B.T.B. and all the other NCOWS M/L & Vintage Shooters out there,
Jist a passing, progressive comment on a good load for M/L hunting using a percussion or flinter rifle.
Back in the day when I went out every chance I could, I carried a Navy Arms SXS 12 kit-made shotter gun for small stuff, rabbits, ducks and geese when possible. My Buckskinnin' huntin' Pal at that time got me hooked on M/L's and we would run circles around the 'modern' guys on the crikbeds and trap ranges, Annie Oakley here we come! Our shoulder bags were always loaded down by noonish with rabbit, quail, pheasant, squirell-tails and woodcock. Now I would happily challenge anyone that thinks you can't hunt woodcock with a SxS 12 M/L, it takes a bit of huffin' & puffin' in the boot-suckin' mud and muck but it is worth every reload! Used a flinter for most deer, one of Curly Gostomski's (sp?) handmade specials. Boy Howdy, could that thing make smoke and sparks! When you hit a deer with that short gun it stayed down fer sure and certain!
OK, here is a load I worked up for new M/L hunters, especially young gals from the Hunter Safety class I worked with when I taught the early M/L section. It doesn't sound like it would work, but think about the complete package of load, distance and rifle and it falls into place nicely: 50 cal. percussion or flintlock, 50 grains 2FF (most any powder will/would work well), 50 yards to target-maximum.
Now let us dissect the load, using a 50 cal. rifle your site plane is fairly dead-on at 50 yards after you sight it in, which at 50 yards shouldn't take long, your success ratio for the young shooter will be high. 50 grains BP, 2FF, good enough at 50 yards to knock down any sized deer if the shot is placed properly, i.e. don't shoot at running deer, only at standing deer with a clear background if possible. At 50 yards you can easily see the 'hit' spot and know your target will probably drop very soon.
So, 50 cal. rifle, 50 gr. BP, target at 50 yards. Practice and you'll come home with plenty of smiles and good eats!
Best regards and good shooting!
'Ol Gabe
NCOWS #925
P.S. Don't care who gets one using this formula, but post us all with your success if you do, I'll be holdin' down the home fire here as I can't get out like I used to, at least I'll be able to 'see' how well it goes.