Light Load
 

I was hoping to do a little squirrel hunting with my MZ this coming year. I have been looking around for a 32 caliber rifle, but I have not ran across anything left handed(that I can afford). So I was thinking about hunting with my Lyman DeerStalker in 50 caliber(flintlock). Has anyone down loaded a 50 caliber for this purpose?? I am not new to down loading. I do a good bit of it in my 45-70 and 45 Colt rifle. But I have never done it with an MZ. Anyone have any good loads I should try?? Ball or bullet?? Or is it just a bad idea?? Tom.

I have shot squirrel with 50 grains of powder and a roundball out of my scoped Knight Wolverine. Works real good. Just remember that if your shooting up into the air, that ball will be flying a good distance.

It works just fine...My deer load for my .54 flinter is 80grs, my squirrel load is 50 grains, just take head shots...

My dedicated small game rifle is a .40 flinter loaded with 25grs of FFF, head shots are still used...

I often hunt squirrel and rabbit with my .50 caliber inlines using 70 grains of powder and a .430 240 grain XTP bullet. It limits one to head shots but it works well for me. Have also killed hogs with that load while small game hunting.

Fifty grains of FFFg in my .54 Great Plains is head-shot-accurate. Check your trajectory at various squirrel ranges and you're good to go.