[Broadbill]

I posted almost a year ago about firing my Investarms 50cal Hawken.
Well I now have;
Triple 7 FFFg
CCI #11 caps
Hornady .490 lead balls
Ox yoke pre lubed .015 patches
TC adjustable powder measure

Does that sound about right?

Broadbill

[Voodoochile]

With the 777 I'd keep the charges below 90gr. because it is concidderably hotter than real black powder & Pyrodex.

Don't forget to carry stuff to swab the bore between shots.

[Shung]

Can't you get real black powder over there ?

[Broadbill]

No I looked all over. Not that I can find at least on Long Island. Maybe upstate.

BB

[Dave Markowitz]

FFg (2Fg) would be more suitable for a .50, but FFFg will do if you keep your charges down. I'd keep charges with Triple 7 3Fg at 70 grains or less.

I used 80 grains of 2Fg Goex in my Cabela's Investarms Hawken under a .490 or .480 ball, with good results. The .480s shoot well in my rifle but can be thumb-started, unlike the .490s usually recommended for .50 caliber rifles. You can buy Hornady .480s from Track of the Wolf.

[arcticap]

First try the .490 balls.
Here's some more helpful items:

1. A short starter or ball starter to help start the patched ball at the muzzle. It's a seating tool that looks like a ball with a short rod and a ball seater attached.
One can be made from a piece of dowel and a block of wood, or simply press the ball in using a block of wood (drilling a hole helps to center it).

(A thick dowel also makes a sturdy range rod, just put a handle on it.)

2. Nipple pick - a thin piece of wire or a pin to clear obstructions out of the nipple hole and flash channel.

3. Nipple wrench - helps to remove the nipple without marring it.

4. A powder flask or plastic funnel top for the 777 container to pour the powder into the measure without spilling it. Pour the powder over an open box to catch and recover any spilled powder.

****Remember if you have a misfire or if you load a ball without loading any powder (that's called a dry ball), putting a few grains of powder under the nipple can help to ignite the main charge or to discharge the dry ball.**** :)

[ClemBert]

777 is 10% to 15% hotter so reduce your load by that percentage.

[Broadbill]

Thanks everyone. I was planning on this weekend but I forgot I'm leaving with my son for Boy Scout Camp. It'll have to wait two weeks.

I have a small powder flask, I'll have to look for a nipple wrench.

BB

[badpenny]

a ball screw and worm.at some point you will lose a patch,or forget to charge it before you seat the ball