Various Grains for Various Loads

[Marc Adamchek]

I got in trouble awhile back for not wording my question correctly on another forum, so I'll just ask it straight out here. I notice various guys like various loads for different Cap'n Ball revolvers, like 17 grs, 24 grs, 26 grs, 38 grs, etc.

How do you fellows get such a precise measuring of grains? Do you craft a measure that will always hold a certain amount and NEVER any other amount?

This really has me buggin!

 

[nkbj]

Marc,
My favorite if not latest acquisition is a 1858 Remington reworked to use off the shelf .41 caliber molds. I'd love to know how to precisely measure powder without weighing it.

 

[Don]

I have an adjustable volumetric powder measure for my pistols and revolvers. They measure any where between 1 and 30 grains of powder. It makes it pretty easy to measure out precise loads.

Don

 

[Grenadier1758]

Among the extra accessories I got when I recently bought a pistol was a powder measure that was adjustable from 1 to 30 grains. The only problem was that the marking on the rod were going the wrong way. At an indicated 30 grains, the adjustment rod was at the top of the cylinder to throw 0 grains.

No problem. I drilled and tapped the top of adjustment rod, installed the knurled stop bolt, plugged the old hole and I now have a functioning 0 to 30 grain pistol measure.

I don't know who made the measure, but except for locating the stop knob on the wrong end of the measuring rod, its a real nice measure.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Deer Creek has the revolver powder measure with the 1 grain marks. The one in their picture appears to be assembled correctly.

Deer Creek Revolver Measure

 

[Marc Adamchek]

A HUGE thanks top you Grenadier 1758! I'm ordering one right now.

 

[nkbj]

Went by there today and picked one up.
They also have one with a little swinging funnel on it.

 

[TexasBAD]

FYI - a spent .38 special case will level at 24 to 25 grains of 3f.

 

[smoothshooter]

Thanks Grenadier1758.

I'm going to get two or three of them myself!

 

[smoothshooter]

I wouldn't get too stressed over whether I was shooting 19 grains or 20 grains or 26 or 27 grains.

Black powder is pretty forgiving, and unless you are national championship material, a grain or two one way or the other is of little consequence.
But whichever load(s) you choose, try to be consistent in the way you measure them. No need to weigh them individually.

Adjust charges up or down 3 to 5 grains and more, and changes in point of impact and group sizes often begin showing up.
My percussion revolvers shoot well with almost any reasonable load, but I have been able to find a full-powered and a 60-70% load that shoots well in each of them using lubed wads under the ball. No grease smeared over chamber mouths.

 

[don hepler]

In a revolver, I try to have the amount of powder, then over powder wad, to where the ball comes out to the end of the cylinder, provided that it is a safe and recommended load. That requires a precise measure, for a compressed load. On a reduced load, a filler might have to be added to achieve a compressed load.

Pistols vary from one to another manufacturer, even if designated to be the same model.

Also experimenting with loads, for accuracy, can be a few grains difference.

My measure, has 5 grain increments, which are close enough, from my experience.

 

[nkbj]

Got a medium weight round nose .41 mold for the 1858. And thanks to this topic the measure to fine tune the loads with.
Thank you.