Well, insanity struck and I bought a .32 Pedersoli Percussion that should be here anyday.

While I shot a little blackpowder 30 years ago, I've forgotten about all I knew which wasn't much to start with.

I plan on using buckshot for balls unless someone has a better idea. Any advice on loads, type of material and sources for wrapping the ball would be appreciated.

I know its in books and I've got plenty of them, just would appreciate some first hand specific knowledge. Thanks. CAT

While buck shot is OK, make sure it is .310 in diameter. I would buy Hornady .310 round balls till I picked up a good .310 ball mold, me I prefer bag molds but a bigger mold is easier IF you do not plan on cvarrying the mold into the field on extended hunting trips. As to loads, I shoot 20 grains to plink with but as to hunting it depends. The rule of thumb is take the caliber of the rifle, in this case a 32, and begin with that grainage of powder (FFFg if black true powder or same if rifle Pyrodex/other BP substitute) and work a load up from there that is consistant in accuracy. I would begin with 30 grains. Old timers would tell you thatyou loaded the percussion rifle with too much BP when it blew the hammer back to 1/2 cock when it went off, I do not reccomend trying this but have seen it done! Now what are you hunting if hunting with it? If small game, 30 to 45 grains will do great. My daughter hunts deer with her 32 and she shoots 55 grains of FFFg, .310 round ball, and uses a .015 greased patch. She has taken several deer with hers and has NEVER lost one BUT shot placement is very crucial in the taking of deer with a 32 caliber BP rifle. Some good products are the pre-greased Ox-Yoke patches. they run from .010 to .025 in thickness so you can play around with them to see which combo of .310 balls and which thickness patch will do the best job. Let me make a suggestion, http://www.dixiegunworks.com
is a great place to get what you need and their catalog (which costs $5) is a huge WEALTH of info as to loads, velocities, and general knowledge on black powder guns from flint locks to cartridge black powder guns. You can order anything you need from them but get a catalog, best $5 you will spend IMHO. Alos here are a couple of other places that are good as to buying items:
http://www.logcabinshop.com
http://www.trackofthewolf.com
I have been into BP shooting for 25+ years and shoot all types, prefer flint locks, but a 32 rifle is a lot of fun just to plink with (I have a true 1800s 22 percussion as well)and is a good rifle to hunt with. Back in the 18th century the Spanish ordered several 100 32 SMOOTH BORE rifles to trade to the natives of the southern US (what was then held by Spain) from many colonial gun builders so the 32 has been around a LONG time and is very versetile.

As to cleaning, many a good product out there but nothing is as simple as boiling hot water with dawn dish soap in it. It works great. After cleaning grease the bore with some TC bore butter or any good bore oil/grease. Also be sure to put some good grease or anti-seize grease on teh threads of the nipple after cleaning the rifle.

Enjoy the new smoke pole and as always, be safe around black powder.

Pedersoli is pretty good on publishing bore/groove sizes that really match reality. That's the first place to check before you buy rb. Or you may have a number set of drills where you can use the shank of a drill as a plug gauge for finding bore diameter, or perhaps a 30, 31, or 32 caliber bullet. You get your round ball after you figure bore diameter and have an idea of groove depth. You want a little thicker patch with deep grooves, but in consideration of available ball size. You may want to cut up a buckshot shell as a quick way to find samples like "0" @ .320" or "1" @ .30"". Pocket drill from old jeans or khakis is usually close to .011 thick, my experience with .32 tells me common ticking is too thick at .017. You may try old high thread count cotton sheeting at .008/9, maybe .006 for well worn. Thirty-twos are high velocity guns. In my old South Carolina caplock/Douglas barrel rifle I use 15 and 30 grain charges. They shoot the same at 25 yards and almost so to 60 yards. FFFg. Beeswax/tallow patch, "0" bulk (.321) buck., Ragged hole. The 15 grain load is like shooting squirrels with a 32-20, the 30 grain like a 30 carbine nearly. Use a steel rod and jag for a little tighter loading for target. Load with your gun ramrod easily for hunting by fitting your ball & patch combination. Wipe every shot for target, every other for hunting. You will likely have patch cutting no matter with a new barrel, shoot till it smooths out or lap. 2 grains powder makes a dfference in accuracy, so test carefully. I can't speak to anything but black in this. Good shooting.

Thanks to both of you for very helpful replys.
When you say "patch" every shot for targets, etc., do you mean just run a tight fitting patch down the barrel to remove residue?

By "patch" in reference to target shooting for the .32, My practice is to take a damp patch out of a little plastic tub, push it down the bore to the breech plug and withdraw and discard, then load with a BW/Tallow patch cut at the muzzle. Cut patches ARE more accurate. For hunting or for fun or tin cans, where you emulate field conditions, I often use a .005 oiled patch, and all else the same for loading. Then use a spit dampened cleaning patch every other shot. The object is to maintain bore conditions suitable for target or the hunt. Some fouling is desirable and you normally are allowed foulers/sighters in a target shooting game. Know where your first shot goes out of a clean barrel. You need to know for hunting. I rarely snap a cap before loading. If the barrel was clean and oiled, wipe out the oil. If you hear air in and out of the flashhole or nipple, you know fire will pass, Caps are mostly not corrosive now, but their fouling WILL attract moisture over time and damage a bore. Rough bores don't shoot well unless you are lucky.

How about a conical like the ones pictured with a .50 and a .36 for comparison.

Sean.

Sean,

who's making those moulds for you?

Rich
DRSS

Hi Rich.

One of our local BP guys by the name of Mike Neuman. Many of the guys on the US side who have bought his moulds reckon he makes the best moulds in the world. The two of us sat down and came up with the .32 and .36 bullets while the .50 in the pic is my design. The .32 weighs 107gr, the .36 is 141gr and that .50 is 395gr. All are tapered maxi types while the .50 also has a hollow base and is a mini/maxi cross.

Sean.

I've used both the Lee tumble lube cast bullet SWC in 32 and the Bulk Hornady WC in my 32 with great results. I either paper patch or use an .005 greased patch and the same RB charges. This gives the same POI as RB out to 50 yards and excellent accuracy.