Following are excerpts from a post I wrote some years ago, concerning a February 1975 article in the American Rifleman that reported what the dissection of original paper cartridges revealed.
Though the American military specified charges and bullet weight, in actual practice the paper and foil cartridges of the 1850s through early 1870s varied greatly.
Nearly all foil and paper cartridges were assembled by contractors, not military armories. There was a great deal of variance in powder charge and bullet weight, in all calibers (.31, 36 and .44). Apparently, contractors paid little atttention to what the manual specified.
Here's what I wrote some years ago:
Colt recommended the following, more than 125 years ago:
1 dram = 27.3 grains (grs.)
.44 Dragoon: 1-1/2 drams of black powder (41 grs.) and a round bullet of 48 to the pound (about 146 grs, which calculates at about .46 caliber) or a conical bullet of 32 to the pound (about 219 grains).
Old loadings will occasionally list a 218 gr. conical bullet with a 40 to 50 gr. powder charge. This is intended for the Colt Model 1847 Walker or the later Dragoons, which have a larger capacity than the Colt M1860 .44 revolver.
In "A History of the Colt Revolver From 1836 to 1940" by Charles T. Haven and Frank E. Belden, the authors list load recommendations from Colt in the 1850s and 1860s.
Haven and Belden note, "FFG black powder is best for the large and medium-size revolvers, and FFFG for the small pocket models, but any grade that is available will work reasonably well."
Gatofeo notes: In my own experience, I use FFFG in my .31, .36 and .44 revolvers with fine accuracy. I don't see much need to use FFG powder in the .36 and .44 revolvers if you can get FFFG.
But if all you can get is FFG, then use it.
I've found best accuracy to be with real black powder, not substitutes.
As you discovered, it's difficult to seat a greased, felt wad under a ball with a maximum load. To accommodate the room that the wad occupies, reduce the powder charge by a few grains. This won't appreciably affect velocity, but the greased felt wad will help keep fouling soft and the bore cleaner.
If you desire to use absolute full charges, apply grease over the ball. If you use the greased, felt wad between ball and powder, there is no need to apply grease over the ball as well.
The best practice is to seat the greased felt wad as a separate operation from ball seating. This makes things easier. After all wads are seated firmly on the powder, then seat the ball firmly against the seated wad.
There must be no airspace between powder, wad and ball or a dangerous condition exists that may cause what experienced reloaders call, "an instant disassembly."
I use balls slightly larger than what tradition recommends: .380 inch in the .36 calibers or .454 or .457 inch in the .44s. The larger ball encourages better accuracy and retention in the chamber during recoil.
It appears that the larger ball, because it creates a wider bearing surface for the rifling to grip, enhances accuracy. At least, that's what I postulated years ago. Others have stated it as fact, but I don't know how you'd positively identify the cause and effect.
I've tried smaller balls of .375 and .451 inch and noted reduced accuracy. Perhaps that's proof enough, I guess.
Best accuracy with the Colt design will be obtained when the wedge tightly joins the frame to the barrel assembly. It's long been my practice to tap the wedge in on a clean gun (to avoid interference from fouling) while turning the cylinder.
When the cylinder begins to drag against the rear of the barrel, tap the wedge OUT very slightly until the cylinder turns freely again. This is the "sweet spot," as I call it, with minimal gap between cylinder face and barrel, that will bring best accuracy.
If you can push the wedge out with you fingers the revolver is assembled much too loosely. It won't be unsafe, but accuracy will be marginal.
With a loose wedge, my Colt 2nd generation 1851 Navy will produce 6-inch groups at 25 yards from a benchrest. A tight wedge will result in 3 to 3-1/2 inch groups, all loads being equal. That's how much difference a tight wedge can make.
My Colt Navy is probably capable of even greater accuracy, but my 55-year-old eyes struggle against its marginal sights.
Enjoy that Dragoon. I hope the above helps.
