Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders CVA Hawken & Lee REAL Balls

I picked up a CVA .50 Hawken for the boy to use on deer. I figure it's 48" twist ought to pair up perfectly with 250gr Lee REAL balls.

Anyone use this combo? What lube do you use on the balls? How much powder do you use?

Guys I hunt with really like the Hornady PA conicals at 240 grains. Just another option to try.

https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/bull...let-50-caliber-240-grain-lead-h6617.html

Those look nice, but I do have a REAL mold.

I use 110 gr 777 & lee tumble lube with the lee 250 gr bullet

How is the recoil with that load? The Hawkin has a lot of drop at the heal.

I have used the Lee REAL bullets in a 50 cal. Renegade with 1 in 48 twist. The loads were very accurate, easy to load, reduced fouling, and put deer down in a hurry.

80gr 2fg goex, lubed felt wad, shoots lights out with either the 250 or 320gr REAL. 80gr 3fg goex or pyrodex p also shoots awesome. A little more thump behind the 3fg load.

Leon, what weight bullets did you use? Powder charge? Did you use a card wad too?

Thanks guys!

I used the 250 grain REAL and 90 grains of real black powder until black powder disappeared. The last time I shot the rifle, I used Pyrodex. Current plans are to use the Alliant Black MZ, because it cleans up easier and is currently selling for $10/pound at Sportsmans Warehouse.

10 bucks at SPortsmans warehouse? I wonder if they are going to discontinue it.

tyrone I shoot it in inlines it aint bad. my daughter is about 115lbs and has no prob with it .shoots real good in 4 diff guns and kills good also

I've got 50 cals in 28", 32", 48" and 60" twist. I've tried REALs but had better success with T/C Maxi Hunters, which are very similar to REALs. But one thing I have learned is that EVERY gun is unique and seems to want its own bullet, powder and possibly lube combination. Go ahead and start with REALs, they aren't very expensive, but play with the powder charge and try something different when you have a chance. You might be surprised.

I've got the same gun in a .54. It seems like if I shoot more than 80 grains of FF it's burning most of it down the barrel. I should add that I do shoot patched round balls.

gopher I have 2 nights a rem & cva il a cv side lock and & a cva il pistol the pistol I shoot 70 gr of powder .110 in the rifles cuzz the knight speed loaders hold that much when full. I made a few for the cva pistol to hold 70 gr. the bullet is a killer cast of 95% lead 5% wws

I shoot 100gr of 2F and a .015 lubed patch in my TC pa hunter 1:66” twist. Accurate as hell! Just shot two does over the last week. One ran 40 yds one went straight down and had pass throughs on both. The doe last night was a piebald! Full body mount coming!


Roy

I use 80 gr 777 and the 250 gr REAL in my CVA Buckhorn. Because the 250 gr is a relatively light bullet and 80 gr 777 a moderate charge recoil ain't bad at all. I can get 2 inch or better groups at 100 yds. My Chrony showed about 1500 fps. Not too shabby. My side hammer CVA Hawken with the same load and open sights ( and 67 yearold eyes) about 2 inch at 50 yds. Recoil not bad in it either accept shooting off sandbags hunkered down it often boots me in the cheekbone hard enough to hurt. Gonna have to see what I can do to fix that.

Is the tumble lube recommended for the realbullets, and whether it is or not have you had any trouble with barrel leading up? Thanks

270 I tumble lube all my bullets .I use only lee molds. have not hade a leading prob

Thanks a lot for the tip on the tumble lube, I going to try to find some of that and try it. I'm use to the messy wonderlub and the like. Will check the Lee site.

I use it on hand gun & 30cal rifle bullets to 1950 fps with no gas checks