Oh one other thing I forgot.I wouldn't clean off the lube on the ballet or any other lubed conical. It helps with loading, accuracy and cleaning. It cuts down on the leading that occurs in the barrel also.

I hunt PA FL season with my brother the last week, all week, I only use 3F in my FL. I have used 3F in the pan and it works. I switch my 1:48 TC barrel out for a Green MT. 1:28 21" barrel that will shot sabots (cost was only $100). I have shot it with some 300g Gold Dots and 80g of Goex, but will drop down to 70,since I only take <= 50 yard shots. I know what ya mean about getting BP, I found it about 1 hour south of me and got 2 1 lb cans. $18/can. I paid 10 in Pa for my first can.
Chap

I use the Firestorm in the late Pa FL season. Can't give any real feedback on the Buffalo Ball-ets or the Hornady Pa conicals. Shot both in the 245 grain variety, but never hunted with them. Never really settled on a good load either. I hunt with a 490 PRB over 90 grains of 2F Goex BP. This is very accurate in the Firestorm at 50 yards, much better than 3 inch spread. The gun with this load is more accurate than I am!

I am brand new to the Flint arena and am getting ready for the Flint season in PA.This is my experience to date. I shot about 25 shots of 3F out of my Lyman Deerstalker (1/48 twist) using Grafs 3f 80 grain charge. I also used it for the prime just a touch towards the outside of the pan. I used the supplied flint. I sighted on the bench using the TC Cheap shots, supplied sabot in 240 grain. It is shooting inside the pie plate middle at 100 yards consistently. I have some other conicals and such that were sent to me to try but time.......... The 3f just kept shooting, the lock is fast and I swabbed 50/50 simple green/alcohol between shots. I used 1 dry patch after each swab both sides.

As you say, the 1:48 is a compromise twist rate, good for conicals andround balls.

I have shot T/C Renegades and others in 1:48 barrels for years. They shoot Maxiballs very well. IfI were you I'd scrap the round balls and ball-ets, and similar bullets, and go toreal conicals like the Maxiball and great plains bullet. These bullets are serious deer killers.

Your gun is made to use pelletsor loose powders like pyrodex, and of course real black. It is not supposed to be fussy. I'd go withloose yrodex RS or P, and I'd start at no less than 80 grains. I'd try to get to 90 or 100 for a hunting charge, but stick with what is most accurate. I would be very surprised if you can't get far better accuracy and range than you are seeing with your current load and bullet.I can't really advise you on priming charges, but from what little I've heard 3f or 4f can be used.

FYI for you folks with flinters, you may already know but just in case...

If you order in bulk from Graf & Sons, it's a whole bunch cheaper. Couple months back I bought 7 lbs Goex 3f & it came to ~$16.25 per lb. Gets better the more you buy; if memory serves, buying a 25 lbs case gets you down to $13 & change per lb. I think minimum order is 5 lbs. Those prices include the hazmat fee & shipping. Back in the summer I bought a couple cans at BPS in Cincinnati @ $21 per can after tax.

Their house brand black is a little cheaper yet, and I hear it's on par with Goex.

It's a good chunk of $$$ up front, but keep it dry &real black willnever go bad or lose strength.

I use 3f for prime & charge in my T/C. Thought about trying the Ball-ets in mine (1-66" twist PA. Hunter), but kinda lost interest after taking three deer this season with roundballs. All three were clean kills with short, easy bloodtrails. Might tinker with someeventually just to see how they do.