I am buying a hawken(.50 cal)tomorrow night and it will be my first percussion rifle. I have mastered the inline so I want to make it a challenge. I plan on shooting 70-80 grs. of T7 powder and a .490 round ball with a .015 patch. What kind of accuracy should I strive for?What can I expect from this load on deer? Will I get a pass threw? Expansion? Next thing how often do I have to clean it? When I am shooting groups do I need to let the barrel cool down at all? Can you guys tell me everything you know about shooting and hunting with a percussion and roundball.

Thanks,

Die Hard