non lead ammo

[jonnyboy719]

I'm just getting started in muzzleloading and I'm wondering where can i get non lead ammo for hunting with a hawken rifle?

[I'M DK]

Cabela's and BassPro.
What caliber?

DK

[jonnyboy719]

its a .54 cal

[I'M DK]

I shoot a .45, you have twice as many choices as I have.
Cabela's
Item number:IJ - 216146 275gr. Barnes X
Item number: IJ-216146 325gr. Barnes X

I'm thinking hard about getting a .50 for more bullet options.

DK

[gundogtrainer]

what is the twist of rifling in your hawken. Slower than 1in 48 will only shoot round ball. If rifling is 1 in 48 or faster barns will work. Can find them at midwayusa.com or grafs.com. Bass pro dosnt have 54 cal in stock

[jonnyboy719]

thanks for the insight guys. by the way the twist is 1 in 48.

[I'M DK]

Looks like time to consider a .50 cal.

DK

[BelchFire]

I'm not too sure about your .54 bullet options, but I have a Lyman with a 1:44 twist. It shoots sabotted bullets to a great group. Why not try a .50 in a sabot? You should have lots of .50 cal choices in all copper.

Here's one to consider:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/...leitemid=960871 (http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=960871)

Personally, if I was in your position, I'd buy the sabots empty and then find the all copper .50 or .44 bullet that I wanted to shoot and buy them separately.

[gundogtrainer]

I'M DK why would you downsize from a 54 cal to a 50. A 54 cal shoots a larger heavier bullet greater distance with better accuracy and none lead ammo is available. I use 97gr charge of 777 behind a 325gr barnes mz bullet, shoot groups under 3 inch at 100 yards off hand with primitive sights. I have used this load on bear and buff. Both were knocked off thier feet and lay thier dead when the smoke cleared.

[I'M DK]

gundogtrainer,
Why a new rifle? That was my point.

OP's .54 is 1 in 48 twist.
It'll stabilize a short copper bullet.
It won't stabilize a long one.
It probably won't accurately shoot the two I pointed out.
I could be wrong....

The OP asked about shooting NON-LEAD.
That's the official term in the California Condor zone.
I presumed that was a factor.
Nothing in that region that can't be killed easily with a 50 cal.

Many more choices in 50 cal. that will shoot accurately, guaranteed.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gundogtrainer @ Dec 23 2008, 10:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=1072468)</div>
I use 97gr charge of 777 behind a 325gr barnes mz bullet, shoot groups under 3 inch at 100 yards off hand with primitive sights.[/b]
3" groups at 100 yards off hand with open sights. Imagine that. http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-cool-shades-down.gif

DK

[BelchFire]

And a simple bag of plastic sabots will allow him to shoot those .50 choices in the .54 gun that he already owns. Problem solved for less than $10.

[gundogtrainer]

1 in 48 twist works in my 54 cal. Hard to find tradional rifle faster than 1in 48 twist in 50 cal so same problem with longer copper bullets. If hunting condor range barnes mz bullets are the only ones approved by DFG so only a few more choices in 50 cal.

[I'M DK]

Cabela&#39;s again.
Lyman Great Plains Hunter Percussion Rifle - Right-Hand
Item:XJ-211247
1 in 32 twist.


According to the DFG website Barnes MZ, TMZ, and TMZ boattail are all approved for muzzle loaders.
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/con...Info-9-3-08.pdf (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/condor/docs/ammo/Barnes-Web-Info-9-3-08.pdf)
1 bullet in .45
6 bullets in .50
2 bullets in .54

Bottom line, there&#39;s a few options to play with & see what works for you.
Give me a reason to buy a new gun and I&#39;m there.


DK