54 Traditions Hawken Loads
 

Howdy folks. Just getting back into Muzzleloader hunting for Elk after a 20 year break. Just curious what has changed in the last two decades.

Anyhow, the question I have is this:

I am shooting a Traditions Woodsman Hawken. I used Pyrodex and 435 Buffalo conicals. I only got to shoot 90g. of powder and never shot more. Are these rifles safe for a 100 -120 grain load?

If you have a rifle like this, what is your go to or pet load/ set-up?

i live in N. Idaho and Sabots and pellets are illegal.

Sorry for the dumb question, but like I said, its been 20 years + since I shot this rifle.

Thanks

you dont need to use anymore powder i shoot 90grns of pyro p and a 450grn paper patched conical in my whites you dont need more powder!your shooting an elk load right now.

I have two of those rifles and I believe they are rated at 100 grains of 2f for large conicals. But I agree. If that load is accurate, that should be more then enough juice for an elk. I shot a 460 grain conical with only 60 grains of powder and it penetrated 8 inches into a solid popular firewood chunk.

I have the same rifle. I'll shoot the Lyman Plains bullet, 395 gr with 70 gr of 3f T7. Great accuracy out to 100 yrds. Not as heavy as the Buffalo bullet, but still good penetration.

I shoot a T/C Renegade in 54. I use the Buffalo Bullet and 110 gr FFG. I use that load because it is the most accurate in my rifle. I don't know off hand how the Tradition stacks up against the T/C as far as max loads, But I would imagine they would be pretty much equal.

The owner of No Excuses told me I wouldn't need more than 70gr of T7 with their 460gr bullet for elk. So, 80gr of Pyro should do it.

Considering a 230gr .54 PRB will kill elk with 80gr of BP. I have to agree with him that 80 gr of Pyro and a 460gr bullet is way more than enough.

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.