Load Starting Point

[Stonedog]

I'll be building and hunting with a .54 smooth rifle this fall. Never owned a .54 smoothie and wondered what charge and size powder would be a good starting point?

Gonna shoot shot and ball!

[okawbow]

I start at 1 grain per caliber, (54) and shoot 3 or 5 shot groups, going up 5 grains per group until best accuracy is achieved. I used a snug patch in my smooth rifle for my best groups. You might try an over powder wad and patched ball or bare ball also.

[scottmc]

I just finished a plain Beck rifle in the past two months that is a .54.  I started with 55 grains of 2F swiss, .530 rb and a .022 ticking patch and ironically at 25 yards, it shot a one hole group.  Went up to 60 grains and it opened up a bit.  Of course this is a rifled barrel and not a smoothbore but wanted to give you an idea.  my barrel is a rice beck barrel with a slower twist round bottom rifling.

[Silky921]

I have a 54 caliber smoothbore with a 48" barrel from Keb. Per his recommendation, I started with 60 grains of 3f, and a PRB with pillow ticking. Was pretty much dead on the first shot, so I was very lucky in that regard.

[hanshi]

My .54 seems to shoot better than I can with any charge of 60 grains & up.  The states I've lived and hunted in have a minimum powder charge of 50 grains, no grade specified.  They also require a minimum of .45 caliber.  Although this charge wasn't really necessary I did kill a deer with 110 grains of 3F Goex.  That load would really shoot but now I'd use around 60-70 grains.

[Daryl]

Much depends on your situation - ranges, size of deer, etc.

As Dphar will acknowledge when in the West, ranges can run to 200yards, rarely closer than 50 yards, unless using a tree stand, in a grove or copse of bush. Thus, lowest trajectory coupled with longer range accuracy is a must.

A .54 or .58 would be a good choice. Larger powder charges and tighter combinations must both be used to achieve this.

I might start around 3 drams (82gr.), but likely would start at 100 2F and go from there.  I suspect something around 120 might serve the best in both accuracy and lowness of trajectory, giving a point blank range of about 135yards, thus a 150 to 200yard shot could be made with little effort, although such practice is necessary.

I sold my .58 SXS as it would not regulate with more than 110gr. of 2F - not enough imho for moose out to 200yards.  The .69 still has that job - if, a ML is used.

Maybe Taylor and I will have a 14 bore hunt this fall?

[Standing Bear]

I'll be building and hunting with a .54 smooth rifle this fall. Never owned a .54 smoothie and wondered what charge and size powder would be a good starting point?

Gonna shoot shot and ball!

I'm not experienced w shooting shot but recall a starting point of 1/2 the. All weight for powder charge. Works pretty well w my rifles. .395 weighs 92 and I shoot 50, .495 weighs 188 I shoot 90
And .535 weighs 230 and shoots 120 well.
TC

[Daryl]

I would think 1oz. shot and 70gr. 2f would be about right for as shot load. Track has wads - usually.

With non-choked gun, you might get away with just using thin- over/shot wads. No heavy over powder cards nor cushion wads.

I'd put 2 or 3 over the powder, and one over the shot.