58 new army pietta cap and ball best load for the most accuracy

[clough808]

Just getting into black powder cap and ball revolvers and ive done my research there a fun and great gun but everything i have read about them noone said anything about sertant powder for accuracy or powder pellets whats better and whats not good for it thanks for the help

[wildman1]

Most of the instruction manuals will tell you what powder should be used for what caliber yer shootin. WM

[Charlie Bowdre]

Hi 808
I sent you a pm
dutchy

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Wildman,

I think the manual reads 15 grains of powder for an .44 cal. IMHO, this low maximum load was probably set by Pietta's legal team; that way anyone using a 'over-maximum' load would not be covered under warranty and Pietta would be off the hook for any cost ... I repeat IMHO.

[Cliff Fendley]

If I remember that's what the manuals say for a 36 caliber. I believe the manual says 25 grains for Pyrodex in 44's and 37 grains of black powder.

It's been a long time since I've looked at the manuals so don't take my word, check it yourself but I know it's way more than 15 grains in a 44.

You'll have to try different loads and projectiles for your gun because a couple friends and I have several off the 44 New Army's between us and different ones like different loads for accuracy.

[Wolfgang]

I've had superb accuracy with the hollow based conical bullets that Cabellas sells.   These shot in my Pietta .44 cal. Remingtons.  But . . . the conicals cost about three times what round balls cost and the round balls are plenty accurate for most shooting.  Just my experience.   

[cpt dan blodgett]

Wonder how Desparado soft lead 170 gr bullets would do?  They run right at $10 per hundred.  May not use a strickly BP lube but I always use a homemade wonder wad.

[Cliff Fendley]

I've seen some guns shoot the round balls better than the conicals and vice versa. Just have to check each gun.

Some have nice smooth bores and others rough, guess that's the quality of (or lack of) machining from Italy.

The strange thing is the two best shooting Peitta Remmy's I've owned both have what I would consider less than perfect bores. One is very rough and the other had a bad area in the rifling toward the crown. 

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I was getting erratic groups until I reached 28 grains of FFFg GOEX under a roundball.  28 grains made really tight groups so thats where I stayed.

[Dick Dastardly]

Silas McFee had an article published in the CC October issue a few years back.  We shot an exhaustive test using DD/PUK-FLAT bullets over a compressed charge of FFFg Schuetzen black powder.  The bullets were lube/sized to .454" (yes, Silas had his chambers reamed to match the barrel).

Accuracy was fine, function was fine and we shot enough bullets to equal an annual SASS match.  Then, we shot some sand bag rested rounds for accuracy.  The final accuracy and the initial accuracy were equal.

With the DD/PUK-FLAT bullets, there's no need for any lube cookies, over bullet smear or other accoutrements.  All the lube needed for function and safety is held in the generous lube grove.

The base of the fine DD/PUK-FLAT bullet has a dual rebate base to insure straight and proud seating.

What could be simpler?  Dump in powder, seat lube/sized bullet, cap, shoot.

DD-MDA

[Wolfgang]

Wonder how Desparado soft lead 170 gr bullets would do?  They run right at $10 per hundred.  May not use a strickly BP lube but I always use a homemade wonder wad.

They are not soft enough.   Gotta have pure lead for cap & ball shootin'.   I know . . I tried that once. 

[rifle]

HeyDD,what'sa double rebated base to a bullet? (DD/PUK-FLAT bullet) 
Two step ups or one step up to full diameter?  Any hollow base to it?  Anyway......what diameter is the main bullet? Large to size to order?

[Dick Dastardly]

Here's the working drawing used to produce the tools.

DD-MDA