @ their appropriate ranges. I was @ the range 1 day when a smokeless shooter asked me how well muzzleloaders could shoot. I took my 3rd shot, pulled the target (from 75 yds.) and showed him. One oblong hole for 2 shots and one within 1/4 " in the bull. I shot a 4pt. buck walking towards me at about 35yds. in the right chest and found the ball just under the left hip. When the smoke cleared, I had flipped him over. hntr
I'm still in the experimental stage 'SNTY"
I've never had a way to chronograph a load but my .50 percussion likes anything from 30-70 grains of 3f. I shoot light charges in it because they work fine and only shoot a little above point of aim.
My .58 likes 55 gr 3f and my .40s all (3) seem to like 45 gr 3f but shoot well with up to 65 gr 3f.
My TVM .50 flinter likes multiples of 30 in 3f. I use 30 grains for splittin' balls on an axe head, playin' cards and feathers for close in work, 60 grains for most target work out to 75 yds. and a 90 grain load for hunting out to 125. On occasion I use 120 grains for shootin' steel at 150+.
I do have one other .50 flintlock that's a pistol. Generally 30 grns of 3F does well for most anything with .40 to 45 grns if serious business is ahead. The 30 grn load bucks more than one would think and 40 grns & up won't go unnoticed at all. I've never chronographed the pistol but guess I should do so. I've had it for years but don't shoot it nearly as much as I shoot the rifles. I did win a postal shoot several years ago using 30 grns of 3F.
Everything .50 and under gets 3f. I was a little shocked when the .50 was faster than the .45. Of course there was no scientific method involved and no controls on patch thickness, how they fit in the barrel, etc. All I really know and care about is that everything I shoot goes faster and further than anything Hanshi has. bunkr
What chew talking bout, Willis?
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Any where from 60 grns to 70 grns of 3F does well in my .45s and .50. This is a hunting load, of course and only gets used at the range on infrequent occasions. The .50 gives great accuracy at 25 yards with 30 grains of 2F, the load I'd use if I still hunted squirrels. 70 (3F) grains at 100 yards (about the farthest I'm able to shoot) shows fine accuracy and would likely do well a bit farther out. Generally I can eek out groups at 100 of around 4" to 5" with my .50 and .45s. Occasionally I'll squeeze out groups a small as 3.75" at 100. I've killed deer at least that far out with a couple of .50s.