1851 Pietta Navy Colt Revolver - proper Triple 7 load?

[MMA1991]

I apologize as this question may have been asked a thousand times but...with a STEEL framed Pietta 1851 Colt Navy what is a good/proper load with Triple 7?

I shot her yesterday with 25 grains of T7 with a .454 lead ball with Wonder Wads and Crisco over the chambers.

T7 is 15% more powerful than BP (or so I have read). As such, the 25 grains of T7 equals just shy of 30 grains of BP and 30 grains of BP is the max load per the owners manual.

Is my math/calculations correct?

Is 25 grains of T7 too hot for a steel frame?

She shot great but I do not want to damage the pistol.

Thx for listening.

 

[Fingers McGee]

Your math is correct. A 25 grain T7 load would be the same as a 29 to 30 grain BP load. My normal .44 cal load for an 1860 Army or 1851 Navy is 30 grains of fffg Goex or Schuetzen.

I think you'll be alright.

BTW, You don't really need wonder wads AND Crisco

 

[EljaySL]

I don't have vast experience but as a general rule about 25 grains 777 seems to work well in most cap and ball revolvers. You might check 20 to see if it's more accurate. There's no way of telling without testing.

(to be clear - talking about the context of .44 steel frame as mentioned in the original post).

 

[MMA1991]

My biggest concern is will this load damage the pistol over time (i.e. is it too strong)?

 

[Logan5579]

With 25gr or T7 you're in no danger, even over time. I've shot loads hotter than that for years and no problems at all...just maintain your gun properly and you're good to go.

 

[Hellgate]

It looks like you'll be fine. Where people get into trouble is when they stoke their Walkers with T7. Also brass frames are quickly ruined with it. I suspect that T7 has a sharper pressure peak than BP.

 

[Smokepole14]

If I'm not mistaking, the reason it says to decrease by 15% is just so it will match bp results. Not because it is much hotter and therfore becones too strong of a load. Am I correct on this guys?

 

[mykeal]

Yes.