I think lyman manual may have some lds w/smokeless, only one I personally know that shoots a big 50 uses blk w/ pp, I use blk only in my m-68? trapdoor50/70 w/lee 500 gr, pretty much for short range fun, [oem sights]. you could try asking Shiloh about a bullet and where you might pick upsome 'samples', also could try the Shiloh forum, good luck

I'd be prepared to be assaulted on some forums for even considering loading a .50-90 with smokeless powders! Many of the forum members at most sites are pretty set on BP for this caliber.

Quote:

50-90 Bullets
Ideal            515141-450gr
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Ideal            515142 - 515gr
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Not to be redundant - both bullets shot @ 1000yds with blackpowder

That 1:22 twist is quite fast.  My 1:26 twist .50-90 preferred the 698gr Buffalo Arms creedmoor bullet.  With respect to smokeless I have no useful advice. What NuclearCricket told you is good advice.  I have seen the occasional data for smokeless loads, but none with what I would call long range bullets that are optimal in a 1:22 twist.

Chris.

Agree with all it's best served with Black Powder, and real Black is no more difficult to work with than Smokeless powder.

Correct me if I am wrong but  Rifles built for the large caliber long cases were mostly intended for "Express" loads. Light bullets pushed with a case full of black powder. Intended for Game shooting, Higher velocity, longer point blank range, more distance with acceptable game killing, limit inches below and above the sight line


Real long range target rifles  were built on 40 & 45 cases Adequate wind drift ballistics with lighter bullets. And much less recoil.  I can't imagine going through a match course of fire with a 600 -700 gr bullet pushed by 90 grs of Black.

Would the OP be best served with a light 50 bullet ? He did not mention long range. 

Boats

I am sure that with the 22" twist a good 550 to 650 paper patched bullet is gonna shine in that beast. And with that twinst I am pretty sure you could get up around the 700 grain bullets to preform quite well.   
Then again a lot is going to depend on how well the shooter can manage the recoil. 
I remember watching Paul Mathews son shooting a .50 at silhouettes and the recoil didn't seem all that bad. 
Sam

High Noon,
If your planning to shoot Creedmoor matches I think you had better read the rules. I don't think that Double Set Triggers are permitted and that there is a minimum poundage on trigger pull which is around five pounds weight. All rifles for Creedmoor competition have to undergo scrutiny before being passed as competition acceptable.
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I would also support the use of black powder, modern powders (smokeless) really don't provide reliable ignition or a constant muzzle velocity, in large volume cases, which results in poor accuracy.

If you look at any of the old original Sharps rifle catalogues you will see that almost all of the bullets made for sale by Sharps were of paper patch design, very few were offered with grease grooves.

Paper patch bullets leave less BP fouling in the barrel than grease groove bullets and are subsequently easier to clean. Cartridge cases can be tumbled with Walnut Hulls or better still small metal stainless steel rods and there are also a range of ultrasonic cleaners available. It isn't a great cleaning chore.

You may have to experiment with BP loads as different black powders of today give different results than old powders, none of those made back in the late 1800's are available today. However, the original loads of powder and bullet weights are a good place to start and with Black Powder you can't accidentally double charge a round when reloading. 

Harry