Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Minimum load for TC big boar 58

My 10 year came across my old TC big boar 58 cal in the gun room tonight and he's pretty excited to shoot it.

I haven't shot it for years but I'm wondering how light of a pyrodex charge I can use under a round ball and still get the ball safely out of the barrel. Do you think I could take it down to say 50 grains ok? I've never played with light loads.

Also, in a fit of stupidness during a git r done now moment years ago, I chewed up the original wood ramrod pretty good using pliers to pull it out with a stuck patch on a jag. Is there anywhere I can order a new original wood rod or a similar custom? I've just used a brass range rod since since my got to do it now moment.

Thanks,
Bb

.58 muskets use charges in the 60-70gr range as a rule, and competitors commonly go lower for best accuracy, so I doubt 50 will cause any trouble. Personally, I’d lose the Pyrodex and use the real deal, 777, or maybe one of the other less well-known subs out there, unless you’re just trying to use it up.

Used to work with a guy who hunted with a Big Boar, using the Maxi Whatever bullet, loaded to the gills naturally. He had a stroke at about age 50. Coinkydink? Maybe.

Agree with Pappy. 50 should be good. Have shot many 60gr loads out of my 58.

I would look for one of the TC fiberglass rods in the correct size . They don't look as nice but they don't break and make holes in young body parts either . Dixie Gun Works should be able to help you . Forty grains will get the ball out of the barrel and to the target but 55 would be better if he can handle it . Shouldn't be any worse than shooting a 20 gauge .

mine shot fine with 50 g 3f goex and a PRB at 50 yds.

for replacement RR
https://www.trackofthewolf.com or
https://www.octobercountry.com
and i have cleared dry balls from a barrel with as little as 15 grains of ffffg stuffed in via the flash hole and under the nipple on percussion, so that 50g should be sufficient.

I have worked enough 4f through the flashole of flinter to get a round ball out of a 50.
Maybe 5-10 grains max.

Pretty cool actually.

Just a pfuuuut. And the ball popped out. Probably a couple hundred fps.
Could kinda see it going, it bounced out through the woods like a superball.

That's exactly what we did with our kids BB. We used Inlines, but Sabot'ed bullets with one pellet for deer. Worked like a champ.