I personally know that the old 370gr Maxi launched from a .50 powered by 90gr of 3f will punch right through both elk and moose. I’ve not recovered one yet.
Walk
These Big Lead Bullets DRIVE through stuff that’s for sure!
If a guy gets in to Real Blackpowder/Muzzleloaders with the idea of them being “Speed Demons” he is in for a BIG Disappointment! It’s simply
NOT there!! This is one reason I
RARELY bother taking a Chronograph, I have Shot these things SO MUCH over the last few years that i know REALLY close to what they are Doing, and
NOT Doing. Yesterday with this Big .58 Cal was a Different Situation due to the
XTRA LARGE POWDER CHARGE, I had never done anything like that before, And really didn’t know what to Expect? But i was CONFIDENT it would NOT Break 2,000 fps, and i was Definitely Right about that. After i Shot the 1st 150 Grain Load (Off Camera) and Seen 1,577 Fps i knew how it was gonna Play out, And you hear me Say it in the Front of the Video (Something to tune of “I think you will be Surprised, it’s not Doing what you might Think?”)
My Old Stainless .50 Cal with a 450-460 Grain Bullet and 95 Grains of Swiss 2F yielded a MV of 1450-1475 fps, that was a STOUT Load in it, I wouldn’t have wanted to push it anymore than that.
My .45 Cals with 530-540 Grain Bullets and 80-85 Grains of Powder Run about 1,300-1,350 fps
My .35 Cal 1:15 Twist 32” Barreled Muzzleloader with 340 Grain Bullet taught me another Lesson about Velocity in these things. I expected to get 2,000 fps? Or there Close abouts,
NOT THE CASE, 60-70 Grains gave me the Best Results, Velocity was 1,500-1,600 fps, I decided to Up the Charge to 100 Grains, I barely Broke 1,700 Fps, and in Doing so i COMPLETELY COOKED a Brand New Treso/Ampco Nipple. These Smaller Bores, With REALLY Fast Twists, pushing Heavy Bullets build BIG PRESSURE, MUCH Faster than a Larger Bore.