Loading Buck and Ball?

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Panzerschwein

Panzerschwein

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Hello all!

I have a Pedersoli made Harpers Ferry percussion pistol coming in the mail. I am in the process of gathering supplies for shooting, and since this is a smoothbore, I would like to try some buck and ball loads for this pistol.

It is my understanding that these type military "horse" pistols were often loaded with buck and ball. My gun is a .54 caliber, and like I said it's not rifled and has a smoothbore.

I know how to load a patched round ball in a pistol or rifle, but am unsure as to the best way to load buck and ball in a handgun. I have tried researching this, but have gotten conflicting reports on the right way to do it.

I need to know:

What size buckshot should I use?
How many pellets?
How much of a powder charge to start with? Should I use 2F or 3F powder? (I only use real black powder, no substitutes)
What loading materials do I need to load buck and ball (i.e. wads, cards, etc.)?

Thanks everyone! I am fairly new to muzzleloaders, so if you could all help me, that'd be great. Thanks again!
 
Last edited:
col.lemat said:
40 gr. powder, greased patch, ball, three .25 balls for bucks, greased patch. In that order. hold on enjoy.
Click to expand...
Awesome! Now I should be using 2F powder for this pistol right, since it's .54 caliber?

Also, would a fiber wad be better to put over the buckshot to keep them in place? It doesn't seem like a patch would keep them in place as well.

Thanks so much! :D
 
Hmm, according to Pedersoli they recommend 2F powder but I've also seen 3F recommended... thoughts?
 
If you want to push to maximum velocity use 2F and the musket data at Goex. To much powder will just be wasted as it blows out the barrel. Dixie Gun Works Inc. http://dixiegunworks.com/ had methods of proof testing very old guns in the catalog years ago. Take stock off, place in old tire. Attach long pull cord to trigger and hide behind something. Didnt blow it up. Same with 1/2" water pipe. Just a waste of powder for the most part.
th_IMG_4693T.jpg
[/URL][/IMG] With a cap and ball (Ruger) its not possible to use to much powder, as you still need room to seat the ball. Love the Ruger, wish i didnt sell it. Always make sure there is no air space between powder and projectile. This may blow a gun up, or bulge the barrel. Always best to follow the manufacturer's instructions so i dont get sued. :D
 
I suppose everyone has their own way....I've loaded a patched ball and dropped about a dozen #2s on top with a card wad over it all to hold it in. A good sized wad of wasp's nest over the shot works just fine too.
 
Nobody seems to sell the right sized wad for me.

They only do up to .50 caliber, than go to shotgun gauges and the 28 gauge ones are still too big at .560", then the 32 gauge ones are too small at .530"

Shouldn't I need something like .550"? The bore on this gun is .540.

Thanks all!! Oh, and does anyone know of a source for #4 buckshot where I don't have to buy 5 doggone pounds of the stuff? Thanks so much!!! :D
 
I use a wine bottle cork for the over powder wad. Cut it into four equal lengths and trim to fit in the barrel. I use 1/4" Daisy slingshot ammo. I also use cotton balls as the final wad. Works great!
 
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The link was for an 8 lb container of buckshot.

I'd prefer to buy just a pound if possible! Also, what size and time wad/card would be best for going over the three #4 buckshots? Thanks!
 
I think midway sells smaller quantities of buck shot - 3 or 5 pounds maybe?

Midway also sells wads, as does Circlefly. I'm not sure if they have the size you need. You should search both shotgun components and black powder cartridge components. You could definitely shoot a round ball with greased patches until you can find what you need though.
 
Oh yeah, I've got some .530 round balls and .010 lubricated patches coming, along with some other shooting supplies for the gun. I've already got caps, I do need to buy a can of GOEX or Swiss soon!
 
Unfortunately, I do not cast at this time.

Does anyone know what size wad I should use as an over shot wad to keep it from rolling out the barrel? Will a 28 gauge fiber wad work? Thanks!
 
28 gauge is generally reckoned at about a .54 caliber. I'd imagine a wad for a 28 gauge will work, but I've found that with BP, it's as much art as it is science. You might have to just take your best guess and try them.

I used to use the college newspaper for musket wadding back when I had the Brown Bess and that worked fine for me, but since that's not listed in any manual, whether you'd try something like that is your call.
 
goon said:
28 gauge is generally reckoned at about a .54 caliber. I'd imagine a wad for a 28 gauge will work, but I've found that with BP, it's as much art as it is science. You might have to just take your best guess and try them.

I used to use the college newspaper for musket wadding back when I had the Brown Bess and that worked fine for me, but since that's not listed in any manual, whether you'd try something like that is your call.
Click to expand...
Okay cool, I'll order some 28 gauge fiber wads. I see they sell two different thicknesses of wad, one appears to be nearly as thick as the bore is wide so it's like a cylinder and the other is thinner and is disc shaped. Which one would work best for me?

Also, I order a pistol ramrod that comes with a .54 cleaning jag that serves as the ramrod tip. Do you think I should have gotten a smaller one? Seems I will be mashing the top of the wadding over the ball since the tip will fill the bore... should I have gotten one with a .50 caliber tip, or even a .45 tip? Thanks!
 
I'm looking at this myself to figure out wad thickness for a brass shotshell project. I'm thinking I'll go with the thinner ones. If I need a thicker wad, I can just use two.

The big thing with yours is make sure It rams securely and you have no airspace between the powder and the ball. But past that, I'm not sure it matters much.
 
Try making paper cartridges

post-837-1247876039_zpsa64ed0fd.gif

You tear the paper and pour the powder in then ram the rest of the cartridge with the paper as the patch. It being tied off at the top would keep the projectiles in place. This is the way the soldiers armed with smoothbore muskets did it during the Civil War.
 
Kaeto said:
Try making paper cartridges

post-837-1247876039_zpsa64ed0fd.gif

You tear the paper and pour the powder in then ram the rest of the cartridge with the paper as the patch. It being tied off at the top would keep the projectiles in place. This is the way the soldiers armed with smoothbore muskets did it during the Civil War.
Click to expand...
Yep, I know, and I do plan to make paper cartridges for this in the near future.

Anybody know the specs for a .54 paper cartridge for a PISTOL? I have seen old preserved ones on the web, but no instructions how to make new ones or specifics like powder charge etc.
 
Here's how to make paper cartridges. You would use the same powder charge as you would for loose loading. I use the same instructions to make them for my .58 Springfield Rifle-Musket.

papercartridge_zpsac4123ee.jpg
 
Cooldill said:
Thanks all!! Oh, and does anyone know of a source for #4 buckshot where I don't have to buy 5 doggone pounds of the stuff? Thanks so much!!!
Click to expand...

Think I'd just buy a 5 round box of 3" 41 pellet #4 buck for ~$5 and call it good.....
 
She came today guys!!!

harpersferry.jpg

I got her a cleaned up and ready to go! Don't tell the law, but I even popped a cap off to make sure everything was working right, hint: it did *BANG!!* :eek:

I can't wait to shoot this gun! It seems amazing so far! I also definitely want to try my hand at making paper cartridges for it. I'll keep everyone posted on the progress. Thanks all!! :D
 
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