Author Topic: Updated - Flintlock bear and buck (Read 3955 times)

Dutch · « **on:** November 19, 2024, 02:07:10 AM »

I took my first bear recently with my .50
40 yd shot .495 prb - 90g FFF
Went 20 yds and fell over - 176#

smylee grouch · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2024, 02:12:41 AM »

Congrats to you. Hope you saved the meat AND the fat.

Daryl · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2024, 03:07:19 AM »

That's a good eatin' size.

StevenV · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2024, 03:47:50 AM »

Nice job, memories for a lifetime

Jeff Murray · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2024, 05:00:47 AM »

Must have been a very satisfying day. Congratulations.

beerd · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2024, 05:07:32 AM »

most excellent!
where was ya hunting (more or less)
..

Ben I. Voss · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2024, 06:14:00 AM »

Very cool! Good job.

MuskratMike · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2024, 06:20:23 AM »

I am not questioning you but just asking for clarification. You use 90 grains of 3F in a 50 caliber? Everyone is different but I shot my black bear in Idaho this year with a 54 caliber using a .530 round ball, ticking patch 50/50 mix of neatsfoot oil and Mink oil for a lube and 75 grains of 3F (which amounts to 92 grains of 2 F). When I shot it blew the rascal out of the tree and landed dead at my feet. Even though my wife isn't the biggest fan of wild game she said the roast from the hind leg was one of the finest pieces of meat she has ever ate. If you do use that much 3F in your 50 caliber what kind of accuracy do you have at lets say 50 yards offhand? Always looking to improve what I have. By the way great bear and it will provide some darn fine eating.

alacran · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2024, 02:23:39 PM »

Congratulations Dutch! Hunting bear on the ground with any kind of weapon is not an easy endeavor. Doing it with a flintlock is enviable.

Dutch · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2024, 03:31:02 PM »

This kind of accuracy
Each hunter needs to be accurate and confident in their ability and equipment. This rifle and load has taken many deer over 35 years and I have never had to track anything farther than a few yards.

This is a western Pennsylvania bear

Pukka Bundook · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2024, 04:34:17 PM »

Very nice work and photos Dutch!

When I had a .50, I used 55 grs for target and doubled it for hunting
Same accuracy but shot a tad higher with double dose.

Best,
Rich.

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #11 on:** November 19, 2024, 05:56:43 PM »

Dutch all that prep paid off big congratulations!

ScottH · « **Reply #12 on:** November 19, 2024, 08:01:32 PM »

Great job. Congrats!

Daryl · « **Reply #13 on:** November 19, 2024, 09:51:26 PM »

Good job, Dutch. Dead squirrel, too, every shot. Wouldn't have survived any of them.
A man who works up an accurate load for his rifle and then uses it, will "win" more often than
someone who simply picks a load and uses that one.
After being in the game for 50 years or more and have worked up loads for a LOT of different rifles and smoothbores,
will come away from that experience with combinations that work quite well in a huge variety of guns, then goes from
there if unsatisfactory for individual's "taste".

wattlebuster · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2024, 12:48:42 AM »

Congrats to you. Beargrease galore

okawbow · « **Reply #15 on:** November 20, 2024, 02:18:23 PM »

Great bear! Good shooting! I use bear oil for patch lube hunting. I rendered out 2 gallons of it a couple years ago.

NDduckhunter · « **Reply #16 on:** November 20, 2024, 05:52:51 PM »

I killed a nice cinnamon colored black bear years back with one shot from my .58 cal VA rifle. If I recall the load was less than 85gr of powder and a round ball. It fully penetrated and the bear died right below my stand. I wish I had rendered the fat, at the time I didn’t know what I was missing, lol!

smylee grouch · « **Reply #17 on:** November 20, 2024, 07:43:10 PM »

I just finished half of the 4 one gal zip lock bags of bear fat ( 2- one gal zip lock bags ) and I got 1 gal of rendered fat/oil from that. Let it set for a week unmolested and the oil separates from the shortening and rises to the top as " Bear Oil " . I have found what is left on the bottom is still good patch lube.

smylee grouch · « **Reply #18 on:** November 21, 2024, 12:01:56 AM »

Welcome NDduckhunter to the ALR. Check your Personal Message file.

tunadawg · « **Reply #19 on:** November 21, 2024, 12:44:37 AM »

Congrats.

Osprey · « **Reply #20 on:** November 21, 2024, 03:09:50 AM »

Congrats! I was out in MD last month with my flinter for bear season but couldn't find one this year, glad you found some up your way!

grouse · « **Reply #21 on:** November 23, 2024, 05:05:04 PM »

Well done, That is on my bucket list.

David R. Pennington · « **Reply #22 on:** November 30, 2024, 10:06:53 PM »

Congratulations! Curious about shot placement?

Dphariss · « **Reply #23 on:** December 14, 2024, 07:57:19 AM »

Quote from: MuskratMike on November 19, 2024, 06:20:23 AM

I am not questioning you but just asking for clarification. You use 90 grains of 3F in a 50 caliber? Everyone is different but I shot my black bear in Idaho this year with a 54 caliber using a .530 round ball, ticking patch 50/50 mix of neatsfoot oil and Mink oil for a lube and 75 grains of 3F (which amounts to 92 grains of 2 F). When I shot it blew the rascal out of the tree and landed dead at my feet. Even though my wife isn't the biggest fan of wild game she said the roast from the hind leg was one of the finest pieces of meat she has ever ate. If you do use that much 3F in your 50 caliber what kind of accuracy do you have at lets say 50 yards offhand? Always looking to improve what I have. By the way great bear and it will provide some darn fine eating.

90 gr was my standard load with Goex FFF in a 50, 100 in a 54. The current Kibler likes 110 of FF Swiss, heavy denim and Neatsfoot oil. The only other 54 I ever owned that wanted more than 100 was a Sharon perc Hawken that wanted 120 of FFF Goex. I use 90 of FFF Swiss in other 54s and 70 or so of FFF Swiss in my 50. The other 54 Kibler I have shoots nice groups with 60 fff Swiss. But the one I am keeping is finicky on patch lube and likes a good dose of FF. As its sighted right now its good for 150 yards on Elk if the wind is mild.
But also remember that I live in a different place than many here and hunting in the open in MT can show a need for a flat trajectory. And Col Hanger who was a British officer and rifleman during the American Revolution mentions shooting 1/2 ball weight or powder in an American Kentucky. And given that Gen Frasier was killed at 300 yards, by one of Morgans Riflemen (Timothy Murphey got the credit) I can’t see light loads being the best idea in this context.

Daryl · « **Reply #24 on:** December 14, 2024, 10:23:52 PM »

At one time, I had 3 .58 cal. rifles, one with a Large barrel, one a Numrich underhammer and one a Zouave rifle. Both the Zouave and the Numrich liked 120gr. 2F, a .575RB and .022" denim patch to
shoot the best at 100 yards. 100 and a littler further was the only range I shot 'back then'.
The large barrel wouldn't keep them inside your hat at 100yards with 90gr. 2F, and when I got to 140gr. 2F, it really shined. 1 1/2" to 2" was the norm for it. The other two ran slightly larger groups but not by much.
The reason I was trying so much powder as increasing the charges and checking accuracy was due to reading about the BR shooters at Friendship & the powder charges they used at 100yds. and further in their round ball guns.
Try asking Dphar how much powder his gain twist .50 cal. plank rifle used for shooting accurately at 60 yards. That man is practically unbeatable with that rifle.

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Author Topic: Updated - Flintlock bear and buck (Read 3955 times)