Historical loads?

[roundball]

If the ball is from soft lead, you may see faint patterns of the weave of the cloth patch impressed into the lead.

And if the ball patch combo is tight enough you will see the above described markings just from seating the ball.

Yes, now I have occasionally seen where the lands have pressed the weave into the lead

 

[Wes/Tex]

As many of your answers here state, it's tough to give you a straight answer. One thing I've noticed is that the few surviving powder measures that "appear" to be genuine parts of a set with pouches, etc., are no larger than the bore size in grains. This would be 50 grains in a .50, 45 grains in a .45, etc. This is a general statement, at best, and can't be taken as fact. We must also take into account that game was found in larger number and was less 'gun-shy' than today.

 

[pmwest]

Robert’s book “The Muzzleloading Cap-Lock Rifle” gives a formula for “old” round ball rifles as 3 grains of powder for every 7 grains of bullet weight. He also mentions that the formula gives roughly the same measure as the old cover the ball in the palm trick. By the numbers the charge for a 50 caliber would be 76 grains. Historically, the rifle would have come from the maker supplied with the “correct” powder measure along with a recommendation for brand and granulation of powder.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Just has alot to do with the quality of the burning characteristics of the powder of old vrs the powder we get today, there is a vast difference.

Lead as well as powder was a precious comodity back in the day, no more powder than was needed for a clean kill and recover the ball if possible.

 

[jdstrang]

I shoot a squib load of 42 gr in my .54 as well as a normal hunting load of twice that and the lighter load is accurate, but I'd sure feel undergunned going after a deer with it.

Just for snits and giggles sometime when all the stumps in range are dead, you might want to try a penetration test of this "squib load" on one-inch pine boards at 25 yards or so, set up with a one-inch space between each. Might be enlightening. :shocked2:

I don't know about roundballs, but I know 42 grains of 3f under a 54 minie will go through the wide side of a 2x4 like a paycar passin' a hobo, with plenty to spare.