Powder loads for pistols

[Cutfingers]

Is there a site with information regarding powder loads for various pistol calibers? i.e. the best load to start with for hunting, competition, plinking, etc.

 

[mykeal]

Yep. This one. However, it will take a little effort to read through the various archives.

 

[Zonie]

I don't know of a site that has a single table of loads for any and all pistols and for all uses.
The combinations of all of the various sizes and designs would make it a huge pile of data.

Although it lists only 9 different pistols with 63 different tables covering 4 different powders for them, the Lyman BLACK POWDER HANDBOOK AND LOADING MANUAL is a good place to look.

The book can be bought an many different places.

 

[Dphar]

Depends on the pistol.
I used to shot 60 gr from a 66" twist 54 flint with a 8' barrel.
Have shot 70 from a 54 percussion with a 72" twist.
Shoot 40-45 in most short barreled pistols. 54s perc. with fast twists and 6" barrels get real loud with more the about 45.
Revolvers generally shoot best with FFFG with enough powder to allow a ball to be seated flush with the cyl face with just a little compression.

Dan

 

[mykeal]

Revolvers generally shoot best with FFFG with enough powder to allow a ball to be seated flush with the cyl face with just a little compression.

Well, no, I don't think so. Maybe yours do, but every one of my c&b revolvers is more accurate with less than a full chamber of powder. The amount varies, of course, but in no case is a full chamber the best load.

I do agree that seating the ball near the chamber mouth is beneficial, but it should be done with corn meal or other inert filler material on top of the most accurate bp load.

Zonie's suggestion about Lyman's book is an excellent one. I should have thought of it myself, as I refer to mine frequently. It's where I keep my notes.

 

[rebel727]

My .44 revolvers shoot mighty dang good with 35 grs. of powder.

 

[peter]

I use 22-24 grains of fff in my remington new model army 44. At 20 gr it shoots too low, and 25 gives a stout recoil, lots of noise and too much fouling for the cylinder to turn on its own.

 

[Rebel]

I use 40 grs of Pyrodex P in my Remmy with a Wonder Wad and ball. I can fire about 3-4 cylinders full before the cylinder starts to bind from the fouling.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

mine ('58 Remmy)shoots tightest groups by a slight amount with a .357 mag caseful (about 25 grs.)of 3F then 3-1/16th thick felts then slug seated with a little compression. but I generally use max charges to practice with. I like the recoil.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Small framed revolvers (Colt 1860 Army) get a starting charge of 20 grains, then we work 'em up to 25. Medium framed revolvers (1858 New Model Army) the starting load is 25 grains, then we work them up to 30-35 depending upon barrel length (I.E. 12" Buffalo barrel). The large framed Colts start at 35 grains and get worked-up to 50 grains as in the case of my Walker. The Dragoons tend to like 40-45 grains, but the BIG Walker's cylinder has more depth to it and will hold up to 60 grains and a ball without a wonder-wad. I always use a wonder-wad underneath the ball...it keeps the fouling soft and helps to tighten my groups.

Hope that this helps & Happy New Year!

Dave