Load recommendations

[Nsghunter]

I have a t/c new englander.50 side lock. I went to the gun shop today and he suggested 100gr loose powder, 300gr saboted bullets and #10 primer. I've never shot it and wanted to see if anyone else had one of these or knew a good load?

 

[mike243]

the twist will prob be too slow for a sabot,80-100g of loose and a power belt or a round ball,295g or higher .

 

[Nsghunter]

If I use a round ball do I need a patch?

 

[Wobblyshot1]

Yes on the patch. Right off the top of my head I'm not for sure of the twist but I'm thinking 1 in 48 and maybe slower.

You might have success with maxi ball, buffalo bullet or Lee REAL. A .50 rd ball is adequate for deer.

 

[Nsghunter]

Matador offered some real good advice but I forgot it. I would call him back but I feel I lost his number lol.

 

[GMB54]

You don't want to use a 300gr sabotted bullet in a 1-48 twist. Some lighter bullets might work but i would not even bother. There are several full bore conicals that should do ok and so should PRBs if you dont try to shoot them too fast.

 

[Nsghunter]

What are pbr?

 

[HilhamHawk]

Patched round balls.

 

[Nsghunter]

I was watching a video and a fellow was shooting the same gun with maxi balls. Does anyone have anything to say about these.

 

[HilhamHawk]

Pretty accurate, good as far as you can hit with them, and kill stuff like the Hammer of Thor.........

 

[ROVERBOY]

My first ML was a .50 cal. New Englander that I got in '88. I shot a little bit of everything in it. I used to experiment like that alot. I shot prb, Maxi-Ball, both 370 and 320 gr., Hornady Great Plains 385 gr., 2 or 3 different sabots with bullets from 200gr-250gr., and maybe another conical bullet. It shot good with pretty much everything that i put in it. It was not a tackdriver but shot plenty good for hunting out to about 100 yards. Mine had a 1-48" twist.

 

[Grill-n-man]

#10 primers are for pistol nipples and #11 are for rifles most of the time. Also I would go with a conical lead bullet and try around 80-90 grains of powder. Patched round ball will work also. Those new englanders are fine guns.

 

[ROVERBOY]

Yeah, I noticed the post said #10 caps too. My New englander was pretty mean with 370 gr. Maxi-Balls and Hornady Great Plains 385 gr. I only switched because I wanted a little more range.

 

[soggybottom]

I never had good luck with maxi ball and getting harder to find
I use Hornady great plain 385 grains and 80 grains of T777 FFFG powder with a #11 winchester cap.
Hornady run $9 to $13 for 20 depending on where you get them.

With patch and ball for plinking I use 50 grains of powder.
If you buy 490 ball do not get pillow ticking instead get lube cotton patch or you will be hammering it down the barrel.
480 balls you can use pillow ticking.
490 ball use cotton patch.
Hope this help.

 

[stik]

I was watching a video and a fellow was shooting the same gun with maxi balls. Does anyone have anything to say about these.

i shot a couple of deer with those maxiballs then threw the rest of them in the trash.

 

[fredfred]

I had the same gun and it shot 90g of loose powder and a 240 knight saboted bullet. Shot good to 100 yards