Muzzleloader recommendations

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I actually have a real liking for my 58 Zoli Zouave. Have yet to fool with MInies or REALs, but a 58 ball is no joke on deer or bear. My rifle likes 75 grains of 1.5F OE and it put serious whomp on a doe at 70 yards last Fall. A tad heavy, but accurate and surprisingly little recoil.
 
brewer12345 said:
I actually have a real liking for my 58 Zoli Zouave. Have yet to fool with MInies or REALs, but a 58 ball is no joke on deer or bear. My rifle likes 75 grains of 1.5F OE and it put serious whomp on a doe at 70 yards last Fall. A tad heavy, but accurate and surprisingly little recoil.
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I have a .58 Enfield. The destructive power of minies on inanimate objects, especially wood is awesome. That with just a 65 grain powder charge.
 
brewer12345 said:
I actually have a real liking for my 58 Zoli Zouave. Have yet to fool with MInies or REALs, but a 58 ball is no joke on deer or bear. My rifle likes 75 grains of 1.5F OE and it put serious whomp on a doe at 70 yards last Fall. A tad heavy, but accurate and surprisingly little recoil.
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Have you ever had a problem with it? Are these usually rifled? Anything to lookout for?
 
Minie guns are rifled.

Saw an English made Parker Hale 3 band (39" bbl) Enfield with minie ball mould at Friendship last week. $1,200 at Whitey's (which you can probably negotiate). Go to this link for contact info and scroll all the way to the bottom: https://www.nmlra.org/news/tag/NMLRA+Vendor

I would prefer the shorter 2 band (33" bbl) for hunting but when it's an English Parker Hale, take what you can get.
 
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hawg said:
Your TC Hawken with it's 1:48 twist is the limiting factor. I wouldn't hesitate to make a 100 yard shot with my .54 with a round ball and its 1:66 twist. I wouldn't try with a 1:48 twist.
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Been shooting a TC New Englander 50 cal with 1:48 twist since the 90's and would beg to differ with your assumption that the 1:48 twist won't shoot. You do need to find your load; but, once you do, it will hold it's own with anything including my Rice barreled custom. With RB's, back the charge down to 50 grs and start working up. The sweet spot is going to be in that 50 to 70 grain range.
With conicals, go with one in the 350 to 370 grain bullet weight with a 70 to 80 grain charge of 3f BP. Mine shoots 2" 100 yard groups with RB or conical and no particular special treatment in terms of loading technique.
 
A .50 will get the job done, it's easier to find ball for it as well as other projectiles. Inline or traditional it will do it well.
 
Appalachiannative said:
I still don't know what your concern is about needing .54+ caliber for white tail. Men hunted bison to the point of near extinction shooting .45-70, .50-70, .44-40 all black powder with .50 or less sized projectiles.
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Don't worry about it. A .50 will work for your needs. I just personally like the .54 better. Cast your own balls and don't worry about buying them. A 44-40 is only good on Bison at point blank range.
 
Yeedonkey said:
Anyone know of a 54 or 58 I can afford?
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A 45 caliber will take a deer with no problem. It's all about knowing your weapon and shot placement. I've taken several deer and only lost one. If your still looking I've got a 58 Hawken, a 50 TC Hawken and three 54 calibers ( TC New England, Lyman Great Plains rifle and a TBompson Center Hawkens with a Green mountain barrel) that I might sell. Let me know if your. Prices run from $300 to $550 and shipping.
 
kelljp said:
A 45 caliber will take a deer with no problem. It's all about knowing your weapon and shot placement. I've taken several deer and only lost one. If your still looking I've got a 58 Hawken, a 50 TC Hawken and three 54 calibers ( TC New England, Lyman Great Plains rifle and a TBompson Center Hawkens with a Green mountain barrel) that I might sell. Let me know if your. Prices run from $300 to $550 and shipping.
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I'm interested in the 58 and 54s. Could you give me the individual information and price? Also where do you live near? I would like an in person cash sale if possible
 
A .50 caliber works well on deer and hogs. In 2013 Fort Sill, OK opened a week long deer season for sidelock percussion and flintlock rifles. No scopes, sabots or modern projectiles allowed.

Bought a very nice .50 caliber TC New Englander from a friend for $150. In 2013 i killed two deer with that rifle using patched round balls. The rifle has accounted for dozens of deer and hogs since; the vast majority were taken at ranges <60 yards.

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Great satisfaction comes from sneaking up and putting a round ball in the animal, just like Grand Pa did.
 
I wish I knew someone looking to sell locally. None of the pawn shops ever have any either
 
If you don't want to buy from an individual, I can recommend Kittery Trading Post in Maine, they have a website you can order from and they deal in used as well as new black powder guns.
Good people to deal with.
 
Additional businesses that sell and ship used rifles "Gun shop in Springfield, Oregon" and "Track of the wolf". Both of these sites deal in functional black powder rifles and will ship to your location.
 
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