.36 Colt loads

[ZVP]

Reading thru some articles I found a suggested Colt Factory load for the .36Navy at 18gr and oddly this cross references with a paper wrapped cartrige loading the Troops were issued during the Civil War. Paper wrapped powder and Ball.
Now my favorite load has been 20 gr for my .36's and it's worked well with almost no recoil and a solid Muzzle report, it's been accurate and consistant.
I know that just 2 gr won't make much difference, and that I'm NOT overloading with my load but do any of you subscribe to that 18gr load for your shooting?
I just want to get my style of shooting down to the most historically correct to see and enjoy my revolvers to the utmost.
Comments or opnions?
Thanks,
ZVP

 

[Fingers McGee]

The spout on the flask I use is marked 20 grains. It throws 22 grains by weight of fffg. That load is accurate in all of my .36's. Don't see any reason to change.

 

[Skinny 1950]

I have been using 18 grains with cornmeal filler to get the ball flush with the face of the cylinder,this is a very accurate load but I doubt that back in the day they would load like this. More likely that they filled the chamber and left a bit of space for the ball, I can't imagine that they would pack cornmeal or other filler and go the extra step needed. Could be wrong.

 

[Doc Rizzi]

18 grains for .36

The spout I use is 18 grains for my 1851 colts and my 1860 colts. I use them for cowboy action and it is a light, accurate load. I have heard of others using cream of wheat as a filler. I am intrigued by your comment of using the filler to allow the ball to seat closer to the face of the cylinder. What is the reason for that?

 

[driver243]

The experts in my shooting club say that the closer the ball is to the cylinder face, the more accurate is the shot

 

[buttrap]

just as they had 18 grain loads as issue I would not take that as good idea. probalby 25% of them had 18 gains of corn meal in them too. 20 grains is a bit light to me but in the ball park.

 

[mustanger]

ZVP: I haven't found the thread back, but one of the members here was doing some testing with fillers and no fillers. I believe his preliminary findings were that it did not make any difference in accuraccy if the ball was seated at the front of the cylinder w/filler or if it was seated back in the cylinder against the powder with no filler.
At present I am shooting 20gr. 777, topped with felt, soaked in parafin and CVA Grease Patch. Read the sticky at the beginning, and check the writings about the felt pad. It is suposed to scrape the fouling out of the barrel from the previous shot. There is a lot of valuable information in that sticky. I would like to make Gaetfos magic elixter to soak my pads in, but don't have the ingredients.

 

[[email protected]]

I solved the filler problem. Just shorten the cylinder

 

[Omnivore]

ZVP; Commercial cartridge loads in the 1860s varied widely. I have a book on consumable cartridges, another on percussion handguns, and have done a lot of on-line searching. As far as I've been able to determine, there were no consumable cartridges made with round balls though. The only direct references I could find specifically stated that it didn't happen. Cartridge loads varied from tiny powder charges with huge conicals, and full house charges with lighter conicals, and everything in between. A fair number of these original cartridges survive to this day, and I've seen them for sale (very expensive) on some of the collectable vending and auction sites.

Since loose powder/loose ball loading was determined by the user, there was no doubt a lot of variation there too. Therefore just about any load would be "period correct" except that we no longer have ready access to the mercury fulminate percussion caps, and reports on the exact performance of period black powders are as rare as hen's teeth.

 

[BE Wild Willy]

I solved the filler problem. Just shorten the cylinder

That might make for an excessive cylinder gap.

 

[Buzzard II]

OK-your gun, not mine!

 

[ZVP]

Thanks guys for all the answers.
I guess the loads did vary per manufacturer and it's right the bullet was a Conical for the paper loads.
I think I'll stick with my .22 gr (measured) .3 load that I have been using and since it has been accurate for me it'll be my standard load.
I've tried the 18 gr loading and it is a mild load and also pertty accurate!
Thanks again.
ZVP