.50 Cal. Mini-ball loads

[Mac Attack]

I am looking for a 2F blackpowder load for 362 grain mini-balls. Any recommendations?

One other question. Do you use 2F or 3F blackpowder?

 

[quigleysharps4570]

I wasn't aware anyone made a hollow base Minie' for the .50 caliber...would like a mould for one though.
I've always shot 2f in a .50 caliber regardless of bullet weight.

 

[Pancho]

Use what you've got 2f or 3f the difference will be slight. But what ever powder you work up your load with stick with it. If you work up a, let say, 60gr. load with 3f don't expect 60gr. of 2f to shoot the same.
First off let me state that minie-balls won't take the monster loads that maxi and saboted rounds will take. It is thought that you can overpower the minie-ball and blow out the skirt. The typical load for a 58 cal. minie-ball during the civil war was 60gr.
This process is called "working up" a charge.
You have 3 variables when working up a charge the gun, the powder, and the round. You've chosen the gun and the round that leaves only the powder,type and amount.
I'd start with 55 gr. and shoot 5 rounds and see if it groups to your liking, if so increase by 5 gr. and shoot another 5 rounds. Continue to increase the amount by 5 gr. steps until your group widens pass your expectation and then drop back to the highest amount that shot well. You have now worked up a charge for that gun using that round with that powder. Change any one of those variables and you have to start all over.

 

[smokeeater]

I was told by an old "pro" black powder man to stay away from hollow base bullets in the 50 cal muzzleloaders, and to use either a maxi or an REAL bullet with a felt wad between the powder and the bullet. I haven't tried it yet, but just received a dual 50 cal mold from Lee for a round ball and an REAL conical bullet. After I get parts from Coleman to get my old coleman stove working again, I plan on casting some REAL rounds and trying them out on my 50 cal TC hawken. If this thread is still open, I will try to remember and post my results, although it may be into the summer before this happens.

_____________________

Never argue with a pig,
you can’t win,
and it only annoys the pig…

 

[MCgunner]

Can't get BP here, shoot Pyrodex R (2F equivalent) behind my 360 grain Lee Improved Minie and it groups about 2-3" at 100 yards out of my 1:24 Cabela's Hawken Hunter Carbine. Nothing wrong with shooting Minies, they work. I also like the 385 Hornady great plains bullet.

I've got a Lee REAL mold, 250 grain, ain't worth a crap in my rifle. I think it'd work a lot better in a 1:48 twist, just not heavy enough for my fast twist rifling.

 

[Mac Attack]

Thanks guys. I will try to work my load up using the working up method.

The gentleman who gave me some minie balls to test out uses 43 grains of 3F BP with the 362 gr minies. He says this combo has proven to be extremely accurate out of his rifle...which I don't recall the type. I figured I would try them out this weekend, weather permitting, starting with a 40-50 gr load and work my way up.

 

[MCgunner]

I'm shooting 90 grains Pyrodex behind my Minies. Good luck. I like those big hunks-o-lead better than shooting sabots, myself. Haven't shot anything, but paper, but they do make a whop when they hit. LOL One of these days, I'll shoot something edible with it.