Newby Flintlock questions

Flintlock Time!

I’ve been collecting Milsurps for years and mainly interested in BP Cartridge rifles.

Due to several factors (primer scarcity, Brass availability, etc.) I decided to look into ML’s. I already have several caplocks and the primer problem still exists, so flintlock it must be…. (Never owned one before). Anyway I have picked up an early Pedersoli Kentucky BP Pistol marked “Replica Arms Inc. Marietta Ohio” and “Pedersoli .44 cal. XXV”
The gun is in very nice condition but the frizzen will need to be rehardened. (I can handle that). My questions are what diameter ball, patch and charge should I use? I never had much luck using a ball puller so I would rather not drive one into the bore and pull it with a screw.. One recommendation I found was for a .435 ball and a .001 patch. (.001? isn’t that about the thickness of a cigarette paper?)

Perhaps a mis-type. Try 0.010" Works well for most of my flinters.

.430 or .435 with 0.01 or 0.015 patch. Depends on depth of rifling, what gives good accuracy and how hard you're comfortable pushing the ball.

Don't worry about a tight fit. If you can seat it, it will shoot out. However, with a pistol you will want an easy to load fit. X-perfect accuracy is not to be expected with a pistol, especially when shooting offhand, and, to the best of my knowledge, there are no bench rest pistol matches.

Word of caution loading single-shot M/L pistols - "loading stands" (the type that holds the pistol upright) can place undue pressure on the wrist of single-shot sidelock pistols if you "hammer" or really forcibly seat a ball/load while the pistol is in the stand. This can crack the stock, especially in straight-grained wood. You've selected a great pistol to start with, so have fun!!