1845 Harpers Ferry How much powder?

[freeborn5]

I have recently purchased a 1845 Harpers Ferry smooth boar percussion cap. It is a Reproduction. So it is brand new.

At the store they checked the caliber with a tool and it read 62. I purchased online from “www.trackofthewolf.com” a ball of .600 ( I imagine that is a 60 cal ball) and a recommended patch (lubed)


So I got the Ball the patch and the powder. I have read that you should not go over 100 grains so what would an optimum measure be 50 grains?

 

[jsn]

I would say about 85 grains would be about correct but ive heard of as little as 55gr used with them too...... just wourk within the range an try out loads, see what works best. good luck!

 

[J.D.]

I suspect that ball dia will load fairly tight with a .010 patch, so I would try a .590 or .595 ball and use a thicker patch.

As to powder charge, you might begin at about 60 gr and work up to a charge that will shoot well. IMHO, anything over about 80-90 gr is probably overkill.

 

[satwel]

In my .62 smoothbore, I have found this combination to shoot the best:

.590 ball, .015 lubed patch, 70 grains of Goex 2F. Just as J.D. stated, a .60 ball and a .010 patch was too tight. I can start the .590 ball and .015 patch into the muzzle with a little thumb pressure. I found 2F works much better than 3F.

BTW, mine is a flintlock.

 

[varsity07840]

I'm a bit puzzled by the bore size. A Harpers Ferry or Springfield musket (Model 1842) should be .69 cal. The 1845 date is not the model. It represents the year it was manufactured. Is this by any chance a musket from Loyalist Arms?

Duane