I recently sold my .54 Hawken and Im now sorry I did as is usually the case! I only hunted bushbuck and impala with it and now Im looking for another rifle probably a .50cal. Would I be able to hunt kudu with this rifle and a round ball load? Thanks

I personally feel that a 50 and a round ball is a bit lighter than I would prefer for kudu. It is probably adequate, as lots of elk have been taken in North America with that loading with no problem. I feel that a 54 would be much better, or a slow twist 58 if you can find one. My go to muzzleloader is a 58 Hawken shooting a round ball. It is the Real Deal and kills remarkably well.

Never been over but if I was going with the 50, it would have to be an in-line and conicals, from what I have read and heard the round ball mite be a tad lite, if its true the game there is tuffer to put down,like Sharps' I would lean toward a 58,unless i could keep the shots 70 yards and under then I would be real tempted to try my 8bore

I bought my first " Muzzleloader ", after reading about Mr.Forgett's, hunting trips !!

" The Navy Arms " Hawken Hunter " was a pet project of Mr. Val Forgett, the late founder of the company. It was designed to use Minie type bullets with huge powder charges, and was personally used by Mr. Forgett to take elephant, cape buffalo, hippo and other large game in Africa. The power charge used was 175 gr. 3FG, with a (.58 cal ) 610 gr. minie bullet. " "

PAPI

Thanks chaps. Am going to take another look at a .54.

I have hunted out of Addo a couple of times with my Sharps. I am curious as to what you use for black powder and its availability there.

Sharpsguy, we get regular blackpowder as well as a powder called Sannadex. I have never used this powder but others who have, swear by it.

I tried some of the Sannadex as a test the last time I was over--last October--and didn't care for it. My PH tried to find some blackpowder, but was unable to.

I needed to load a few rounds with a field kit for a DVD, but the Sannadex served that purpose.

I like reading books by the old African hunters and them describing their "light" rifles 10 BORES. I have seen a number of feral hogs and other animals shot with the .50 and round balls and the results were not good.

Sharpsguy, I will speak to a few of my buddies today and find out more about the availability of blackpowder. Will let you know later. Have not used the stuff in a couple of years.

p.s. A very useful guy to come into contact with is Gavin Margrate of www.bushbucktrading.co.za. He knows alot more than most and makes handmade goodies for blackpowder hunters/shooters.

I did a South Africa muzz hunt a few years back and took 11 animals here's a link to my report.

Muzz. RSA

You might try asking on whitesmoke.co.za who could probably help.

Yes, Willem and the folks at whitesmoke are good people.

Killed a kudu and red hartebeest in Namibia last week with my Encore. Penetration on kudu with Shockwave 250 was broken scapula, broken rib, through entire chest cavity, chipped offside rib and 90% though offside shoulder. 80 yards.



Shot Hbeest at 90 yards hard quartering to right in shoulder. Bullet to offside hip...

I let one of the PH's shoot the gun as he had never seen one. Just leaning on truck he shot a 2" group at 160 yards and was just amazed. I bought some kind of Spanish primers and had my Blackhorn 209 shipped over to a dealer with license in WDH.

Tim, congratulations! Lovely Kudu. What was the load?

In a .50 I'd order a GM barrel and shoot heavy conicals. If you want a PRB I'd shoot a .54 or .58. I'm sure a .50 with PRB would work but I like to err on the side of caution.

Ok -- I'll bite ------what is a "PRB" ????

patched round ball

I shot 120 gr of Blackhorn 209, 250 gr Shockwave bullet with some kind of Spanish primer I picked up in Namibia. I usually shoot the standard Winchester 209 primers. Have killed a bunch of elk, 2 moose, a caribou, plenty of deer and these African animals with it...Penetration is always very good, and rarely have any f the animals gone more than 40 yards. It is a very accurate load, and I don't have to change loads depending on animal. I am actually contemplating taking it along on my brown bear hunt this fall...

Excellent Kudu Tim..!!!!
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Based on a combination of my experience in Africa, and my experience taking medium sized game here in the states, I'm going to offer the following:
A .50 PRB is quite sufficient for Plains game...PROVIDING a hunter recognizes the self-imposed limitation of that choice. Careful stalks, and PATIENTLY waiting for an ideal set-up will work just fine. Problems come when time pressure is added to the equation. You're only there for a week, your guide wants you to score, YOU want to score. Takes a LOT of self-discipline, but it will work just fine IF you can do it. One of my best friends from "back-in-the-day"...in Rhodesia fed his family and farm hands for quite a while with a BRNO .22.