and actually it's a little undersized, shooting thin patched .531 round balls/.007 patch.

Wondering if a maxi or conical would work.

I think those old pure lead cast 430 grain TC Maxi balls we used to shoot miked out at about .537 - .539 or so. They might work, and shot pretty good from our Hawkens which had a 1:48 twist.

Would prefer to cast them, so looking for something I can do from scratch.

but I like the sound of 430gr

We did cast them. TC had the mould for them.

ah, that's sounding better.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/45...let-mold-533-410m-533-diameter-410-grain

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/98...old-503-54-diameter-480-grain-maxi-balls

Might try the plain ol Lee REAL cast bullet.

You can shoot the pre-lubed Maxiballs to see how they shoot in your rifle. I used to own a TC Renegade and shot a lot of Maxiballs. I thought they were 405 grains? They shot great and I often said it could "kill anything that craps". At that time I shot 2F powder and I think it was 110 or 120 grains...
If you like them you can order molds for the Maxiballs from Dixie Gun Works and other companies. ..we also poured our own buying pure lead from a plumbing business I recall.
good Luck

I'll keep an eye on this thread.

I was gifted a Cabela's Hawkin in 54 cal some years ago. Round balls worked out to 50 yards if I kept the powder charge very low. But I tried every commercially available lead conical I could find in Cablea's and Bass Pro to no avail. I spent more trying to find a working load than the rifle cost ($225 at the time). That gun was just not worth firing. It now adorns the wall behind by computer desk. It's a beauty, but that's about it.

The new powders may hold the answer.

So please, let us (me) know what you find that works and I'll drag the old cannon back out to the range!

Odd, actually. My Cabela's Hawken in .54 is VERY accurate! 250gr. Saboted XTP's over 100gr. 777 is my go to load. It also does real good with a Hornady Great Plains 435gr. over 100gr. 777. Sorry to hear yours does not shoot well. I WILL say, the stock iron sights are JUNK, and will not hold a zero well enough for me. I have offset scope mounts, and put a 2.5x scope on it.

I would try the heavier of the Lee REAL bullets. I have never shot them in a .54, but I killed a bunch of deer with them when I was using a TC Renegade. They loaded much easier than Maxi-balls and were very accurate and penetrated and expanded well.

Agree on the sights. I changed those pronto.

Do you the 777 pellets or do you measure each load?

Don't use pellets Always go with a loose powder load . I belive Invest Arms made your gun the same people that made Lmans guns

yep pellets are for inlines only.

Why not go with the patched round ball in that 54?

I highly recommend 80-90gr Pyrodex RS or better, Goex 2f, .018" patch and .530" round ball. Clean between each shot with a lightly damp patch and a couple dry patches.

I think its a good twist for balls or mid range bullets, kind of a middle ground. I like pyrodex but would like to try that Alliant stuff.

why? Black MZ is much more harder to shoot than pyrodex. Velocity is also all over the place.

Yep, Investarms.

What patch do you recommend and wet it with what? I used to use these pre-lubed patches that were really saturated with "Wonder Lube" or some such. Results were awful.

I agree, most store bought patches, they are for suckers that don't know any better. They often are to dry from sitting on the shelf for months-years.

www.trackofthewolf.com you want the blue & white pillow tick patches.

Buy the dry patches and lube them yourself. You can use the wonder lube or bore butter, thats fine but you just want to work it in with your fingers, dont soak them as that can cause all kinds of accuracy issues. Track of the wolf sells a patch lube called Mink Oil or mink lube, Ive heard that is some great stuff to use and I feel that would be a great starting point for you.

Loose. Can't use the pellets in that gun.

You need some scope bases? I have some.

Such a kind offer! BUt no, I already have a set.

Work and life in general is going to keep me off the range for a while. But I'm kind of getting that old "muzzle loader is me" feeling. And it good!

Gotta mount a scope, buy some new patches and .530 round balls, a little 777 powder......