.54 cal for blackbear?

[135Blacktail]

Hi all,
I plan to hunt blackbear with my Uberti GPR. It's barrel is designed to shoot a patched roundball best. I have practiced a bit lately and am happy with the loads accuracy. The load is : .54 Hornady roundball, .10 lubed patch and 80 grains of Pyrodex RS. My question to you all with experience....Will 80 grains be enough for a broadside/behind the shoulder shot? Out to 75 yards? (Thats as far out as I'm comfortable shooting from kneeling position with iron sights). I know more powder would be better but the rifle likes 80gr. Thank you, Patrick.

[Triple Se7en]

Barrels with twists between 1-60 & 1-70" are designed to shoot roundball best. Personally, I would not hunt black bear with a roundball. I would use a sabot or conical with 320 grains or more. Just my opinion & personal safety has a little to do with my bullet & powder choice using MLs on a prospective dangerous game.

[AMMOe]

The .54 cal patched round ball is adequate for black bear. I would consider stoking the charge a bit, even if it messes with ultimate accuracy. I have an Uberti .53 caliber Hawken and 100 grains of Pyrodex shoots exceptionally well while delivering the good on game. If you read Sam Fadala&#39;s "The Complete Black Powder Handbook" he writes a great piece on shooting Big game with roundballs. If you want to delve a bit further, you can read Ned Roberts&#39; "The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle" for stories of large bore round ball guns taking game back in the 1870&#39;s. He specifically goes into hunting black bears, too. Shoot straight and dont&#39; move from the spot until you&#39;ve reloaded. You&#39;ll do fine. http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/two-cents.gif ~AMMOe

[135Blacktail]

Thanks for the inputs. My rifle is designed for roundball. I&#39;ve shot conicals thru it and a 12" group at 50 yards ain&#39;t accepitible.
Agreed, a bit more umph would be better. Tomorrow I&#39;ll take &#39;er to 100 grains of powder and see if the groups hold out. Hope so. If not, 80 It&#39;ll be. I&#39;m pretty sure I won&#39;t try a broadside shoulder shot but a broadside lung should be O.K. as long as I stay within my comfort range. Again,thank you, Patrick.

P.S. Sunday&#39;s the opener and hopefully I&#39;ll have some news to post!

[135Blacktail]

Forgot to mention. That book "The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle" is hard to find for sale. Am very interested in buying it when I can find it. Thanks for the tip! Patrick.

[AMMOe]

Blacktail: Yes, an excellent book! Trt Barnes and Noble "out of print / used books". they have copies from $42. HEre&#39;s the link:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/OopBooks/...d+Roberts&itm=1 (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/OopBooks/OopResultsTitle.asp?userid=ZYw1SkFTwT&WID=63450036&price=ALL&format=ALL&signed=&edition=&dj=&recent=&title=&author=Ned+Roberts&itm=1)

Good luck. Great reading~AMMOe