.58cal Pet Loads?

[roundball]

I have a .58cal X 1:70" round ball Flint barrel on it's way...will be using Hornady / Speer .570 balls with Goex FFFg target & hunting loads similar to my .54cal loads. Would appreciate hearing about other possible .58cal flintlock loads

 

[musketman]

The Lyman Great Big Book of Everything (muzzleloader's handbook) has said loads for you...

Conditions...

Barrel Length: 28 inches
Rate-of-Twist: 1 in 72 inches
Projectile: .560 round ball
Patch: .015 pillow tick
Lube: Crisco
Powder: G-O FFg
Ignition: Musket Caps (FFFFg for flint locks)

50 grains FFg = 814 fps.
60 grains FFg = 906 fps.
70 grains FFg = 998 fps.
80 grains FFg = 1090 fps.
90 grains FFg = 1153 fps.
100 grains FFg = 1215 fps.
110 grains FFg = 1269 fps.
120 grains FFg = 1322 fps.
130 grains FFg = 1379 fps.
140 grains FFg = 1436 fps.
150 grains FFg = 1494 fps.
160 grains FFg = 1552 fps.
170 grains FFg = 1605 fps.
180 grains FFg = 1658 fps.
190 grains FFg = 1713 fps.

 

My .58 Hawken with Large barrel preferred 140FFG with .575 ball .018 patch for 100yds. 200yds. took more powder to maintain accuracy to that range, holding 5"-8" groups using 180gr. FFG. same ball and patch.
: Although it had a slow twist, the #575213OS with the base plug truned for thicker base shot well to 150gr. 2F and ran 480gr. @ 1,520fps. I used beeswax/vaseline for lube on the sides of the bullet only. 60%beeswax/40%vaseline. this load kicked a bit in the 10lb. rifle.
Daryl

 

[musketman]

My .58 Zouave likes 110 FFg under the 505 grain minie-ball, lubed with alox...

I can hit a small 5x7 target with it at 110 yards...

 

I also had a Zouave (so long ago, it seems) that also liked the .575213OS, thick skirt with right on up to 150gr. It was very accurate as well. I never had any real luck with alox thou as it fouled up after a few shots. The beeswax/vaseline is really a tremendous lube for BP ctgs. and ML's. You really should try it. It's the only lube that would allow shooting all day with paper patched[url] ctgs.in[/url] the Sharps .45 and .50. Wax paper disk over powder, then ball of lube, then .200 wad, then PP bullet, (bore size w/paper) That's .451 and .501 AFTER the paper is applied, just like many original Sharps ctgs. were loaded. The Patched bullet can be pushed down the barrel with rifling marks visible on the patch. This stops breech fouling that prevents you from loading subsequent rounds & shoots as well as grouve dia. loads.(70gr. powder and over) Bullets HAVE to be pure or very nearly so. A 1:40 mix tin to lead is OK - generally.
Daryl

 

[roundball]

In a .54cal percussion I have, 140grns of FFg with a 230grn ball is very accurate & devastating...I suspect the 278grn .58cal ball will be the same with a strong powder charge like that too

 

Er, ah, You mean 140 to 180 grains of powder????? :shocking:
Isn't that a bit stout?
Musketman. I don't follow the old Lyman Black Powder manual anymore.
The powder they used for the original edition is the old
G-O and even some C&H. That powder is not at all the same as we have today.
Yes I know G-O became Goex, but Goex is better and improved over the old G-O and todays Elephant is nothing like the old Elephant was.
Actually I think Elephant is a bit better powder than Goex, but the best is Swiss, but not for a .58 unless I go to 1.5fg and I might.

 

The chronographing I've done with powders from 1976 till now, shows very little difference between the old G-O and the new GOEX. What does seem to be happening, is the newer powder is dirtier, but has less actual dust in the can. Regardless, it still isn't necessary to clean between shots. I could add here that my favourite .58 loads in the Hawken I had was 140gr. GOEX 2F and 160gr. C&H2F. With the thickskirted (modified Lyman Moulds) minies I also used up to 140gr. GOEX2F. This was a heavy rifle - 1 1/8" X 36" bl. Told you, I was stronger in those days. Now, 7 to 9 lbs. seems about right. That old rifle probably went a good 12 - just like many originals still in possession. 140gr. 2F + 600 gr. minie kicked pretty good, too, narrow butt and all.
Daryl