New Pietta 1858 Army Bison .44

[Rebel]

Yea, you have to work up a load. One thing that does seem to help accuracy is uniform pressure on the loading lever when seating the ball.

 

[Zonie]

Well, I'm not Rebel, but your right.
Each pistol will have a load it likes better than the other loads.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why everybody keeps wanting to load these black powder pistols (and rifles) up to some kind of maximum load.
They work just fine with a chamber filled to about 1/4-5/16 from the mouth of the chamber before the ball is rammed down tight so, try several different loads and see what happens.

zonie

 

[Rebel]

Mine shoots the best with those heavy loads for some reason. Other people with the same gun may find a different load works best in theirs.

 

[mykeal]

I don't know how much powder you can stuff in the chambers as I've never done it.

My method for finding the best load is to start low and work up, and when the groups start to expand, I go back to the one that shot the best group. I've never had to go to max load on any bp revolver to find that best group.

That's not to say I've never shot a max load, but I don't do it very often, and have not done it with my Remington.

I suppose you could start with the max load and work your way down, I've just never considered doing it that way. Why beat yourself and the gun up with something that produces sub-optimum results?

 

[faw3]

Also to add to the fun you'l find not all chambers in a cyl are the same, some shoot different than the others. have fun with it. Fred :hatsoff:

 

[rebel727]

Well, I'm not Rebel, but your right.
Each pistol will have a load it likes better than the other loads.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why everybody keeps wanting to load these black powder pistols (and rifles) up to some kind of maximum load.
They work just fine with a chamber filled to about 1/4-5/16 from the mouth of the chamber before the ball is rammed down tight so, try several different loads and see what happens.

zonie

I like the recoil and the bang. Mine don't really seem to have a preference for one load over another but then I'm not going to shoot a load less than 35 grs. out of a .44. Anything less has no recoil and sounds like a firecracker in a water pipe.

 

[rebel727]

I'd suggest a .454 ball. A .451 won't shave any lead with any of my revolvers(two Piettas and a Rigarmi).

 

[Rebel]

I read something by a guy on another sight that is Supposed to be someone who knows about BP revolver. He said that he chamfers the end of each chamber to get the sharp edge off so that they don't shave the ring of lead. He says it improves his accuracy, the theory being the rd. balls will be more uniform in size and weight. The chambers don't shave exactly the same amout off so it does make sense.Not sure if it will but i did it to mine today. The ball still loads tight but no ring of lead. Tommorow i will probably get out to see if it shoots any different. It might make it easier to load conicals too, don't know since i don't have any to try in it.

 

[No Grease]

The idea of chamfering the cylinder is intriguing. I will wait and see how your experiment goes. Good luck and happy shooting. :thumbsup:

 

[mykeal]

...I suppose you could start with the max load and work your way down, I've just never considered doing it that way. Why beat yourself and the gun up with something that produces sub-optimum results?

Well, I'm not Rebel, but your right.
Each pistol will have a load it likes better than the other loads.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why everybody keeps wanting to load these black powder pistols (and rifles) up to some kind of maximum load.
They work just fine with a chamber filled to about 1/4-5/16 from the mouth of the chamber before the ball is rammed down tight so, try several different loads and see what happens.

zonie

I like the recoil and the bang. Mine don't really seem to have a preference for one load over another but then I'm not going to shoot a load less than 35 grs. out of a .44. Anything less has no recoil and sounds like a firecracker in a water pipe.

Well, I guess that answers my question (and Zonie's). The key is to enjoy what you are doing - Zonie and I like to optimize the gun's performance (which, in my case, is somewhat beyond my own performance), and rebel likes the sight and sound of the experience. Nothing wrong with that. We all like to go out and make smoke!

 

[fgarnold]

I have to agree with you Mykeal. As long as everyone stays safe and has fun, that's what counts. I will probably start out with a light charge and work my way up till I find the load that best works for the revolver. Now that I have some ideas on the correct way to load these things (thanks to you folks) I'm sure I will enjoy myself to no end. Had to order the powder off the web cause no one around here stocks "P" blackpowder. Can't wait to get it.
Thanks again for all of your help. Maybe someday I can return the favor.
Fred

 

[Blizzard of '93]

if you want some power outta that 12"er load a .32acp case of 4F first then top off with 3F, then a lubed conical slug. I make mine using a Lee mold. definitely has some recoil, I'm hoping to chrono sometime. energy has to be in .357 mag territory.

 

[fgarnold]

Hi Blizzard,
Where can you order conicals for .44? For some reason selection of componets for BP pistols are really slim around here. We have a Gander MTN., Bass Pro Shops and Dick's within a 50 mile radius, but no one carries much for revolvers but tons of stuff for rifles. I'll have to try your recomendation for that load, sounds interesting.
Thanks,
Fred

 

[bosipipes]

try these
cabela's

 

[Blizzard of '93]

they oughta shoot dern good for that price. I'm tempted to start selling my Lee conicals I throw. I also just lately got a .45 REAL mold and have shot some they have real potential and are 200 gr.

 

[fgarnold]

O.K. this leads me to another question. If you use conicals, do you use wads or just conical against the powder with lube at the cyl. entrence over the conical?
Fred

 

[Rebel]

You can still use a wad if you like but don't need one, and they do take up some of the room for powder. They are lubed in the grease grovves so you don't need grease over them either. I would like to have a few of the Lee conicals to try out in my Pietta to see how they work before buying a mould, but don't know anyone around here that shoots them to get some from.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

the Lee conical slugs have a reduced diameter heel for easy loading, at 220 grs have good deal more wallop than RB. I cast for my '58 Rem and ROA which uses a slightly larger dia. slug. be glad to send some out for you to try. just reimburse shipping.

 

[fgarnold]

These conicals sound interesting. Next time I order from Cabela's, I think I'll order a box of them. Is there another source for these besides Cabela's? I probably won't recieve the powder from them till late this week. It's killing me, I want to shoot this new revolver. Went out back this afternoon and shot the Henry .44. What a riot!!! Can't wait to hunt deer with it this year.
Fred

 

[Blizzard of '93]

Fred send me PM, I'll get some Lee conicals from my mold out to ya if you pay shpg(parcel post is reasonable). I've read good reports of the Buffalo 'ballets' BTW.