ROA Light Load

[adrumm]

Whats the smallest powder charge that will properly compress with the stock loading ram, no wad and .457 round ball?

I am going to shoot my Ruger Old Armys in CAS and want to keep the charge light if possible.

 

[straight-shooter]

The lightest load would be around 30 gr volume with no wad and only a ball. If you want to shoot lighter loads than that then you will need to use a filler like cream of wheat or corn meal. Corn Meal will compress better.

I would try something like a 20gr volume load with enough corn meal that your ram still properly seats the ball.

 

[anythingelse]

If you're shooting a ball, the ROA will hold about 40-45 grains of powder. I've heard of people shooting as little as 15 grains accurately, but they needed to use cornmeal. Just subtract your powder charge from 40, and add the difference in meal. For example, if you're shooting 15 grains of powder, load in 25 grains (by volume) of meal on top of that for proper compression with the stock load lever and round ball.

Some have told me that meal compresses more than BP itself, so you may want to throw an extra five grains in there to be sure. Ideally, after you ram it all down, the ball should be about 1/16" down from the opening/lip of the chamber.

 

[adrumm]

My goal is to use 100% powder, to lessen any confusion I might have at the loading table, and to cut down on the amount of stuff I have to carry with me.

Has anyone shot 30gr of straight powder? I just want to make sure the ball seats against the powder properly.

 

[pohill]

Not arguing, just asking - why do you need corn meal to seat the ball properly? I used cornmeal or Cream of Wheat when I first started shooting BP but gave it up as an unnecessary extra step. I could easily seat a ball in my ROA over 30 grs of BP. I know all about dead air space between the ball and powder, but I think you'd only run into problems if the amount of powder was so small that the rammer wouldn't push the ball down far enough.
Ramming the ball down is like using a Q-Tip: stop when you feel resistance.

 

[Macmac]

Pohill, I like to use light loads.. I also like the ball not overly deep in the cylinder bore, so wads or filler does this..

I have found better accuracy with lesser chargers, when all the killing done, is a paper plate..

I use 2 chargers one with powder and one with filler. or wads to make up the difference.

That is my why anyway...