First Black Powder!

[mrclean89]

I have a percussion .69 or so caliber that I have been refinishing. I have fired shot out of it and the spread is outrageous haha still fun though

Mclean

 

[Brutus]

As long as it functions with reasonable reliability, then I'm satisfied. It's no bench-rest pistol, that's for sure. Hell, it doesn't even have sights on it.

So, I got my calipers out and confirmed that it's a .65 bore.

What size ball and patch would you suggest? .648"?

It just occurred to me that perhaps getting such a large caliber as a first BP might have been a poor choice. I don't recall lead being that expensive! lol

Also, any experience shooting shot from this kind of pistol?

Well my .65 calibre runs about the same at .645 & .647 for each of the two barrels. My scissor mold pops them out at about .625 in round ball diameter. I use pure lead for this.
My patches are about .017 in thickness.
I have yet to fire small shot loads from this one of mine.
I did find a quote from an American sight regarding these "horse pistols" originally by the famous gunwriter W.W. Greene. He is quoted as saying birdshot/buckshot loads should be about 3/4s of an ounce for this size of bore. Assuming we are talking about good shooting condition of course.

 

[SCDL]

I have a couple of British 24ga (.577 cal.) pistols that I plan on trying with shot.

Do take pics!

I have a percussion .69 or so caliber that I have been refinishing. I have fired shot out of it and the spread is outrageous haha still fun though

Mclean

hit-your-neighbour's-target kind of outrageous? Because that doubles as being HILARIOUS. For you at least.

Well my .65 calibre runs about the same at .645 & .647 for each of the two barrels. My scissor mold pops them out at about .625 in round ball diameter. I use pure lead for this.
My patches are about .017 in thickness.
I have yet to fire small shot loads from this one of mine.
I did find a quote from an American sight regarding these "horse pistols" originally by the famous gunwriter W.W. Greene. He is quoted as saying birdshot/buckshot loads should be about 3/4s of an ounce for this size of bore. Assuming we are talking about good shooting condition of course.

So, about 75% the mass of a round ball? I wonder if this translates well to other gauges.

 

[Brutus]

Do take pics!



hit-your-neighbour's-target kind of outrageous? Because that doubles as being HILARIOUS. For you at least.



So, about 75% the mass of a round ball? I wonder if this translates well to other gauges.

Gosh I don't know if the percentage translates to other bore sizes? I think he meant 3/4s of an ounce and that's it as a defintitive answer.