Sharp Shooter

In the Maxi hunters should I get 360gr or 435gr for my 54cal traditional? What are the pros and cons of each? I got the 435gr. Did I get the right one? I might want to try the365gr later. I still have yet to shoot it for the first time. I will start off with round balls.

cayugad

With your hawkins rifle always keep in mind you have a medium twist of 1-48. If all you were going to shoot were roundball then a 1-60 or even slower twist is desired. If you were wanting to shoot sabots, then the 1-28 twist might be your best choice. Many people think 1-32 twist is the best for conicals. So you have an in between twist so to say. It is meant to shoot roundball and conical bullets. It will also shoot some sabots very well. It is all a matter of finding which one does best. My Hawkins will shoot roundball excellent. It will also shoot powerbelts very well. You just need to try them.

An oldrule of thumb is; the faster the twist the longer the bullet. So when you get the slow twist rifles, then a roundball or even a ball-et are good choices. In my .54 calibers I shoot R.E.A.L. conicals. They come in 300 & 380 grain. Both friends and I have found the 300 seem to shoot best in the 1-48 twist. For this reason, you might have wanted to look at the 360 grain (the shorter of the two). Although years ago I used to hunt with a 426 grain Buffalo Bullet Conical and had excellent results with 80 grains of powder. Also some tremendous down range thump. Some other projectile you might want to look into are Buffalo Ball-ets .. they come in 310 & 338 grain.

Triple Se7en

You did OK (4" Groups @ 100 possible)if you bought fast powder like 777 to push that monster bullet. Use 80+ grains to start & bring the Ben-Gay to alleviate shoulder pain...lol.You may have to take that 777 powder charge to 90 in that 54' Then you may have to deal with somelead-shedding in the bore too.

Otherwise, listen to Cayugad. The man knows conicals pretty-darn good with normal powders like Pyrodex, APP & Goex. Dave's even helped me with 777 loads when I was experimenting with 13 different conicals in my 50-calOmega last year.

Sharp Shooter

I cant use sabots here. I think I will just need to try em all.

A.D.D. BOY

What will they be used on?

Triple Se7en

I've been down that 54-caliber with 1-48" twist conical road. The best solution is just what Cayugad (Dave) said...either the Ballets or Powerbelts for 100 yard shooting. Both are more acceptable to a wider assortment of powders. Cabelas has both available to cut shipping costs via an online purchase - should your 435s fail to deliver what you need.

Sharp Shooter

I think I will try the ballets if these dont work.

cayugad

I have a friend that shoots a .50 caliber Knight American and all he has ever hunted deer with is 80 grains of Pyrodex and a Buffalo Ball-et 270 grain. Both his son and him shoot a deer each year with the muzzleloader using the same load. He said they have never had a deer walk away from a well placed ball-et.

I've shot some ball-et into a wet newspaper trap and I have to tell you, the expansion they get is very impressive. I shoot the 270 grain ball-et out of my Wolverine II with up to 100 grains of Goex 2f and the accuracy is exceptional. I just like to experiment.

I also just got a few packs of Harvester 250 grain & 350 grain SabreTooth Conicals. They look like a Powerbelt, so I am curious as to how well they will shoot out of some of the rifles. They are a lot more reasonable then Powerbelts.

Sharp Shooter

I will be hunting large deer. Are the ball-ets good for 120yds? Do you use a patch with them? Also with the light weight of them doese that mean that they wont drop as far? Maybe the 360gr maxi hunters would be better then the 430gr. I will try the ball-ets.

Sharp Shooter

Do you mean these? http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0020974210223a&type=product& cmCat=cchart_blk_pdr_sab_blts

How are these? http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0020974210214a&type=product& cmCat=cchart_blk_pdr_sab_blts

These?
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0020974210217a&type=product& cmCat=cchart_blk_pdr_sab_blts