.36s or .. Just 'cause I'm lazy

[Coffinmaker]

I admit it.  I'm lazy.  Plus  I don't want pop a bunch of caps (gold) no burn a bunch of powder.

I'm getting ready to take my latest projects (Pietta 1862s) for a walk on the range.  ALL my other Cap Guns start with a 4.  I found a load I really like for my .44s which may or may not be a mite heavy in a .36. Currently I'm shooting 20 Grn by volume 3f

What is the consensus for a nice pleasant load for the .36??

Coffinmaker

[john boy]

36 caliber: 70gr bullet - 15gr FFFg = 640 fps
20gr FFFg = 685 fps

[Pettifogger]

With an 80 grain bullet there is no such thing as an unpleasant load in a .36.  One year at EOT they had a lot of knock downs so I changed spouts and powder about half-way through to the most 3F 777 that would fit in the cylinder and still allow seating the ball.  Worked fine and wasn't the least bit unpleasant.

[Navy Six]

+ 1 on all the comments. The 36's are fun to shoot.

[Coffinmaker]

Thanks guys.  Making a new scoop today.  Have one for  20 Gr, makin a new one for 15.  Gonna be fun.

Coffinmaker

[hellgate]

I use 15grs for the LEE 130gr 36cal conical and 20gr for the ball.

[Lefty Dude]

Helpful thread and comments , Pards.
I also have 44's and just recently acquired a 51/36. And was gifted a CVA 61/36 round barrel kit on a recent trip to the great Northwest visiting Family and such.
The CVA kit is quite old, but all parts are in the box. It looks like some one started, but did not finish the piece.
This will be an interesting build.

[Coffinmaker]

Hey Lefty!

Some years back, I built a couple of those CVA kits.  A little rough, but very serviceable when done.  Lots of rubbin n buffin.

Coffinmaker

PS:  I never shot em.  Built em as "something to do" then sold em for cost.  Fun project though.  Have Fun :-)

[rifle]

I always went for what I thunked was the "service load" fer the 36's back in the day. Of course there seems to be more than one service load so........I pick what I want.

I usually go with 20gr. FFFg fer the ball and 18gr. FFFg fer the bullet.

I kinda like to mix it up with a lil FFFFg now and then. I always go back to FFFg 20-22gr. FFFg though.

I have to leave room fer the "lube pill" since I like to just shoot and not clean all the time. A dirty fouled barrel isn't as accurate as a, "clean fouled a lil", barrel. 

I've learned to make thin lube pills so I have more room. I like to pour my wax/lube mix when hot into a pan of real hot water and let it sit till it's cool and solid and then pop in in the cold box to stiffin and end up with a sheet of wax/lube a consistant thickness.

Consistancy is good. It counts. Even getting consistant with the seating force of the plunger on the ball and powder. Makes the chambers all fire the same. Compressin has to be the same fer all the chambers.

No one has gone to the max and developed a loading stand with a gauge fer ft/lbs of energy on the plunger yet. What a shame. That would be the "Supreme Model".

I learned to be my own "Supreme Model" loader and pop he balls in the same each chamber. I can't really get less compression since the way the balls pop in is "the way the balls pop in".  I learned to end the pushin when the lead stops on the powder. I always get a lil compression that seems to help the loads some. Little more "pop" to them with a little compression.

[Coffinmaker]

Well ..... Step right up folks and see Little Egypt do the famous Dance of the Pyramids.  She walks, she talks .......... ok, here we are.  I didn't get the chance to take my .36s to the range for a little exercise.  Took em to Saturdays match.  Having never fired em in anger, had no idea where they shot in relation to the sights.  Missed the first target.  Didn't miss after that.  .36s are ........ FUN.  After tuning up, mine run like Swiss watches, are just as reliable as a cartridge gun and shoot dead to point of aim.  Wheeeeeeeeeee.

Did make one discovery though.  Some spotters just don't get it.  With a .36, if the target is a mite "dead" you may not "hear" a .36 hit it.  You actually have to look "at" the target.  What a concept.

They certainly won't replace my .44s, but what a HOOT!!  They will get shot a lot though.

Coffinmaker

[hellgate]

Coffinmaker,
Yeah, what ever happened to the idea that "If you THINK it's a miss, it's a hit. And if you think it's a hit it's a hit"?