1858 .44 starting loads?

[ricky5042]

Hi all
What do you recommend my starting loads should be for my 1858 .44cal revolver?
iv got some FFF black powder and want to work up a load for it, so I need to know where to start and also what is the maximum I should work it up to?
Thanks

Rick

 

[azmntman]

start at 15. If brass stop at 25, if steel stop just before the ball wont seat under the cylinder edge.

 

[ricky5042]

Hi
Thanks mine is a steel frame

Rick

 

[azmntman]

Most accurate load likely be 20ish. Try light loads and if needed cornmeal spacer so ball seats well. Have fun....I love mine, its a shooter.

 

[ricky5042]

Hi
Thanks that was going to be my next question lol
I will start at 20gns and work up from there and il get some semolina to fill it if needed.

Rick

 

[AZbpBurner]

All my .44's, whether Remington or Colt, get best accuracy with 23 gr 3F. I use either lightly greased paper or felt wads between powder and ball.

 

[CKeshen]

Try 15 gr. powder and 20 gr. COW. You might be surprised.

 

[ricky5042]

Thanks guys
I will give all the different loads you have suggested a go and see which perform better
I will be using pre lubed wads and il get a filling media as well
Thanks

Rick

 

[BowerR64]

use a .40 S&W shell, IMO this is the best load using 3F

Get a wire or a brass rod from a hobby store and solder it to the shell and make a little scoop works great with a razor to level it off.

 

[ricky5042]

Hi
Thanks il see if I can find one

 

[aeatwood]

If you can locate some 2F, try it as well. I generally like a full cylinder with just enough room to see a greased felt wad, and room to start the ball in the cylinder w/o interference from the wad. Seat the ball on the wad with FIRM pressure. Not as much as Pyrodex requires, but a good bit more than the "light crunch" needed for 3F.

Make sure you also select a ball diameter that shaves a nice concentric ring of lead from the chamber mouth as the ball is seated.

 

[BowerR64]

If you can locate some 2F, try it as well. I generally like a full cylinder with just enough room to see a greased felt wad, and room to start the ball in the cylinder w/o interference from the wad. Seat the ball on the wad with FIRM pressure. Not as much as Pyrodex requires, but a good bit more than the "light crunch" needed for 3F.

Make sure you also select a ball diameter that shaves a nice concentric ring of lead from the chamber mouth as the ball is seated.

With 2F i use a 45ACP shell, i actually dont mind 2F i go back and forth alot. I think 2F T7 is more accurate then 3F T7 for some reason maybe the larger grains help it pack more consistantly? not sure

 

[ricky5042]

Hi
If I can get some FF powder I will give it a try against the FFF and see how it goes

Rick

 

[Blizzard of '93]

welcome to the handgun section.
a .38spcl casefull of 3f is a good starting/target load.
a .357 casefull is a warm load. a 7.62x39 casefull is a good 'yote hunting load and all mine will take under a conical.

 

[ricky5042]

Hi
Thanks
A friend uses .38-.357 so il ask him for a few shells no one uses the 7.62x39 that I know of but il ask next time at the range

Rick

 

[BowerR64]

Thats what i started with but i soon found out that a .40 and a 45ACP work better because they are short and larger around. This is when i was dipping the powder right from the powder jug.

.40 holds 20g
45acp holds 26g
38 special holds 24g
357 holds 27g

at my range .40 and 45acp are WAY more common then 38 and 357

 

[Mike 56]

For me like others on this thread i shoot my starting loading for my Pietta NMA is the 21-24 grs of fff black powder. If you don't have a powder measure you can buy a plastic funnel set at walmart for about a buck the small funnel in the set works good for loading revolvers and at the dollar store you can buy a measuring spoon set for baking. Using these things along with some shell cases you will have everything you need for load development. Try your wads and filler. My NMA likes 21 grs fff with just powder and 457 balls and a small ring of Crisco around the ball. It might take you a while to find what your gun likes but it is a lot of fun getting there.

 

[TFoley]

start at 15. If brass stop at 25, if steel stop just before the ball wont seat under the cylinder edge.

There's a guy over here in yUK who says that he shoots HIS ROA with 12gr of Swiss #2...I just wonder if if bounces off the paper...........

Problem I have is that this is promoting this ultra-low load [IMO] to a noob, in spite of others giving him loads that start around the 20gr mark and on up. My own favourite is the .357Mag case-full - around 27gr of FFFg.

Maybe this guy needs a .36cal instead of a .44 - my ROA is VERY accurate at this load, one I've been using since around 1986.

tac

 

[ricky5042]

Hi all
I will be starting at 20gns and working up in 5gn increments and when I find one that gives me the best group I will then go either side of it in .2gn and see if I can fine tune it a bit might sound like a lot of work but that's half the fun for me working up loads and getting the best accuracy from my firearms

Rick

 

[TFoley]

Hi all
I will be starting at 20gns and working up in 5gn increments and when I find one that gives me the best group I will then go either side of it in .2gn and see if I can fine tune it a bit might sound like a lot of work but that's half the fun for me working up loads and getting the best accuracy from my firearms

Rick

Sir - 0,2gr will make absolutely no difference at all in the scheme of things where a BP revolver load is concerned.

0.5gr, perhaps, if you have sensitive scientific equipment to detect the difference...

tac