Need a answer for my dad

[Sburk1993]

So my dad was wondering about how to load his brass framed revolvers for accuracy. He knows no heavy loads. He asked what would be the best way to load it. What do you all think.
1. Powder, filler, ball
2. Powder, filler, wad, ball
3. Powder, wad, filler, ball

I've heard it all these ways. I know this is similar to a question I asked about hunting loads but he is just going to plink

Thanks all

 

[noelf2]

Accuracy depends on the gun, and all are a bit different. Tell your dad to experiment and find the best load for his gun.

 

[Bruce D Pease]

For what it’s worth.
In my 1851, Traditions Confederate Navy 44, Brasser, I use 20 grains of Pyrodex P, a cabelas wonder wad, and a .454 ball. Accurate as all get out.

 

[Mark_Mark]

For what it’s worth.
In my 1851, Traditions Confederate Navy 44, Brasser, I use 20 grains of Pyrodex P, a cabelas wonder wad, and a .454 ball. Accurate as all get out.

why do I want a Brasser! now

 

[hawg]

why do I want a Brasser! now

Because you want everything you hear about.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Try this on loading. Point the barrel up and drop the loading lever, this is the volume of powder with a wad seated on top. Once it's been loaded with that amount of powder and wad place a small amount of lube on top of the wad. Start the ball or bullet and slowly push it down until it just touches the wad. I've tried this method and it works very well for accuracy loads. I doubt that it will be rough on the brass frame but if it starts imprinting the cylinder into the brass back off the load. A lot will also depend if the arbor is short, you don't want the cylinder acting like a slidehammer.

 

[hawg]

I'm not a fan of fillers.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I'm not a fan of fillers.

why not?

 

[Sburk1993]

Thanks all I relay the information to him

 

[Sburk1993]

I'm not a fan of fillers.

I have never used them I just started to use wads with my new 1858. I use to load powder, ball, bees wax lude. Accuracy wasn't very good for me with the revolvers I had at that time.

 

[Sburk1993]

why do I want a Brasser! now

I will say they are visually appealing. All my BP guns serve a purpose or at least I want them too. It's easier to convince my wife I need them if they do lol. One reason I won't own another is I would hate to be a great shot with a brasser and not with my steel framed. I take my 1858 with me when I'm hunting for protection. And when it's the right season I'd like to try and take a deer with it if they get close enough.

 

[Bibbyman]

Best little guns I ever bought.

 

[noelf2]

I'm not a fan of fillers.

Me neither, but I don't have a gun that could be damaged by using more BP as the filler. If I had a brasser, I might try it to see if I could peak the accuracy.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Ball weight consistency is more important than filler or wads.

 

[doubleh]

I have never used filler in any blackpowder gun except a 50-140 cartridge rifle that I turned into a 50-70 with the use of corn meal as a filler.

 

[Patocazador]

The wads I have can be separated with my thumbnail into 2 or 3 thinner wads. I use these thinner wads if I have a large powder charge in my ROA. I load 35-40 grains of 3F, a thin wad with beeswax/lard on the ball side of the wad, then the ball or cast bullet. If I use a lighter load, I use the whole wad for a spacer.

 

[hawg]

Me neither, but I don't have a gun that could be damaged by using more BP as the filler. If I had a brasser, I might try it to see if I could peak the accuracy.

You're not going to notice an increase in accuracy whether you use a filler or not. Maybe if you shoot off a rest but even then it will be nominal.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I think the whole key to it is consistency, same powder charge, same weight bullet or balls. Blowing breakfast food down range most likely ain't gonna help accuracy.

 

[J-Bar]

If it were me…

Keep the powder charge in a brass framed revolver at 20 grains or less, to eliminate the possibility of frame stretch. You may get better accuracy with more powder, but the risk of stretch increases proportionately, so once again you pays your money and you takes your chance.

Avoid over-the-ball lube. A round ball is bad enough aerodynamically without coating it with something else. Avoid fillers. Use one or two lubed felt wads between powder and ball to get the seated ball as close as possible to the cylinder face to minimize the “jump” into the barrel.

Weigh the balls with a powder scale and sort into groups appropriately, It’s surprising how much they can vary.

All the above can be negated with a jerk of the trigger. Don’t ask me how I know.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

The lubed felt over powder wads take up a good amount of space. That could be all you need.

 

[PapaG]

Target load for my Navy 36 was 20 yr 3f, cornmeal to cylinder mouth, 375 ball, grease.
Or powder, wad, ball.
ROA, 20 gr, corn meal, wad, 457 ball.
Try all the variations. Your gun will like one best.