24'' barrel.How much powder?

Was thinking of getting a CVA wolf.Took a trip to the gun shop to pick up supplies,and seen they had a few muzzle loaders...Knights,and CVA.Was thinking I should get a lighter rifle to try out,and when my kids get older(in a few years) I can teach them to shoot.
My question is what do you guys/gals think is to much powder for a short barrel? I read some post's,and reviews...seems a lot of people use 100 grains+.Seems like a lot to me.How much is too much before you start blowing out unburned powder?If I decide to buy it I will take next season for deer,and maybe bear.

Also...off subject.Anybody here own a mosin?Was thinking of buying one of those too.Don't really care about keeping it original.Was looking at a stock conversion,ect...

Thanks.

Cell

cell were you looking at the new wolf?

100gr powder should burn fine. Like with every muzzy, just start it out at a lower charge and work your way up.

I prefer to stick close to recommended powder charges from the manufacturer.

CVA says 100gr loose or 150 pellets are max although i doubt 150gr worth of pellets will get a complete burn. I dont know for sure since i dont use pellets.

My personal preference is start at 80gr loose and work up to no more than 110gr in a CVA. When i hit 100-110gr i look for lighter bullets in the 240-250gr range.

The Wolf with a "magnum" charge and a 300gr+ bullets is going kick quite a bit more but the heavier bullet might help with a complete burn.

Find what shoots well and what YOU enjoy shooting. Almost any good 240-250gr bullet and 100gr should be fine on deer if it shoots well. On bear i would use a Barnes or Lehigh bullet for the added insurance against bullet failure.

My GMB54 is rated upto 120gr of loose with just a 20" barrel. I can only assume the larger bore/bullets helps burn more powder with the efficient Knight breach plug.

If money isnt an issue and you want to shoot really heavy charges, i would look to Knight or Green Mountain. Mine was only $400 and weighs 6lbs. I would bet it could kill any big game with the right bullet and practice.

The new Thompson Center Impact might be worth a look and the stock can be adjusted for length of pull. Its very affordable and should be good quality too.

GM54-120
You will find that your choices of load and bullet weight will affect just what a powder can do for you. If you shoot only relatively short range for both target and hunting that will have an effect also.
With the load range and barrel length you mentioned you can get a complete burn with 777 FFF no problem with 80 or 90 gr Pyrodex P is liable to give good results also.

I agree. Lots of variables come into the equation.

Such as.

My Ovation with a shorter barrel than my Win Apex likes heavier bullets and charges. The barrel length is 24" but its a 1-24 twist. Its a good brush gun and very inexpensive. Proof tested and approved for 150gr loose too, although ive stopped at 130gr BH209. Recoil becomes brutal with this load and 300gr+ bullets but it shoots them great for a brush gun.

I have no doubt it burns heavier charges better than my 29" barrel Win Apex with the 1-28 twist and the same load/brand of powder and a 300gr SST.

My recommendations are based on CVAs. I wont tell someone its ok to exceed factory specs for safety reasons. Since the Wolf is basically a brush gun, i would work up loads accordingly.

I like about 80 grs

I'd definitely call 100 max, but still life can get more difficult at 100 grs (breech plug removal, cleaning, etc)

My wolf seems to like the 80-90 grain area. Shot a few with 100 but didn't see any benift.

Cool,thanks for replies.

I was more interested in not the max load,but most efficient load.Meaning being its a 24 inch barrel I didn't want to waste large(large to me is 80-100 grains) load thinking it won't all burn anyways....so if it doesn't burn it all then its not needed.Least thats my thinking.

FG ,no I think it was the older model.My local shop here is lean on black powder stuff...Those rifles have been there for more than a few years.The Knights they have are pretty nice,but out of my range.The CVA just looked perfect for my stile of hunting.The pursuit is good don't get me wrong,but that Wolf is a lot shorter,and would be easer to hike in the bush with it I would think....we will see,maybe in a few paychecks.


So...no one here shoots a mosin?Lol.

Cell

I can only speak of my own experience. A month ago I was target shooting "down on the farm" The ground was totally snow covered. I took about 20 shots all with 90 grains /v of ffg triple seven, with T-7 primers, through a 24 inch barrel. I saw no residue on the snow so my conclusion that a 24 inch barrel is long enough to get complete combustion of 90 grains of T-7. Or nearly complete as to make any residue insignificant. Just my 2-cents.

Olde NE Hunter
There are so many things that enter into getting a complete burn.
For one thing I am not so sure that it is necessary for an other if the powder is burning when it comes out of the barrel it will burn in the air. The powder that hits the snow from the top of a load was not ignited, when it gets to that point its way to much powder for efficiency and all its doing is adding to the recoil.