What is a minimum hunting load that would provide adequate trajectory in a 62 caliber rifle? I have no experience with the larger bores and would need a decent hunting load as well as a light plinking load that would be easy to shoot. I was thinking maybe 120 grains FF and then a half charge of 60 as a starting point. Thoughts on twist rates would be appreciated too. Oh, I would not be shooting much over 100 yards, maybe 120 at the most for hunting.
James
This will depend of the trajectory you want and the stock design. People must remember that most American rifles after 1780 are not suitable for a 62 caliber ball and many before are not either.
Rifles of this caliber and above must be carefully stocked and the style has to be correct for RECOIL MANAGEMENT.
A Early Kentucky like the Dickert #48 in RCA would work I think.
But building a one of the late Golden Age guns in this caliber would be serious mistake.
SO...
I would shoot no less than 100 grains and likely 120. Where I live this will give a 110-140 yard point blank for the animals I hunt. Velocity needs to be at least 1600-1700 for best point blank.
If you live where the ranges will never exceed 50-75 yards then the trajectory requirements are less demanding and a 20 bore shotgun like powder charge may well work IF it will produce decent accuracy at 75 to 100.
The heavy load will have about the same velocity at 100-110 as the lighter load will at 50 or so.
AS a result killing power, other than at ranges where the heavy load has a significant velocity advantage, will be the same.
So the load will depend on:
1. Accuracy heavy loads usually shoot better in rifles or smooth bore guns. Shooting inaccurate loads at large game is irresponsible.
2. Recoil characteristics of the firearm.
3. The range needed.
The recoil thing, and lack of historical documentation, is the primary reason I would advise people not to build a .62 caliber Kentucky and especially if the stock design has not already been used for a "bore" rifle previously.
People wanting a rifle over 58 caliber are well advised to use an English rifle as a pattern. The buttstocks are very much the same from 1750 to 1860. Just the decoration and the forends, 1/2 stock late or full early are different.
Double balls? I would not bother even with 50 cal. If the caliber is not capable of killing the critter with a single ball then a bigger ball is needed.
Other than in a few legends I doubt that double balls were ever used that much in the past. Uses twice the lead to do the same job with a lot more recoil.
Dan
