Manual

100 YARD VELOCITY

Measured in feet per second, this number gives the speed of the projectile at 100 yards.

An interesting comparison between projectiles can be noted by figuring the percentage of

velocity each projectile retained at 100 yards.

Example: CVA St. Louis Hawken

Muzzle 100 Yard Velocity Velocity

Projectile Velocity Velocity Lost Lost

300 GR Buckslayer™ Bullet 1515 1212 303 20%

177 GR Round Ball 1712 959 753 44%

It is easily noted that the Buckslayer™ Bullet loses only 20 percent of its velocity in the

first 100 yards while the round ball loses more than double that percentage.

MUZZLE ENERGY

Measured in foot pounds, is a measure of force carried by the bullet or projectile at the

moment it leaves the barrel. Energy retention is a relationship between muzzle energy and

energy at a given distance.

100 YARD ENERGY

Also measured in foot pounds. This number is important to big-game hunters. A rule

many big-game hunters live by is that deer-size game requires at least 500 foot pounds of

energy delivered by the bullet (or projectile) for an efficient harvest. Referring to the data on

the .50 caliber St. Louis Hawken; the patched round ball has 959 foot pounds of energy at the

muzzle, but only 362 foot pounds of energy at 100 yards. From this data, most hunters would

properly assume that the maximum effective range of a patched round ball with 90 gr FFg

blackpowder fired from a St. Louis Hawken .50 caliber rifle to be somewhat less than 100

yards, probably in the 65-75 yard range.

For elk size game, the rule is 1,000 foot pounds of energy for effective harvest. Referring

to the table for the St. Louis Hawken .50 caliber rifle, using the 300 grain CVA Buckslayer™

Bullet, 90 grain FFg Blackpowder, we find 979 foot pounds of energy at 100 yards. From this

table we can surmise that the maximum effective range is slightly less than 100 yards. Refer-

ring to the .54 caliber St. Louis Hawken, firing a 375 grain Buckslayer™ Bullet, with 100 grains

FFg blackpowder on the following page we can see the 100 yard energy to be 1168 foot

pounds, plenty for elk.

50 YARD AVERAGE GROUP

This number shows the center to center measurements for the best three shot group

fired from a given gun with a specific powder/projectile combination. Three sequences of three

shot groups were fired with each combination. The best reproducible group is listed. For ex-

ample, if the three test groups yielded results of 1.5 inch, 1.7 inch and 1.8 inch, the 1.5 inch

group would be recorded. However, if the three test groups yield results of 1.5 inch, 3.0 inch

and 2.5 inch, the groups would be re-shot. Our testing allowed for only half-inch variation

between “best group” and “average group”.