I just got a new Deerhunter for Xmas and it looks like a nice gun. I'm looking for a starting point on a good load. 50Cal bullets. I'm not really interested in balls. Any suggestions?

Since you don't want to shoot roundball... I'd get some maxiball and start it with 70 grains of Black Powder 2f with some 4f in the pan. If that don't shoot well kick the charge up around 90 grains.

Powerbelts might also shoot well out of the rifle. Or you could try 70 grains of 3f black powder and some 460 grain Bull Shop conicals if the manual allows something that big. I personally shoot roundball out of my Traditions.

The Buffalo Ball-et in 270 grains is a great choice. I don't know if they still are available though, as I have not seen them lately. They shot very accurately in my Traditions 50 cal.

Lee REAL bullet shoots well also I cast mine in 320 gr.

Why don't you want to shoot balls???

The 300 grain Hornady FPB holds a lot of promise:

http://www.hornady.com/store/50-Cal-300-gr-FPB



The Hornady Great Plains bullets are also a long time favorite for their accuracy and are devasting on deer, but they are harder to load.

http://www.hornady.com/store/50-Cal-c-674/

There may also be something to try out in a 1 in 48" Deer hunter flintlock in this thread:

http://huntingnet.com/forum/black-po...nd-1-48-a.html