Powder charge for old school Hawken .50?

[chevychris]

I just acquired an old Hawken .50 percussion gun. It came with some 370gr. maxi-balls and some round balls. There also was a tin of FFg powder and a powder measuring thing but no hint of how much powder to load the gun with. Does anybody know what would be a good hunting powder load to start with? Obviously I can't use Pyrodex pellets.Chris.

[RICHARDCatdaddy]

Chris,I got a T.C. Hawken,old school.I hunt with 95 grains of powder.It works very well for me,but you got to find the charge thats right for you.Start with 75 grains and go up from there.But I wouldnt reccomend over 110.Get a powder measure so you can be reasonably sure with how much you dump down the pipe.

[chevychris]

Thanks man. I've got a powder measure now, so I'll start at 75 grains and go up from there depending on how it's shooting. Thanks again.Chris.

[bambeklr]

I started out shooting a kawkens rifle. I shot 70 grains of powder for years. Then i switched to 90 grains. The only noticable change to me was the recoil. And that was not much at all. My gun still shoots 370 grain maxi balls pre lubed and 90 grains of elephant powder. Strait black powder. At 50yds i can shoot a quarter all day long. They are super accurate guns. Just dont let the powder get wet. I usually take a small amount of vasalene and wype it around the nipple to get a seal on the #11 cap. Then i take a peice of black electrical tape and place it over the muzzle. Good luck and shoot straight.

[RICHARDCatdaddy]

If you dont want to put tape on the muzzle,try this.Unroll a condom over it,unlubed of course.We done that in the Army and it works great plus you can fire thru it.