Since this is the closest thing we have to a general black powder forum, I'll ask here: Does anyone have any idea what would be considered a max load for a Pietta replica 1858 Remington New Army cap and ball revolver in 44 caliber using .454 round balls? I want to hunt pigs with it, but most loads I see are pretty anemic.

Thanks

I don't know about your pistol. With my crappy CVA, the limiting factor was space. When I loaded to max the cylinder would not turn without shaving some lead.

Now, I never chrono'ed my gun, but I don't know if it is powerful enough for wild bore.

This is the case with the Ruger Old Army 45 cal revolver too.

I can't quite get a legal load for deer here in Md into the revolver and turn the cylinder.

JPK

The pigs we will be shooting will be on the smallish side, 60-80 lbs., some smaller. There's plenty of bigger ones there, but we know from experience (in the kitchen) to let the 150-plus-pound bores enjoy their old age.

I think 35-40 grains of fffg would be plenty, but I don't know if the gun will handle it. My manual said to shoot 15 grains as a max, and I know for a fact that this is a grossly underpowered load.

quote:

Originally posted by GAHUNTER:
I think 35-40 grains of fffg would be plenty, but I don't know if the gun will handle it. My manual said to shoot 15 grains as a max, and I know for a fact that this is a grossly underpowered load.

Fill up the cylinder see how many grains it will hold.
I don't think you will get 35-40 grains in the cylinder.

FWIW, I can't quite get 40grs (the legal minimum in MD) into the cylinder of a 45 Ruger Old Army. But I can get very close.

JPK

I always shot all I could stuff into mine without shaving, using Speer swaged.451's. It'll shoot straight through both doors of a 77 Ford truck. HOWEVER, if you have a Brass frame gun, throw it in the river and get a STEEL frame gun. The top strap WILL stretch on a Brass frame and eventually LOCK your cylinder. Ask me how I KNOW. '58 Remington Army my All-Time Favorite C&B, and best feeling grip of ANY pistol I ever held. Superior balance, handling, and Adequate power. DEADLY Accurate, too! Been trying to get enough Ahead to get a pair in Stainless. Tell you what, take a Remington, weigh out the charges on a scale, load Speer swaged RB's, and shoot it from a Ransom Rest. Do the same with a .357. The .357 has NOTHING on the old Remington.
KY Jim

Buy a quality Walker. They will hold about 45-50gr on top of a conical.

Rich

Yeah, but that loading lever spring is Bull, it lets the lever drop down and locks the cylinder, not a good thing with critters that bite or shoot back. A cable tie around the barrel and lever will fix that.

GAHUNTER, I dont know if this helps, hopefully this info will assist someone. I broke out my Lyman Black Powder handbook and for 44 cal 8 inch barrel with 138 gr round ball it shows a starting load of 19.0 grains FFFg, with velocity of approx. 772 fps and 182 Ft/lbs. The max load for the 44 round ball was 37.0 grains FFFg, velocity 960 fps and Ft/lbs 282.

138 Grs at 960 fps I guess would be close to a plus P 38 special load, my buddy has taken several pigs with his 9mm auto, so if you are reasonably close it should work. If you get TOO close you can start a fire...hair and burning black powder dont mix.....ask me how I know.

Eterry