Pietta 44 help

[Yeedonkey]

I had this guy who owed me some money end up paying me back with a pietta 44 Remington 1858 replica. It is a brass framed model, and I was wondering what the best loads would be, like 451 vs 454 round balls, and how much of what type of powder to use. Any help is appreciated.

I would like a cheaper Target load and also something to hit hard. I just don't know how hard to push a brass frame.

 

[rb288]

I have an 1851 Navy in 44 that I load a .454 ball with 30 gr of 777.
Works fine, very accurate, easy clean up.

 

[Yeedonkey]

Is yours a brass frame? 30 seems like a lot if it is

 

[1KPerDay]

I would like a cheaper Target load and also something to hit hard. I just don't know how hard to push a brass frame.

Not hard. I'd shoot 20 grains max in a brass frame. If you want to hot rod it you need a steel-framed gun. Sorry.
My Piettas like .454" hornady swaged lead round balls. if .451 shaves a ring of lead, you should be fine. For target load you could go 15-18 grains of ffg or fffg and a bit of cornmeal or cream-of-wheat over the top, then a lubed felt wad, then the ball. Or powder/filler/ball and then some crisco or bore butter, or tallow/beeswax over the ball. But it's messier.

 

[hawg]

.454 balls and no more than 20 grains of powder. That brass frame will beat itself to death if you go over 20.

 

[Yeedonkey]

Thanks for the replys I at least have a starting point now

 

[1KPerDay]

It should go without saying that you ONLY shoot real black powder or black powder substitutes in this thing.

 

[Yeedonkey]

It should go without saying that you ONLY shoot real black powder or black powder substitutes in this thing.

I knew that much I just needed to know how much powder and what ball size works best

 

[paul harm]

For 12 years I shot in competition 20 grains and a 451 RB.