50 Hawkin flintlock load

[MXDT]

I picked up one at an auction last week. It was made or imported by Armsport.

How would one go about determining what size ball to use and what powder charge?

[Bob Roller]

The barrel is made from? so I would find the real size of the bore before it was rifled and the. get a mould  or soft lead balls of .490 assuming it is a .500 and start with about 60 grains of 2fg.Patches can be denim or bore cleaning patches to start with.Prime with 3 or
4fg.
Bob Roller

[Daryl]

Yes- the crown is likely like this.



With a bit of work, maybe 3 minutes with emery or wet/dry on the end of your thumb, pushing into the muzzle,
the crown will look like this and make loading snug loads SOOOO much easier, without cutting the patch.

[Pukka Bundook]

Daryl,
I think I need to do that to my homemade barrel, as tight patches are a bear.  the ball flattens trying to start them!

Re charges for the hawken,
I had one in percussion and used 55 gr. 2F for target, and doubled it for hunting.
It shot just as straight, but an inch or so higher at 100 yards with the double charge.
Reason for doubling, was I used the same measure, so double was easier than a lesser load.

all best,
Richard.

.590 worked with I think .018" patch lubed with deer tallow.

[TDM]

You can measure land to land to verify, but it should be a .50 so the .490 RBs are the place to start. I like using 3F in my .50's, but 2F is fine too. I find 50 grains is a good starting place when sighting in. Usually 70 gr for PRBs is all I use, occasionally 80. If your barrel twist allows conicals then 90-100 gr loads could be used. Your rifle will tell you what patches to use. It may like a .010, .015, .018, maybe even .020, I generally used .015 & .018. Good luck with it, should make a nice shooter.

[Daryl]

Daryl,
I think I need to do that to my homemade barrel, as tight patches are a bear.  the ball flattens trying to start them!

Re charges for the hawken,
I had one in percussion and used 55 gr. 2F for target, and doubled it for hunting.
It shot just as straight, but an inch or so higher at 100 yards with the double charge.
Reason for doubling, was I used the same measure, so double was easier than a lesser load.

all best,
Richard.

Richard, with the crown shown and using a 10 ounce patch with .005" undersized ball, the cupped knob on the starter doesn't flatten the ball at all. Even when using a .690" ball in th e.69,
.400" ball in the .398" or a .360" ball in my .36- all with the same thickness, 10 ounce denim at .021" to .0225"(earlier make of cloth)  no damage to the ball.


.590 worked with I think .018" patch lubed with deer tallow.

picture host