Loads for a .36 colt.

[TnShooter83]

I finally got around to shooting the Pietta .36 Colt.
As of now I'm only charging to 12 grains.
I haven't found a manual, but most other
pistols in .36 call for 15-20 grains of FFFg.
So I figured 12 grains wouldn't hurt.

Not that I need any more power, or velocity.
But I'd just like to know about what a full load is
in .36 cal.

I'm using .376 round balls, and a wonder wads if that makes any difference.

 

[dstorm1911]

I started loading 22 grns in my 1861 Colt navies after I had a ball bounce off a 2x6 plank at 20 feet and thump me in the forehead at 15 grns they don't bounce off the board anymore when shootin at playin cards........ man that was embarrasin I hadda draw onea my .44 Remmys and obliterate the playin card and plank to get my composure back

 

[Tommygunn]

I would use more than 12 grains -- that sounds more like a load for .31 caliber.
You can't really overload the gun. Stuffing too much powder in and you won't be able to load the ball.
However, while you can put a lot of powder in it, the max charge isn't necessarily the most accurate. You need to practice to find that.
12 grains won't hurt as long as there's no empty space between the powder & ball.

 

[.50cal]

I load 20-25 gr goex or 20 gr 777 then lubed felt wad in my remington new navy, my paterson I load only 20 gr max (to expensive to fix if broken) Both guns shoot accuratly with these loads.

 

[mcneill]

The general rule of thumb is to load an amount of powder equivalent to one-half the caliber. That is, a .36 caliber pistol would take 18 grains of powder. I round off to 20 grains (because it's easier to see the markings on the powder measure) which works well for me.

Jim

 

[Old Dragoon]

I fill the chamber to just compress the powder with the ball and to keep the ball under the mouth of the chamber. This works out to approx. 26 grn.s of FFFG and my 2nd Gen Colt Navy's love the load.