T7 load for an 81 Brass Navy......

Assuming “safe and reasonable” means not powerful enough to stretch the brass frame, I would not load more than 20 grains by a standard blackpowder volumetric measure. You could load more than that without worrying about blowing up the gun, but it would increase the risk of frame stretch.

Twenty grains is a seat of the pants guess, by the way. I’m sure you will get more opinions. If you lean towards being super safe, use 15-18 grains.

OK I'll bite, What's an '81 brass Navy?
Do you mean a brass frame 1851 Colt Navy?
or is this something else I'm just not thinking of like a pocket pistol etc.?

45 long said:

That's exactly what I was concerned about, not stressing the brass. The only info I found @ Hodgdons was to reduce it by 15% from a BP load. But I couldn't find a listing for a BP load for an 81 Brass.

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To be clear the reduction of charge Hodgdon’s states is not about safety but to replicate what the standard lower performance powders achieve. Swiss and Olde Eynsford, both real black powder, generally achieve slightly higher velocities compared to T7.

What I’ve often read is 20-25 grns as a max load for a .44 cal brass framed gun.

Although 15-25 should be safe...i wouldnt go more than say 20 or maybe 22 with regular goex if the gun already has a wide cylinder gap. Wider gap means the cylinder will batter the frame with more force. Little variables like that matter. Keep in mind them Europeans use 12 grains with filler and do just fine target shooting....but alas we are americans and we seem to burn more powder.

45 long said:

Right, a Pietta 1851 Colt Brass Navy.

Is that 20-25 grains of BP ?

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BP or substitute. With that said I’d have to assume one gets more pressure using Swiss, Olde, or T7 (and maybe Pyrodex too) vs the other powders (here in the US). I’ve not been fond of brass framed guns (except the Spiller) so I’ve not read much in to this reduced load stuff. Maybe going over 20 grns with an energetic powder is pushing it a little.

My very first handgun was an ASM 1851 .44cal brass "Navy" I purchased NIB about 1990.
It was and is a beauty.
I went colt because I like the lines, and I went brass because it was cheaper and I didn't know any better.
I always loaded 27 grains of Goex and put probably 300-400 rounds through it with no ill effect.
I haven't shot that revolver in a long time but I still get it out once in a while just to look at and remember how much fun it was when it was the only one I had.
These days I grab a Ruger Old Army most of the time if I'm going shooting BP.

MY first C and B was a 44cal Navy I shot the hell out of it. It liked 24gr of FFF. It was a good shooter. A buddy of mine had to have it. It shot as good as the day I bought it and looked better. When I was recovering from a heart attack I stripped the bluing polished the barrel and cylinder and give it a paste wax. Looked good with the brass frame and case hardened loading arm and I also give the action a complete tune. I still regret selling it. My advice is to load it with 25 gr of black powder or Pyrodex and a ball with a Crisco or Crisco/beeswax over the chambers. If you keep it clean and oiled It will outlast you. I found a pic of it to bad Photobucket screwed up the pic.
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