Need some Help, Please

[IL Padrino]

I have not hunted/shot my Thompson Hawken .50 Flintlock in more than 15+ years. I would like to get back into shooting it and hunting with it again.

I could use some powder/bullet recomendations. Also some opinions about Black powder subsitutes that I really dont know too much about. I have all of the gear just need some good advice and I know you guys/gals are the people to ask.

Thanks
Joe

[Pagrizz]

Are you shooting round ball or looking for sabots to shot?I shot goex out of mine .I have always had better accuracy with it.If you want a sabot type bullet T/C has a product called break o way sabots.You use them with a 240 gr Hornady XTP 44 cal bullet. They shoot as good in my T/C flintlock as any inline I have .You buy a box of 100 bullets and two packs of the break o ways for less than a couple packs of 20 of most sabots.Some of the plains bullets have shot ok.I have used powerbelts in it .but the XTP's shoot a lot better .I use 90 grains of 2f powder with that bullet and have no trouble out to 100 yards.

[Flintlock]

I shoot a T/C Renegade and I use 90grains of FF Pyrodex with a 245grain Powerbelt. Knocks them dead every time, and it shoots flat at 100yards.

[Dirtypenny725]

Pagrizz, are those hornady's similar to T/C's XTP 240gr sabots??? I use the T/C's and they are by far the most accurate bullet I've ever shot out of my M/L. Sorry padrino, didn't mean to steal your thread:)

[Nitrous SwampRat]

Start out using 60/70 grains behind a patch/round ball.
Start at 25 yards to make sure the sights are are good.
Once your on target/paper then ya can start experimenting and trying different loads/bullets/powders.

I have a few different T/C's and i use 80 grains pyrodex with maxi hunter bullets.

Nick

[Pagrizz]

Pagrizz, are those hornady's similar to T/C's XTP 240gr sabots??? I use the T/C's and they are by far the most accurate bullet I've ever shot out of my M/L. Sorry padrino, didn't mean to steal your thread:)They are the same bullet .but the sabot is not the same.By buying the box of 100 bullets then a pack of the break o way sabots you can save money and still get very good accuracy .Have you every hit anything with the XTP'S ? They open up as good as any bullet out there.

[IL Padrino]

Thanks everyone. I'll have a good starting point now.
Joe

[Buck Tales]

Well it's been awhile since this thread has been up but I'll add anyway. If you haven't already found out, try to stay with black powder. I have found miss fires are alot more with the substitutes, like pyradex. When using black powder just remember consistency is acurracy. Make sure you load the same amount of powder in each shot and use the same weight bullets or balls and same thickness patch, etc etc. Since it's been awhile since the post, let me know how it's going so far with your testing.