bandleader
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OK. I just bought one. How much powder do you load. It is.54 caliber
1805 Harpers Ferry
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72coupe
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I was told back in 1967 to cup my hand, drop a ball into it and cover it with powder. That would be your beginning charge.
This however does not take into account the size of your hands so it seems very imprecise.
I would look in Lyman's Black Powder Guide.
This however does not take into account the size of your hands so it seems very imprecise.
I would look in Lyman's Black Powder Guide.
Cosmoline
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Rifle? Pistol? Original? Repro?
Starter52
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I would start with 55 grains for a rifle or 35 grains for a pistol and work up from there.
AJumbo
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50 grains of FFg should be a fine plinking load; it somehow sticks in my mind that the service charge was 75 grains, but I'm not at all convinced that I'm right on that.
The Corps Of Discovery carried early Harper's Ferry rifles, and stored their powder in lead cans that could be molded into the number of balls appropriate to match the number of service charges afforded by the powder. Dang clever....
The Corps Of Discovery carried early Harper's Ferry rifles, and stored their powder in lead cans that could be molded into the number of balls appropriate to match the number of service charges afforded by the powder. Dang clever....
rembow 54
your a lucky man is ia originail or replica ? if its a replica id start at 60 gr. just to git to the targit then progress ! but recomend powder mesu. when i was a kid i tried pawm trick & shaterd the stock on a 45 cvs kit gun !
your a lucky man is ia originail or replica ? if its a replica id start at 60 gr. just to git to the targit then progress ! but recomend powder mesu. when i was a kid i tried pawm trick & shaterd the stock on a 45 cvs kit gun !
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For your pistol, 35 grains would be a good starting point.
Lots of controversy about what the Corps of Discovery carried. One thing for certain, it served them well. I have a replica 1803 Harpers Ferry rifle and enjoy it. I needed to restock it and a few other things but it is a good rifle.
The 1805 pistol is historical in it's own right. I believe a pair of them is used on one of the military decorations or badge. Not sure which one. Regardless, do not use the rifle load in the pistol.
Lots of controversy about what the Corps of Discovery carried. One thing for certain, it served them well. I have a replica 1803 Harpers Ferry rifle and enjoy it. I needed to restock it and a few other things but it is a good rifle.
The 1805 pistol is historical in it's own right. I believe a pair of them is used on one of the military decorations or badge. Not sure which one. Regardless, do not use the rifle load in the pistol.
AlexanderA
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The repro pistol is .58 caliber. I think the OP is talking about the repro rifle, which is .54 caliber.
Fingers McGee
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Crossed Harpers Ferry pistols is the Military Police Corps branch insignia.
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