T/C White Mountain Carbine

[todayshighlights]

This is my first BP firearm. I wanted something light for hunting, and came across this while browsing the used gun racks. I LOVE the way it handles.

Anyway. What types of bullets and loads do any other owners use in these fine pieces. It is 50 cal and has the fast 1-20 twist rate. I picked up some T/C "cheap shot" sabots (44 cal 240 gr, lead HP), and T/C MaxiHunter 275 gr conicals. I picked up a pound of Pyroxex RS, and I was given a 1 pound can of FFg Goex by my LGS*. I have CCI #11 magnum caps. I'm in Massachusetts and hunt the woods. My longest shot might be 100 yards, but most likely much less.

Thanks for the help

*I had initially asked the clerk at the register for FFg Goex. The clerk said they are not allowed to sell it any more. The owner heard us and told me to hold on. He goes out back and gives me the can of FFg. Tells me to take it, there's nothing he can do with it. It is stamped "02/45" (I'm positive on the 45, pretty sure on the 02 part, I'm at work now) on the bottom of the can. Is this a manufacture date? Could it still be any good? The can has a few minor rust spots, and the granules flow flow freely; not clumped together at all.

 

[mykeal]

T/C doesn't list the WMC as having a 1:20 twist rate option. They show only 1:38 for the .50. If you're absolutely positive you have a 1:20 barrel, then conical bullets are the only projectiles that will stabilize in 100 yards at reasonable hunting loads. Those Maxi-Hunters should be adequate.

The WMC is a great rifle for use in heavy cover. It's easy to carry and will shoot either a prb or conical accurately at 70-80 grains with the 1:48 barrel in the short ranges (<50 yards) seen in such conditions. However, I'm afraid a 1:20 barrel is too fast for a prb at the loads necessary for kill velocities/energies even at short ranges, and certainly for 100 yards.

You can get a prb to stabilize from a 1:20 barrel but you need low velocity to do it, and I'm pretty sure you'll end up with too little velocity for a hunting round.

Either the Pyrodex RS or the ffg Goex will work well. I can't decode the '02/45', but it's probably a lot number. Real black powder does not degrade with time (like an opened can of Pyrodex will), so it doesn't really matter what it means.

 

[robhof]

robhof

As said above, real b/p doesn't degrade with time as many treasure hunters have found out the hard way. Civil war cannon balls have been known to explode when drilled to check contents or when placed by a fireplace. There's at least one documented case I've seen of someone firing a civil war revolver at a gun show that the owner or the shooter didn't know was loaded and apparently antique caps age well too. i've got a 1in38 twist GM barrel on my hunter and I've sighted it in with 200gr 44mag hollow points in high pressure sabots at 100yds, took a doe at 136yds a few years ago. Distance measured with a rangefinder, I aimed about 2" high and she dropped on the spot. Your powder subs will degrade and are sensitive to moisture, real b/p if wet can be air dried and used.

 

[todayshighlights]

I'm not too worried about the Goex working. Like I said, I'm new to BP. I was really thinking about the short barrel and the fast twist. Yes it is a 1-20 twist, 22 inch barrel. That's the fastest twist I've seen in a ML, and the shortest barrel. Considering those 2 attributes, should I use heavier conicals or a jacketed bullet in a sabot? Is the fast twist going to hurt pure lead projectiles? I'm not looking to use PRB, this is strictly my ML season deer rifle (maybe I'll use it during shotgun season, my 28 inch Mossberg barrel always seems to snag on a branch). I appreciate all the help I can get. I will try different combos, I'm just looking for some guidance as to what type of bullet I should use or avoid. Thanks.

 

[arcticap]

Which projectile to chose for your 1 in 20" White Mountain carbine is mostly based on personal preference and experimentation. Every bullet has pro's and con's to consider which can include the amount of felt recoil, difficulty loading, accuracy, penetration and its lethal range & performance.
Some projectiles are bound to be more accurate and consistent than others.
What's most important is the consistent accuracy of the 1st shot out of a clean, cold barrel. Saboted bullets tend to do that well.
The heavier .50 Maxihunters are known to hit hard and to have a lot of knockdown power which can help to harvest larger New England deer.

275 grain .50 Maxihunter user reviews:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/969718/thompson-center-maxi-hunter-bullets-50-caliber-275-grain-lead-hollow-point-lubricated-box-of-20

Some conicals will shoot better with a wool wad (bore button) placed underneath them to act like a gas check and some won't.
It's worth noting that once rammed, some looser fitting lead conicals can possibly migrate up the barrel instead of staying seated right on top of the powder. It's not a bad idea to hold the loaded rifle upright while walking through the woods or still hunting.
There are other many other conicals and saboted bullet combinations to try but I can't say that there any bullets that should be absolutely shunned.
However the most controversial bullets are the 245 grain Powerbelt bullets which have a plastic skirt attached to them. In many instances they won't pass completely through the deer which can hinder tracking it. In many instances the bullet is loaded along with too much powder which causes it to fragment on impact. The heavier weight Powerbelts reportedly work better.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/powerbelt_bullets.htm

Jacketed hollow points are the more popular hunting bullets to use in sabots rather than plain lead.
Hornady makes a jacketed bore size conical named the FPB bullet which comes in 300 and 350 grain sizes. They're known to be accurate and have outstanding lethal performance. However they can be tight to load in some bores. It helps to use a mallet to gently tap them into the bore if necessary, along with a piece of dowel or a starter. And there wouldn't be any worry about the bullet migrating off the powder using those or saboted bullets because they fit much tighter.

http://www.hornady.com/store/50-Cal-300-gr-FPB/

Good luck with your 1 in 20" White Mountain carbine.
Please let us know how it works out.