Suggested ball and powder charge for Charleville flintlock Pistol

[rdungan1918]

Recently acquired Charleville flintlock Pistol. It was labeled as 71 caliber. My brass bore guage says 70 caliber, suggested starting ball size? So far I have only been able to get 3f powder, suggested starting load?

 

[bang]

.690 ball. 0.010-0.015 patch. 30-35gns. FFF is ok.

 

[rickystl]

I've always had a soft spot for these large bore flint pistols. For a smooth bore, you want to use a ball size 2-3 calibers smaller than your nominal bore size. So assuming the .70 is accurate, you will likely want a ball size between .670 and .680. The 10-15 thousand patching should work.
TOTW has pre-caste balls in both .675 and .678 in stock. In these big bore flint pistols I've found a good load is about 35-grains of FFG for the barrel and FFFG for the pan. But your FFFG for the bore will work. Try about 30-grains to start.
These pistols are not accurate past about 15-yards. But that is all they were originally made for anyway. Start at 7-yards.

Rick

 

[Rifleman1776]

Follow advice previously given. Do not overdue it with a pistol.

 

[hrt4me]

how much FFFg for the pan?