1851 colt .44 brass frame

[awc]

can somebody recommend a good load for a brass framed peiatta .44 1851.don't want to beat it up just a good safe load,will be using .454 balls.i can use black powder,pyrodex.app,or 777.thanks

 

[pargent]

20-24 grns 3f and round ball, and a straight shooting load as well

 

[TFoley]

can somebody recommend a good load for a brass framed peiatta .44 1851.don't want to beat it up just a good safe load,will be using .454 balls.i can use black powder,pyrodex.app,or 777.thanks

I went to a gunsmith outside London in 1975 to 'advise' a pal on his first BP revolver. He lit up at the sight of a brass-framed .44 [being military, brass cleaning was second nature].

He still shoots it with precisely 22gr of 3fg - the real stuuf - NOT a sub - and it still feels like a new gun.

Trying to make a brass-framed pistol behave like a hopped-up Automag is the killer.

Keep loads easy and it will be a gun you can give your grandson or daughter.

 

[cynthialee]

My load for the .44 brass '1851' is 22 grains of 3F goex some over powder corn meal and a .454 round ball.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Mine was always 18 grains with a felt wad, under the .454 ball.

LD

 

[bpd303]

Mine is right in the middle 20gr fffg goex & felt wad.

 

[crockett]

I think some of the combustible cartridges for the 44 Army used 17 grains of powder. The point being that 17 grains should NOT be looked at as a "target" load. 18 grains and a felt wad- that sounds pretty good to me. If you get better accuracy with another grain or two- that ought to be okay. I know one guy that stayed away from heavy loads and after 25,000 rounds (he claims) the frame is as tight as when new. Now his claim of 25,000 rounds- that's a lot of rounds out of any gun but in any event treat a brass frame with love and it should stay tight.

 

[Poor Private]

Seems like the consenses are all about the same. 20-26grns. of fffg black powder. I agree with all of ya.

 

[pargent]

Keep it in that 18- 24 grn range and both my pietas take 451 balls so try them as well as that will cut the pressure a little . (a slightly thinner sealing surface band )