Muzzleloading pistol velocities?

[A strange person]

What kind of velocities could be achieved with .50 caliber round balls from pistols such as the "Kentucky" (10-3/8" barrel) and "Bounty" (16-3/8" barrel) models by Pedersoli, or the Lyman plains pistol (9-3/4" barrell)? BP load data for specific weapons seems to be an extremely arcane subject, and I am getting very frustrated with the futility of trying to find it on the internet.

Also, I have heard that the load data provided by Pedersoli for their handguns is actually less than their actual max loads, because handgun hunting is illegal in Italy and most people would prefer a more pleasant target load. Is there any truth to this?

I am not talking about CB revolvers; I have done plenty of research on these.

Any stories and pictures of killing game with BP pistols would be appreciated as well.

Thanks.

 

[makos_goods]

Your name is actually quite accurate...

 

[rio nueces]

makos goods, that remark seems uncalled for.
Whats so strange about wanting to determine actual velocities?
It is a most legitimate question.
I'd like to know also, if someone has real chronograph values.
I know where there is for sale a Lyman Plains in .50 for $100. I've been thinking of buying it.

 

[A strange person]

I take that as a compliment, actually.

 

[mykeal]

In The Gun Digest Blackpowder Loading Manual, 4th Edition, by Sam Fadala:

CVA .45 cal Kentucky Pistol, 10 3/4" barrel, 1153 fps & 381 fpe from 40 gr/vol fffg Goex with .440" 129 gr rb & .013" lubed patch

Lyman .54 cal Plains pistol, 8" barrel: 952 fps & 453 fpe from 40 gr/vol fffg Goex with .530" 220 gr rb & .013" lubed patch

Fadala doesn't list any data for Pedersoli, nor any pistols with a barrel length near that of the Bounty. The Lyman Plains pistol barrel length is 8", not 9 3/4".

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

Lyman used to put out, one of the dbi books,Black Powder Handbook, that gave velocities for lots of weapons by model and maker.

But I just looked it only has C&B revolvers, so ( I 'm going to give you some numbers, and when the experts jump on me, maybe it will be with some more accurate info)

I'm going to say 50 caliber round ball, with at least an 8" barrel, should make 850fps pretty easy, with careful loading up to1200fps.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

For Use With .45 Caliber
Thompson/Center Scout Pistol
.015" Patches Lubricated with
Maxi-Lube or Natural Lube 1000 Plus.
Use No.11 Percussion Caps.
.45 Caliber Pistol
Black Powder &
Round Ball Loads
.440" Diameter
Lead Ball
Weight (Grains)
Black Powder
Charge (Grains)
Muzzle Velocity
(Feet Per Second)
Muzzle Energy
(Foot Pounds)
127 Grain
Lead Ball
50 grs. FFG 1285 F.P.S. 466 Ft. Lbs.
60 grs. FFG 1401 F.P.S. 554 Ft. Lbs.
*70 grs. FFG 1486 F.P.S. 623 Ft. Lbs.
80 grs. FFG 1530 F.P.S. 660 Ft. Lbs.
90 grs. FFG 1566 F.P.S. 692 Ft. Lbs.
100 grs. FFG 1627 F.P.S. 747 Ft. Lbs.
*This Load is Recommended For Optimum Accuracy & Performance
Load Shown in Red is Maximum
For Use With .50 Caliber
Thompson/Center Scout Pistol
.015" Patches Lubricated with
Maxi-Lube or Natural Lube 1000 Plus.
Use No.11 Percussion Caps.
.50 Caliber Pistol
Black Powder &
Round Ball Loads
.490" Diameter
Lead Ball
Weight (Grains)
Black Powder
Charge (Grains)
Muzzle Velocity
(Feet Per Second)
Muzzle Energy
(Foot Pounds)
175 Grain
Lead Ball
50 grs. FFG 1221 F.P.S. 580 Ft. Lbs.
60 grs. FFG 1291 F.P.S. 648 Ft. Lbs.
70 grs. FFG 1479 F.P.S. 850 Ft. Lbs.
*80 grs. FFG 1654 F.P.S. 1063 Ft. Lbs.
90 grs. FFG 1755 F.P.S. 1197 Ft. Lbs.
100 grs. FFG 1847 F.P.S. 1325 Ft. Lbs.
*This Load is Recommended For Optimum Accuracy & Performance
Load Shown in Red is Maximum
55
For Use With .54 Caliber
Thompson/Center Scout Pistol
.015" Patches Lubricated with
Maxi-Lube or Natural Lube 1000 Plus.
Use No.11 Percussion Caps.
.54 Caliber Pistol
Black Powder &
Round Ball Loads
.530" Diameter
Lead Ball
Weight (Grains)
Black Powder
Charge (Grains)
Muzzle Velocity
(Feet Per Second)
Muzzle Energy
(Foot Pounds)
230 Grain
Lead Ball
60 grs. FFG 1137 F.P.S. 660 Ft. Lbs.
70 grs. FFG 1322 F.P.S. 893 Ft. Lbs.
*80 grs. FFG 1489 F.P.S. 1132 Ft. Lbs.
90 grs. FFG 1585 F.P.S. 1283 Ft. Lbs.
100 grs. FFG 1670 F.P.S. 1424 Ft. Lbs.
110 grs. FFG 1738 F.P.S. 1543 Ft. Lbs.
*This Load is Recommended For Optimum Accuracy & Performance
Load Shown in Red is Maximum
For Use With .45 Caliber
Thompson/Center Scout Pistol
Bullets lubricated with
Maxi-Lube or Natural Lube 1000 Plus.
Use No.11 Percussion Caps
.45 Caliber Pistol
Black Powder &
Maxi-Ball • Maxi-Hunter Loads
.45 Caliber
Lead Bullet
Weight (Grains)
Black Powder
Charge (Grains)
Muzzle Velocity
(Feet Per Second)
Muzzle Energy
(Foot Pounds)
190 gr. Maxi- Hunter®
&
200 gr. Maxi-Ball®
70 grs. FFG 1341 F.P.S. 799 Ft. Lbs.
80 grs. FFG 1418 F.P.S. 893 Ft. Lbs.
90 grs. FFG 1446 F.P.S. 929 Ft. Lbs.
100 grs. FFG 1521 F.P.S. 1028 Ft. Lbs.
255 gr. Maxi-Hunter®
&
240 gr. Maxi-Ball®
70 grs. FFG 1275 F.P.S. 921 Ft. Lbs.
80 grs. FFG 1336 F.P.S. 1011 Ft. Lbs.
*90 grs. FFG 1366 F.P.S. 1057 Ft. Lbs.
100 grs. FFG 1393 F.P.S. 1099 Ft. Lbs.
320 gr. Maxi-Hunter®
&
320 gr. Maxi-Ball®
70 grs. FFG 1094 F.P.S. 851 Ft. Lbs.
*80 grs. FFG 1240 F.P.S. 1093 Ft. Lbs.
90 grs. FFG 1346 F.P.S. 1288 Ft. Lbs.
*This Load is Recommended For Optimum Accuracy & Performance
Load Shown in Red is Maximum
56
For Use With .50 Caliber
Thompson/Center Scout Pistol
Bullets lubricated with
Maxi-Lube or Natural Lube 1000 Plus.
Use No.11 Percussion Caps
.50 Caliber Pistol

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

See? And 357 mag velocities!??

that pistol with the 16 3/8" barrel should be awesome for deer from a tree stand.

 

[makos_goods]

makos goods, that remark seems uncalled for.
Whats so strange about wanting to determine actual velocities?
It is a most legitimate question.
I'd like to know also, if someone has real chronograph values.
I know where there is for sale a Lyman Plains in .50 for $100. I've been thinking of buying it.

Nueces,
read the content of the original post...


It just struck me as odd and funny. The tone was a bit strident and the questions were a bit odd to an old cowboy who grew up on the river from Camp Wood down to Three Rivers. I think most of my friends there would agree, how about you?

Regards,
Mako

 

[A strange person]

Thanks for the info everyone.

The thompson/center scout pistol seems interesting, but it does not appear to be on their site. Discontinued maybe?

The Pedersoli bounty pistol can apparently take the same charges as their rifles. I found an article (evidently in a magazine published by Pedersoli) detailing heavy loads for this gun, and hunting with it. What an awesome weapon. Not quite a .44MAG, but close, and with a longer sight radius, of course. Maybe saboted loads would produce some impressive ballistics.

http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/uploads/riviste/6dpmag5.pdf