Initial load for a .62 cal, 1-66 twist, 42" barrel

[Richard Brinkman]

Yep! One that leaves the ball stuck in the barrel.

 

[Dr5x]

Thank you, Roundball.,
I remember it as a bit larger than that but was amazed because, firing all day at the range I was totally unaware of all that excitement coming out of the barrel.

Dutch

 

[majg1234]

My 58 cal TVM with a Rice round bottem barrel likes 120gr Ffg Goex,felt wad over powder,018 ticking on a hand cast 562 ball

 

[nwtradegun]

should be using 600 or 610 rd ball. and 25 - 18 th patch.

 

[Dphar]

The Davenport formula is just a formula and will not give the most accurate or probably even the most useful load. It may determine the point of diminishing returns but it would be a fluke if it was the most accurate load. It loads my 30" barreled 67 caliber too light for hunting where I live.
I would start with 100 gr of FF since I hate low velocity loads. This is close to 30% of ball weight about right for heavier calibers giving something in a 1600-1700 fps range and a flat trajectory to 120 yards or so. HOWEVER, there was a reason why there were few Kentucky's that used this large ball size, they use too much powder and lead for the American Colonist with not real benefit and they make a lot of recoil with useful loads.
You will likely find happiness somewhere between 90 to 120 gr.

Dan

 

[matt denison]

The Davenport formula is just a formula and will not give the most accurate or probably even the most useful load. It may determine the point of diminishing returns but it would be a fluke if it was the most accurate load. It loads my 30" barreled 67 caliber too light for hunting where I live.
I would start with 100 gr of FF since I hate low velocity loads. This is close to 30% of ball weight about right for heavier calibers giving something in a 1600-1700 fps range and a flat trajectory to 120 yards or so. HOWEVER, there was a reason why there were few Kentucky's that used this large ball size, they use too much powder and lead for the American Colonist with not real benefit and they make a lot of recoil with useful loads.
You will likely find happiness somewhere between 90 to 120 gr.

Dan

I always get a kick out of the guys that try to find the best load for their gun from a formula or from a book/web page.

I do believe in starting with a light load and work your way up like billnpatti says. Who knows what your gun will like and why burn all that powder if it is unecessary, 'specially with a 325 gr. projectile that will begin to kick like a mule at around 90 grains of powder (experience talking here..) If you absolutely HAVE to use 120 gr. to get a tight group then your five-shot-groups will tell you, nothing else. OTOH unless you're a young guy and recoil tollerent then I'd be looking for alternitive methods of getting accuracy from that gun or plan B - sell it or trade it 'cause that much recoil isn't much fun anymore.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I always get a kick out of the guys that try to find the best load for their gun from a formula or from a book/web page.

That is part of the mindset that comes when one switches from modern firearms to our flavor of insanity.

 

[roundball]

U

My 58 cal TVM with a Rice round bottem barrel likes 120gr Ffg Goex,felt wad over powder,018 ticking on a hand cast 562 ball

Mine loves 120grns Goex 2F

 

[Grumpa]

That's a nice group! And I like the sticker you made up (?), just circle the appropriate figures and all your info is right there.

 

[roundball]

Made sheets of them up for all my calibers & gauges using a box of Avery Address labels from an office supply store.
Got one laid out the way I wanted then copied/pasted/saved it to each other caliber / gauge file name.
Then just changed the things that were different for each different one like the caliber headings, ball diameters, etc.

 

[nathan.davis]

I like the idea and I envy the group.