New Army 1858 - How Much Powder?

[winch]

The powder flask I bought has a 24 grain spout. When loaded with 24, the gun (.44 cal) hardly kicks at all. What are the +/-'s of more or less powder?
Not looking to blow myself up....but curious. Is there any relation to powder amount and accuracy? Thanks in advance! Kind of new to BP.:patriot:

[GNLaFrance]

You can't put enough powder into a charge hole (chamber) to even come close to 'blowing yourself up'. 24-25 grains is about right for a 'full load'. Every gun is a law onto itself. You have to experiment with different loads to see what is the most accurate, and you need to do it with each charge hole.

What brand is it, Pietta or Uberti? Also:

[JCB003]

I have the Pietta 1858 New Army. I shoot it every now and then, mostly around muzzleloading deer season when I break out my Remington 700ML. Usually 25 grains up to 30. Makes enough bang and smoke for me. Suprised a few friends splitting a small pine tree in half with it. I've been thinking about getting a Walker repro for some bigger bang. Yes if you up the charge you should see better accuracy.

[BFMIN]

Have you actually verified the 24 Gr BY VOLUME? 99% of those spouts are "off"!

Most of the .44s seem to like somewhere round 27 Gr for best results.
Black powder has a very different "feel" to the recoil even if you really crank it up.
Try 27/28/29 Gr & pick the best results.
Tip an empty .357 case is 28 Gr & you can just trickle powder through the flask to fill the case:D

[JCB003]

I didn't have any pics so I just took one. Got it from Cabela's in 1992 paid $119, still have the receipt in the box, along with the original box of lead balls and percussion caps. Shows how much I actually shoot it. I'll have to check the powder measure, never occurred to me before.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/jcb003/NewImage-1.jpg

[Goose Guy]

I usually use 20-25 grains in mine for the best accuracy. Seems like 20 doesn't have any kick at all, while 25 kicks a bit. I suspect it has something to do with packing it down (but don't quote me on that.) Wouldn't reccomend getting the 30 grain pellets.

[BFMIN]

Don't get too concerned with the spout being a bit off, BP is nowhere as near sensitive to small charge volume changes as smokeless, 1 grain either way isn't going to do anything noticeable at all.

Supposedly the closer to the end of the cylinder you can get the RB the more accurate the pistol is. Usual tricks to get the ball closer without excessive powder (really hard to do in a BP revolver) is to either use a wad, which fills some space, or a "filler" such as corn meal to do the same thing. The wad is what I do as it's also insurance against chainfires.

I load 28 Gr of FFFg a wad & a round ball, recoil is pleasant smoke is good & thick & accuracy ain't bad either.

[winch]

I have the 1858 New Army Pietta as pictured above, purchased new 2010. I am jonesing for the 1858 Buffalo model...anybody have one??

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Black-Powder/Pistols%7C/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/104503680/Cabelas-1858-Buffalo-Stainless-Steel-44-Caliber-Revolver/739973.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshoot ing-black-powder-pistols%2F_%2FN-1100201%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104503680%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMM%253Bca t104701680&WTz_l=SBC%3BMM%3Bcat104701680%3Bcat104503680

[kalister1]

I have an old Ruger Old Army 44 cal cap & ball revolver. I load 40 grs. of Pyrodex behind a lead ball. If I were to use any less powder I would have to load a wad.
I believe Maryland deer hunting regs require A minimum of 40 Gr's.?

[Goose Guy]

I have the 1858 New Army Pietta as pictured above, purchased new 2010. I am jonesing for the 1858 Buffalo model...anybody have one??

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Black-Powder/Pistols%7C/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/104503680/Cabelas-1858-Buffalo-Stainless-Steel-44-Caliber-Revolver/739973.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshoot ing-black-powder-pistols%2F_%2FN-1100201%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104503680%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMM%253Bca t104701680&WTz_l=SBC%3BMM%3Bcat104701680%3Bcat104503680

That's what I've got, except brass/steel. Not powerful enough for hunting, as kalister put it, but quite accurate. I'm better with it than my 1911 at this point.

[BFMIN]

If you have a brass frame version ignore my advice on increasing charges. That load was for a STEEL-framed pistol. With Brass you want to keep the loads down to prevent recoil shield battering or frame wear.

[hvymax]

The 30gr measure on my flask is just about right to fill the cylinder.

[BFMIN]

The 30gr measure on my flask is just about right to fill the cylinder.
Interestingly I bought a "30 Gr" spout, but it delivered 28 Gr when I checked it. That's how I ended up with the 28 Gr load:D
Seating a wad on top of that & then a .454 RB the cylinder is about 1/16" shy of flush to the top of the ball.

[BlackBart]

I have an old Ruger Old Army 44 cal cap & ball revolver. I load 40 grs. of Pyrodex behind a lead ball. If I were to use any less powder I would have to load a wad.
I believe Maryland deer hunting regs require A minimum of 40 Gr's.?

Yup, I believe you're correct. I use 60 in my Walker, it is very close to a 357 as far as energy goes.

[indiana cletus]

I have the Pietta 1858 New Army. I shoot it every now and then, mostly around muzzleloading deer season when I break out my Remington 700ML. Usually 25 grains up to 30. Makes enough bang and smoke for me. Suprised a few friends splitting a small pine tree in half with it. I've been thinking about getting a Walker repro for some bigger bang. Yes if you up the charge you should see better accuracy.

i have the walker, i love it!!! BIG BANG, lots of smoke and fire, will blow the crap out of whatever it hits! just know its heavy as hell and on a full load, everyone at the range WILL be staring at you, either in amasement wondering what posessed you to fire a cannon by hand, or in anger because they can no longer see their target till the smoke clears :lol:

[indiana cletus]

I have the 1858 New Army Pietta as pictured above, purchased new 2010. I am jonesing for the 1858 Buffalo model...anybody have one??

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Black-Powder/Pistols%7C/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/104503680/Cabelas-1858-Buffalo-Stainless-Steel-44-Caliber-Revolver/739973.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshoot ing-black-powder-pistols%2F_%2FN-1100201%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104503680%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMM%253Bca t104701680&WTz_l=SBC%3BMM%3Bcat104701680%3Bcat104503680

i do! accurate as the day is long.... see that grasshopper.....:innocent0

[winch]

Yep...I got the Buffalo Model a few weeks ago....I need to shoot it more!!