Got an Armi Jaeger .44 Percussion Kentucky...

[Daniel]

First blackpowder front stuffer, so an utter newbie.

I know most of the basics from watching YouTube videos on loading and firing safely, in addition to cleaning (plus a nice little pamphlet I have on blackpowder shooting).

The question is, what type of ball should I use? It's specifically listed as .44 Cal on the barrel, and everyone I see have a .45 Cal and they shoot a .440 ball with a patch to make it .45. O, and what type of patch?

Any load data and velocity out there for the .44 too?

Said gun is in awesome condition (bore is near new), and I got it for a good price considering the price of guns nowadays.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

Always remember to add the powder before the patch and ball....... Don't ask how I know......

 

[bubba15301]

.424 to .430 rb

 

[Daniel]

Thanks for that info there on the ball and ball before the powder (ha).

Hornady has .433 roundballs; I'm guessing that'll be ok with a patch? I just have to let the gunshop know what to order in for me (I can use the 'net, but I'd rather support them).

I'll definitely read up on what the powder manufacture recommends when I get me some powder.

Lots of cool knickknacks you can get with this white-smoke shooting hobby.

 

[Daniel]

O, and would said .433 ball be decent on midsized boar? I'm guessing a shoulder hit would be a no-no, but a typical heart shot quartering away would be the best bet?

Only used 12 gauge slugs (1 ounce Foster) and 240 grain .44 Magnum from a Handi on them (shoulder hits worked with these, but they're quite a bit more powerful than the .44 Cal roundball.

 

[bubba15301]

wouldnt use it on a boar . be ok for deer and smaller game

 

[Daniel]

Thanks for your opinion. It does seem that the 128 grain ball would be quite iffy if there's any rib and other bone involvement; especially as it's soft lead. I have no doubt that a decent shot will do it, but there's sometimes a slight movement between a decent shot and a bone hit, and throw in the non-existent second shot (don't want the critter to suffer with a broken shoulder or something). I'll continue to use the .44 Mag Handi rifle on them (which works awesome out to 100 yards with cheap Winchester 240 grain soft points).

Any hunting would be the usual wild dogs and smaller then, as we rarely get deer here, and the ones we do, are the big ones: red deer (which would be targets for the 12 gauge Brenneke slugs).

Can you get decent accuracy out to 300 yards or so with a .44 cal roundball for plinking? I mean, like minute of broken fridge level?

 

[Daniel]

O, and another question,

Is it possible to load such down to the noise and power level of say a .22LR or even a .22 Magnum rifle, just for very informal plinking? I know you only need enough powder to get the ball out of the barrel, but has anyone really done research on low powered loads?

 

[bubba15301]

try about 20 to 40 grains of 3f powder with the rb for a lower powered load