Question on charge size

[38-55]

In Pietta's instruction manual for the 1858 the min-max for FFFG is listed as 12-15 grains or 0.8-1 grams. Any other published data for the 1858 Rem I have seen calls for 20-30 grains with 35 grains as the max. Why the difference?

 

[mykeal]

Why is impossible to answer. You'd have to be one of Pietta's management people to know the answer to that, and they aren't saying. Some speculate it's the lawyers talking; grossly underloading leaves them lots of room to wiggle out of a product liability suit. Others claim there's some difference between an Italian grain and the US grain.

Suffice it to say, the right answer is: you cannot possibly oveload a percussion revolver. It will not hold enough powder to reach the safety limit of the cylinder; you can overload the chamber in terms of an accurate load, so don't fill it all the way up. The best load is probably somewhere between 20 and 30 grains; you get to try out several loads and see what's best for yourself, which, after all, is a great excuse to go shooting.

Some folks will now chime in and tell you what works best for them; don't assume it'll be best for you, but listen carefully as their experience is not meaningless. Take their advice and try what they suggest, plus a little either side and you'll get the right answer for you.

 

[Voodoochile]

Man mykeal, I saw your post & thought, there is no way any one can say it any better.

I'm not even going to suggest any of my loads because they are within your marks from your post.

 

[bigbadgun]

Damn mykeal and voodoo you guys hit it on the head.

 

[mykeal]

I had no choice. I've used up all my AW-S*ITS for this week. One more and I forfeit all my meager stash of ATTBOYS. And SWMBO never misses an opportunity to adjust the account. Gotta go switch the stuff in the washer to the dryer now...

 

[38-55]

Thanks for the straight forward answer! My thought too was that maybe a grain in Italy was different than a grain here. It just made me think twice when I read Pietta's load recomendation. I'll start somewhere around 22 grains and work the load up to the most accurate point. Like you said.... more of an excuse to shoot more

 

[Hoxviii]

nah, a grain is a grain is a grain. It's just them covering their tails.

Funny thing is, i was at a shooting range and there was a kid next to me with a blackpowder revolver he'd just picked up. He started at the minimum recommended load and it squibbed the first shot.

I noticed and jumped in before he could fire again, knocked the ball out and next shot- squibbed. bullet kept getting stuck about 1" up the barrel.

 

[BHP FAN]

OK,personally I like 20 of 3F for .36,and 30 of 2F for .44,but mykeal is right what has worked for me in my revolvers might not work as well in yours.

 

[Smokin_Gun]

Some folks will now chime in and tell you what works best for them; don't assume it'll be best for you, but listen carefully as their experience is not meaningless. Take their advice and try what they suggest, plus a little either side and you'll get the right answer for you.

ATTABOY!!! Mykeal thought I'd chime in...jolly good relpy #2.

 

[Jack Rabbit]

Powder

I'm thinking that with BP if you use to much it's still burning after the ball leaves the barrel. This has only one drawback Wast of powder.?$

 

[scrat]

I would say start off around 20 grains and work up to around 30-35 Max no more. Check when you use that much powder too as you need to make sure you will still have room to press in a ball other wise you will find your self having to remove the cylinder to get the ball out or. Remove the nipple to dump some powder. Then since your using a 1858 do not use less than 20 grains. as the loading lever on an 1858 does not go as deep as a colt. So if you load a very small charge the bal may not reach the powder. Making the firearm into an explosive device rather than a gun.

 

[38-55]

Thanks for the heads up on the minimum charge Scrat. I hadn't thought of that.