What's your favorite side-lock load?
01-03-2006, 06:08 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central Texas (Williamson Co.)
Posts: 128
What's your favorite side-lock load?
My introduction to long-gunning began about 7 yrs ago with the purchase of a used,CVA Kentucky Rifle (1:48 twist).
Best load I've found for it is 66 gns (by weight) of Pyro "P" stoppered down with the 250 gn TC Maxi-ball. Cuts cloverleafs at 50 yds and clocks 1585 fps 15' from the muzzle. 100 yd groups run around 4", but that's about the best I can do with open sights (my eyes aren't getting any younger!).
I lube these bullets with a mixture of Crisco and "gulf wax" melted together and poured around the standing slugs. Mix is one lb Crisco to one cake of wax. An unsized 45-70 shell makes a good cake-cutter for cutting the bullets loose.
This load has worked well for me in the field: first critters bagged were two gobblers (I jokingly referred to this gun as my Kenturkey Rifle for awhile). Over the years it's alsogotten me four whitetail, three W. Texas Mulies (one dressed 175#), two hogs and one javelina (oh, almost forgot, one feeder-robbing squirrel late in the morning).
Would like to hear what others are shooting.
HH all,
BrushPopper
Best load I've found for it is 66 gns (by weight) of Pyro "P" stoppered down with the 250 gn TC Maxi-ball. Cuts cloverleafs at 50 yds and clocks 1585 fps 15' from the muzzle. 100 yd groups run around 4", but that's about the best I can do with open sights (my eyes aren't getting any younger!).
I lube these bullets with a mixture of Crisco and "gulf wax" melted together and poured around the standing slugs. Mix is one lb Crisco to one cake of wax. An unsized 45-70 shell makes a good cake-cutter for cutting the bullets loose.
This load has worked well for me in the field: first critters bagged were two gobblers (I jokingly referred to this gun as my Kenturkey Rifle for awhile). Over the years it's alsogotten me four whitetail, three W. Texas Mulies (one dressed 175#), two hogs and one javelina (oh, almost forgot, one feeder-robbing squirrel late in the morning).
Would like to hear what others are shooting.
HH all,
BrushPopper
01-03-2006, 06:16 PM
#2
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
RE: What's your favorite side-lock load?
Most of the time in my sidelocks I shoot roundball. Just recently I picked up some 1-28 twist barrels for my Renegades, so I have been shooting some sabots with real good results.
I took a little pine squirrel today out on one of the feeders today. I took him off with a .54 caliber roundball. Needless to say I was not undergunned.
I took a little pine squirrel today out on one of the feeders today. I took him off with a .54 caliber roundball. Needless to say I was not undergunned.
01-03-2006, 06:36 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fargo, ND
Posts: 1,800
RE: What's your favorite side-lock load?
I have not shot mine yet. I think I will like ball-ets alot for Pronghorn. I hope to get shooting 460gr round nose Buffalo Bullets for elk if I decide to hunt elk. By the way I have a 54cal TC renegade with a 1-48" twist.
01-04-2006, 12:33 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 14
RE: What's your favorite side-lock load?
Hey,Popper,
I use a greatplanes rifle in .54 cal. and the load that work's best for me is 70 gr's 3f a Thompson Center 360gr pre lube maxi-hunter ball, and at 100 yd's I'm shooting a 3 inch group, But like you said it's all in the eye's
I use a greatplanes rifle in .54 cal. and the load that work's best for me is 70 gr's 3f a Thompson Center 360gr pre lube maxi-hunter ball, and at 100 yd's I'm shooting a 3 inch group, But like you said it's all in the eye's
01-04-2006, 09:13 AM
#5
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 236
RE: What's your favorite side-lock load?
Brushpopper, My favorite gun to shoot is my Great merican Sporting rifle which is a 69 caliber, .678 round ball, .015 pre lubed patch and a 180 grains of 2F black powder. My second best is my 50 caliber underhammer, still have to shoot it more to bet the rough barrel smoothed out. but 80 graining .490 ball and .015 patch is working alright.
