buck and ball load

[Don]

Hi Gents,

I have a New Orleans Ace that is smooth bored and pretty unpredictable as far as to where it will place a ball vertically on a target. Near as I can tell windage is good. I've been thinkin about loading it with shot or a buck and ball arrangement but I'm not sure of the best or safest way to do it. My first thought was powder-wad-shot then another wad. Sounds good but will the top wad become an obstruction and create a dangerous situation? Let me know what you think.

Don

 

[Russianblood]

You just described a standard shot gun loading. Powder, overshot card, cushion wad (optional), shot and overshot card.

If I remember correctly, the New Orlean Ace is only .36 caliber. You may have to use "old fashion" wadding such as Flax or Hornet's nest for wadding. BB size lead shot would make a nice plinking load out of a pistol.

 

[Don]

It's accually a .44 cal pistol. So the arrangment I discribed is safe?

Don

 

[Russianblood]

It's accually a .44 cal pistol. So the arrangment I discribed is safe?

Don

Yes, it's perfectly safe if the powder charge and shot weight are appropriate. With a .44 you can use the felt OxYoke Wonderwads designed for Cap -n- Ball revolvers as both overpowder and overshot wads. 1/2 oz shot should be a good shot load in front of 30gr 3f black powder

 

[Toomuch_36]

The New Orleans "Ace" will have that vertical string due to the shape of the grip.
The "Ace" was only ever very accurate (as the name suggest) in the 3 to 4 feet from one side of the card table to the other.

Toomuch
...........
Shoot Flint

 

[WV_Hillbilly]

Don,

I don't want this to sound discourteous--as I am merely trying to understand and help out. The New Orleans Ace pistol "is what it is"... and by that I mean, do you think you might be expecting "too much" from it...?

As noted, it is very effective at the typically short distances at the poker table. It is not a target gun, nor will it ever be. That said, if you are wanting to use it as a hiking companion for snakes or possible "other vermin", then maybe some other weapon design would be more suitable???

You still might be very disappointed with it's performance. The bore of these guns are generally rough and wear many tooling marks. IF you want better results, you should lap the barrel until it is smooth. It will make a difference with both single patched ball and shot loads. But it's still a point & shoot close range proposition.

Again please forgive me if I came across as being overbearing.

Shoot Safely!
WV_Hillbilly

 

[Don]

WV Hillbilly,

Your not being discourtious at all in fact you sound like you've owned one of these pistols and are being realistic. I own several BP derringers and I like tinkering and experamenting with loads. I don't expect any performance beyond a couple of yards I was just curious if anyone else had played with this particular pistol and used shot loads. I can put patched ball through 1 inch boards with this pistol reliably so I know it can be a dangerous little piece under the right circumstances. Thanks to all for their feedback.

Don

 

[Old Charlie]

I have this little derringer and loaded it with #6 shot and 15 grains of t7. It did pretty good. I think I would have a shot at hiting a snake with it.
Old Charlie

 

[Toomuch_36]

I have this little derringer and loaded it with #6 shot and 15 grains of t7. It did pretty good. I think I would have a shot at hiting a snake with it.
Old Charlie

The one difference (though not much with the 2" barrel) is the Ace is a smooth bore and the Philladelphia Derringer is usually a rifled barrel.

Toomuch
.........
Shoot Flint