50 Cal Loads

[Carolina Joe]

I will be getting my new rifle from Sitting Fox Custom Muzzleleoader early next week. It is a Southern Mountain in the "Bean" style. I would like to know what would be a good load for taking whitetail deer. I will be using Hornaday .490 balls, 3F powder. All suggestions will be appreciated.

[Dryball]

I would suspect that you'll find a good accurate load somewhere between 50 and 70 grains. Seems as if most of my .50's shoot best in that range...and that will be plenty for whitetails.

[Hanshi]

I agree.  50 - 70 is a good range for a .50.

[Razor]

65 gr fff in my Pedersoli Kentucky will shoot MOGB at 50 yds...
(MOGB = Minute-of-Golf-Ball)   

[roundball]

I will be getting my new rifle from Sitting Fox Custom Muzzleleoader early next week. It is a Southern Mountain in the "Bean" style. I would like to know what would be a good load for taking whitetail deer. I will be using Hornaday .490 balls, 3F powder. All suggestions will be appreciated.

Depends on the kind of area / terrain you hunt, longest shot you might encounter, etc...I use 90gns Goex 3F and never worry about...

[Hanshi]

In my EV .50 I settled on 60 grains of 3f for targets and general shooting.  It is a very accurate load in my rifle.  The deer I've killed with it have so far been taken with a load of 100 grains 3f.  I think I might drop that to 75 or 80 grains which should do as well.

[Carolina Joe]

Well, fellas I hunt here in Northern Virginia. Shots would be under 100 yards. This will be my first traditional muzzleloader. In saying that, I will asking plenty of questions of you guys. I thank you for all your advise.

[Hanshi]

Well, fellas I hunt here in Northern Virginia. Shots would be under 100 yards. This will be my first traditional muzzleloader. In saying that, I will asking plenty of questions of you guys. I thank you for all your advise.

With my .50s I've taken one deer just under 100 yards and another just a little over 100.  I was in the middle of a hay field and used a big round bale as a rifle rest.  Unusual to say the least.  You'll do fine even at 100.