.54 cal powder load?

Chopperhead

Chopperhead

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ok well im very new too blackpowder and ive got my flintlock now, but I don't know how much pwder too put in it? Ive got a pound of ffg and a pound of fffg.

im a comlete newbie to this here so be as specific as you can. Ive only ever shot blackpowder once at a heritage festival and i loved it, and several months later, here we are with my own flinter, but no idea what too do with it.

Ive got patches,balls,flints and the tools, I just need to know how much pwder too put in it so i don't blow myself and/or my gun up.

oh also im just gonna be target shooting, so I don't need super strong hunting loads.
 
If a modern repro. up to 110 grains will be safe. I like 90 gr of 2F an RB. Pan charge 4F, up to the flash hole, and keep it clear to avoid hang fire. British flints are best.
Note the 3F will also work, since you got it. 70 - 90 gr of it will work fine.
 
54 cal loads, i use 60 gr of 2f for roundy shooting except
for the 200 meter gong at heffly for which i use 100 gr.
i use honey dew on my patches, thats 3/4 lbs pure beeswax in i liter good olive oil. heat to 350 deg F
and loosly hold about 30 patches with pliers and dip
for 30 seconds. with 60 gr of 2f ,i can shoot all day
with no fowling.
 
ok I baught the 3f for the pan, but I guess i should have got 4f then??

will 3f still work though?


also how do you get the powder from the can too the measure?? im guesing like some kinda of funnel?? like i said, im so new to this it's scary lol, never reloaded or anything either so ive never had to use pwder for anything.
 
Suggestion?
---Take a day at the range and find out what powder/load/patch/lube combo works best for you in your rifle.

What's best for my DGW (Pedersoli) Jaeger rifle using a 0.535" round ball or minie ball with it's particular barrel length, rate of twist, and the lube I use (naturalube 1000+) may not give anywhere near the same results in whatever you're firing. Besides, the worst thing that can happen is that you've spent a day making smoke & holes in targets? Isn't that what you bought the rifle for anyway? Sounds cool to me?
 
Just remember, the old boys with the original rifles back in the mists of time weren't that complicated and they did just fine. I doubt that you could blow up a modern replica muzzleloader unless you really tried. Just make sure the ball is well seated on the powder charge.
 
smoothbore75 said:
Suggestion?
---Take a day at the range and find out what powder/load/patch/lube combo works best for you in your rifle.

What's best for my DGW (Pedersoli) Jaeger rifle using a 0.535" round ball or minie ball with it's particular barrel length, rate of twist, and the lube I use (naturalube 1000+) may not give anywhere near the same results in whatever you're firing. Besides, the worst thing that can happen is that you've spent a day making smoke & holes in targets? Isn't that what you bought the rifle for anyway? Sounds cool to me?
Click to expand...

I just wanted an aprox. idea of how much powder. wasn't looking for exactly the best for my gun. but I really had no idea and if someone told me to put 300grains of 3f in it, then i would have. i just wanted a starting place to find whats the best.
 
Chopperhead,
-Sorry, I wasn't trying to come off like a #### in that last message. You've had some pretty good advice from the guys here so far, and I hope you have fun figuring what works best for you & your rifle. You've picked a pretty addictive hobby.
-Books like the Lyman Black Powder Handbook & Loading Manual suggest .54cal loads between 40-120gr for Goex powder in either FFG or FFFG for 230gr 0.535" round balls. I mention that because it's also a pretty decent book to have if you're starting out. Also good for info are the annual Dixie Gun Works catalogs, and they also happen to sell some really neat stuff that might interest you.
-Start with low charges, and see what gives you the best accuracy for the least recoil. I'd fire a few rounds at 40gr at whatever distance you plan to do the majority of your shooting at to get used to it, and increase 5 or 10gr every few shots and see what happens to accuracy. When accuracy starts to get worse and/or it hurts too much to continue, go back to what worked best. I'd expect you'd get best results somewhere between 40-65grs.
-Safety-wise, I do wear glasses, and make sure the patched ball is seated tightly against the powder charge. You'd have to seriously over-charge the rifle to damage it as long as your ball is well-seated. Air-gaps can cause pressure-spikes even with otherwise safe powder-charges.
-I've used the brass powder measure/dispensers, and powder horns & loose measures, to load with. The one big warning you'll hear is never to load directly from a storage can, horn, etc, into your rifle. One little remaining spark or ember in the bore can lead to a really bad day.
-Have fun with it, stay safe, and let us know how it works out.
 
I'll let you know how it goes, when I finally get out too shoot it (im so busy with work and christmas right now)

and thanks for the advice.

oh one more thing. is that flint supossed to be kinda loose? ive tightened it down as tight as it'll go and i can still push the leather and flint out of the holder thingy pretty easlily.
 
The flint shouldn't move, how are the threads on the hammer ? leather non-compressable ? Do you have another flint to try?
On my .54 I plink with 25gr FFg and find that 75gr FFg gives me my flattest trajectory out to 100 yds.
Cheers nessy.
 
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