Manhattan Pepperbox - .31?

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  • damosan

    Active Member
    Feb 21, 2009
    261
    Evening,

    I recently purchased a Manhattan 5 shot pepperbox. The card that came with the gun listed it as .28 caliber. Thinking this was odd I had the FFL measure the bore and it came out as .30 (though I suspect it's probably .31).

    What is the best size lead ball to order for this thing? .315? .300 with some wadding? .310?

    Thanks.

    D.
     

    bbrown

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 10, 2009
    3,032
    MD
    Resurrecting this thread: I picked up a 6-shot version at the latest MACA show. As for shooting it, first I have to clean out the nipples with a pick. Now on to the questions:

    - How do I figure out what size ball to get?

    - What powder charge (FFF?) do I use?

    - What size percussion cap?

    I have the powder, and presumably can get the other things from Track of the Wolf or somewhere like that, including an appropriate size powder measure.

    Thanks.
     

    Blacksmith101

    Grumpy Old Man
    Jun 22, 2012
    22,154
    Resurrecting this thread: I picked up a 6-shot version at the latest MACA show. As for shooting it, first I have to clean out the nipples with a pick. Now on to the questions:

    - How do I figure out what size ball to get?

    - What powder charge (FFF?) do I use?

    - What size percussion cap?

    I have the powder, and presumably can get the other things from Track of the Wolf or somewhere like that, including an appropriate size powder measure.

    Thanks.

    Here is a good discussion on selecting the right size ball and patch for muzzle loaders.
    http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=18607.0
     

    bbrown

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 10, 2009
    3,032
    MD
    Thanks for the link; I'm new to shooting BP and so don't know anything about how much powder to use.

    There's a guy on Youtube (user capandball) who says he starts with 15g of FFF in his Allen and Thurber pepperbox. Then I guess I have to mic the barrels somehow to get a reading on ball size, and mic the nipples as well.
     

    Blacksmith101

    Grumpy Old Man
    Jun 22, 2012
    22,154
    Here are some links for you.

    GOEX Load Data
    http://goexpowder.com/load-chart.html

    Black Powder Technical Report
    http://www.wichitabuggywhip.com/fireworks/blackpowderPDFs/BlackPowder41.pdf

    Muzzle Loading Experiments
    http://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/ctml_experiments.html

    Shooting and Maintaining a Flintlock (Has some load data under Bullets)
    http://www.geojohn.org/BlackPowder/Musketoon/ShootingTheFlintlock.html

    Shooting the Black Powder Revolver
    http://www.geojohn.org/BlackPowder/Revolver.html

    Dixon's Gunmakers Fair July 27, 28, & 29, 2018
    http://www.dixonmuzzleloading.com/
     

    bbrown

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 10, 2009
    3,032
    MD
    While looking for percussion caps online I noticed that the hazmat fees for shipping them make it not very cost effective to order a box or two.

    Are there any stores in central MD or NOVA that sell size 11 percussion caps? Perhaps at the Dulles shows?
     

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