Seneca 45 - what do you like to shoot in yours?

[alan in ga]

After oh,...I guess 36 years I now once again own a T/C Seneca 45. I bought a like new used Seneca back about 1977 as well as a T/C Hawken 45. both were sold off after a few years of not much use.
A few weeks ago I found a dozen or so in a gun store, most showing use marks and/or missing part or two. I was told this batch of Senecas had been stored for years after being used for instructional classes by the Georgia DNR. When this local gun store put a bunch out for sale an early shopper purchased a dozen! A few more were put out a couple weeks ago and after closely studying all of them I bought two. The one missing a hammer was equipped with a new hammer I found at another location for $30.
I have both 'CLEAN' and 'CLEAR' shot powder at present and enjoy shooting patched round ball.
What are you loading your Seneca with? I may take one of these deer hunting this fall if I can stay away from bow hunting long enough. Been only bow hunting for about 7 years and very succesfully I might add, but the LURE of toting one of these little Senecas is pretty strong. I'm not against loading a conical so add any of those suggestions you might want to as well.
Thanks!
PS- thought about lathe cutting/crowning one of these for my 9 year old grandson but it may be better to just get him used to toting it as is!

[gunner69]

I shoot round ball with70 grains of powder,  and I also shoot maxiball with 70 grains of powder.   For target shooting I usually use around 50 grains of powder.   Either one of those 70gr loads will take a deer.

[alan in ga]

FF ? Ever use FFF?

[Winter Hawk]

70 grains of FFFG Goex behind a patched .440 round ball in my flintlock Deer Creek Rifle.  If I need more thump I can go to the same charge behind a 250 grain Lee R.E.A.L. bullet.  For small game I'll drop down to 50 grains (and the round ball, of course).

-WH-

[nw_hunter]

FF ? Ever use FFF?

I wouldn't alter the Seneca. They are getting to hard to come by. Pick up a nice little traditions or CVA for your Grand Son and cut away I only use FFF anymore in all my guns. Just remember that you use less to get the same results with triple instead of double. About 10% due to the finer grain. The sweet spot varies with different rifles.

[alan in ga]

What differences do you notice between FF and FFF? More efficient burn with FFF, but more fouling [less?]?
Seems as though when it comes to 45s, the field is split between those that use FF or FFF. Mostly FF for larger than 45 I see.

[pastorp]

Alan,

I've used FFF black in all my muzzle loaders. Never owned a 45 but I've used it in 50, 54, & 58. It worked well in them all. I figured why fix something that worked very well.

While I never owned a 45 I do use it in a 36 colt navy as well.

Regards,

[nw_hunter]

What differences do you notice between FF and FFF? More efficient burn with FFF, but more fouling [less?]?
Seems as though when it comes to 45s, the field is split between those that use FF or FFF. Mostly FF for larger than 45 I see.

Softer......Less fouling I would say. Quick burn. Never have a Ka-Pow. Just Pow. Easier to clean between shots. (I seldom do)
I have heard some comp. target shooters say they get better groups with 2F in their larger bore rifles, but I haven't been able to tell the difference in mine. "But" I'm a hit the pie plate at 100 yds good to go kind of shooter. For a guy with shaky hands and a bad eye, it's as good as it gets