.44 Colt confusion

[Tinker Pearce]

Apparently there is some confusion about the original loading for .44 Colt.

According to "US CARTRIDGES AND THEIR HANDGUNS"by Sudam it fired a 210 GR. bullet over 28gr of black powder.

Barnes & Amber's 1972 'Cartridges of the World' gives very different data-

225 gr (15 g) (U.S. Army black powder load)   640 ft/s (200 m/s)   207 ft·lbf (281 J)
225 gr (15 g)   640 ft/s (200 m/s)   207 ft·lbf (281 J)
210 gr (14 g) (factory load)   660 ft/s (200 m/s)   206 ft·lbf (279 J)
210 gr (14 g) (original factory black powder load)   660 ft/s (200 m/s)   206 ft·lbf (279 J)
210 gr (14 g) (smokeless, Lyman #429185)   650 ft/s (200 m/s)   197 ft·lbf (267 J)

Anyone know which of these is correct?

[Professor Marvel]

Ah My Good Tinker -

Whih is "correct"?
Pretty much all of them.

Much like the paper cartridges, "skin" cartridges" and "foil" cartridges for C&B revolvers, there was little standardization between
early vendors and everybody "had their own thing" until the gov't wrote standards for bids.

So, whatever a vendor produced was what was "standard and correct" - for them.

yhs
prof marvel

[Tinker Pearce]

So the mystery is solved- I'm a dufus and misread the chart; it seems obvious in retrospect. But you know... dufus. The second figure is the weight of the bullet in grams, not the powder charge.

That being said the Trail Boss load I posted is good- mild recoiling and accurate.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I will go back to basic blackpowder load developement; This is enough for pistol rounds, rifle loads may need a bit more sophistication; - See BROW.

Pick a suitable lead bullet capable of holding enough BP compatible lube. Measure the depth of the bullet that will be inside the case. Load powder, usually fffg, up to this depth or a smidge more, (enough powder to effect a mild compression), Seat the bullet, and Robert's yer Father's Brother.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

About 8 or 9 years ago, I disassembled one of my 44 Colt rounds (I have about 18 or 19 of them) and it has a 210 grain bullet and 25 grains coarse powder.  It had a beeswax type grease cookie and card wad over the powder.