Black Powder Loads

[Capt, Woodrow F. Call]

Howdy

Here is my data of blackpowder loads, includes shotgun and cal 50 rifle.

BR

Capt Call

[Noz]

The pistol loads are way under Lyman recommendations. I shoot a lightly loaded 1860 with 454 round balls and load about 35% more that you show.
I shoot a 20 ga and use quite a bit (17%) less powder than you show.

[Capt, Woodrow F. Call]

Yes it is..... This is Pietta loads, i have used it many times, and it work's fine, but it is not that awsome to shoot with.

I use 456 round ball in my 1860. 454 was to small, my gun have get around 3000 rounds, when my gun was new, 454 was perfect,but now i have to use 456, mabye ther's time to get me a new one...i don't now

[Dick Dastardly]

Thanks for the data Capt, Woodrow F. Call.

There are a number of considerations involved in black powder data tables.

1.  Pressure varies between brands at given volumes.

2.  Pressure varies between different granulations.

3.  Guns vary widely in the maximum safe operating pressure they will handle safely.

4.  Volume density varies between brands and batches of the same brand.

In general, loading black powder in firearms in good condition is a very safe and simple procedure.  Each shooter must make his own decision, based on the above factors, on what is safe in his own guns.  All that said, I've personally seen fewer problems with pressure issues from pards loading Holy Black than I've seen with any other powder.  That's a pretty wide statement, but one I feel pretty safe with based on my own experience.

All handloading, including loading Holy Black, is NOT foolproof.  But then, it shouldn't be done by fools.

DD-DLoS

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Cap'n Woodie, Howdy!

Those figures are decent for a start, but VERY conservative. 

The differences in ball size has to be found out by shooting - as you did.  I'm surprised, 'tho.  MOST Colt replicas shoot fine with .451" and Remingtons with .454". and Rugers with .457".  I've settled on .454" in my Colts and Remmie.  Again, these are recommendations, NOT rules.  As are the powder figures.

The granulations are pretty straight forward, but I have used 3f successfully in 38 S&W, 45 S&W (Schofield), 45 Colt, 36 cal. C&B, 44 cal. C&B, 44 Russian blanks, 45-70 and 12 ga.!  Also, I've loaded successfully ALL those with 2f powder.  I PREFER 2f for 12 Ga., Goex Cartridge (also roughly 2f sized) for 45-70 and 3f for all the pistol calibers, but any will work in ALL in a pinch.  Also, I tend to shoot nearer to the MAXIMUM loadings for C&B and Max in the cartridges.  Why?  #1: It doesn't bother MY guns (a Colt Dragoon, an [Uberti] Colt 1860 Army, a NMA [Pietta] Remington and an unknown, but most likely Pietta Leech & Rigdon .36 - that started life as an 1851 Colt replica) and #2: it's FUN!  I like  feeling the bang and shove!  Not to mention seeing and smelling the smoke - BP or Nitro.


Dick D said: 
     "All handloading, including loading Holy Black, is NOT foolproof.  But then, it shouldn't be done by fools."

VERY true.  But it ain't rocket science, either - if ya follow some common sense rules.