Pyrodex loads
I have a 54 cal T/C flintlock. I will be using Pyrodex RS with a Hornaday .530 round ball. I don't know how many grains it is, only that they weigh 14.7 grams each. How many grains of Pyrodex would be my maximum load?. Is there a good place to find charts for this?.
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I guess you understand that Pyrodex is interchangable with black powder on the basis of volume, rather than weight, and actually weighs about 1/3 less than a comparable volume of black powder. So, for example, if you have developed a load of black powder based on one scoop of a dipper you made from an empty 12 ga. shotgun shell, you can use the same dipper full of Pyrodex with confidence; but you can not pour the dipper full of black powder onto a scale, determine how much it weighs, and then load that same weight of Pyrodex---because you will be 1/3 over in volume and who knows how much in pressure. This is a 'round-about way of answering your question, but if you determine what a maximum load for your rifle is using published loads of black powder, then utilizing the same VOLUME of Pyrodex will give you a maximum using that propellent. Common sense, however, dictates that you would back off a little and slowly work up to the maximum for your rifle. Hodgdon does publish a Pyrodex manual, and as far as I know they're free for the asking. 0 -
Ezekiel.ii, I have a CVA Hawken in 54 cal and I load it up to 120 grains of FF BP so I would not be afraid to load it with 120 grains of Pyrodex. One thing to remember is that you do not need a heavy load for hunting purposes and especially target shooting. The only reason I load 120 grains is that is what I get a good pattern at 100 yards with it during deer season. There is a company called Dixie Gun Works that puts out a catolog for either $5 or $8 and it has a whole lot of BP/Pyrodex loading data in the back 1/5 of it. It is well worth the price and if you purchase something from them they take the price of the catolog off your order. Here is the link to their site:
http://www.dixiegunworks.com
where you can order their catolog. What Der Gebirgsjager was stateing is correct so you cannot weigh them out by scales and it is best to use a powder measure. As to what loads to start with, begin with 55 grains then work your weigh up. As I stated I load 120 grains of FF BP. hope this helps. Just my 2 cents worth.
God protect me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies...0 -
I'll second both the above statements... Most smokepoles seem to shoot best at about 80% of the maximium charge. I used to shoot a CVA .50 that everytime it was fired I had it on max charge (I was young and stupid). After 10 years or so (which sounds like a long time, but considering it was only shot hunting that wasn't very many bullets), the barrel got shot out and now it is just a wall hanger. I took over 50 deer with that gun, I sure kick myself for loading it hot.
Remember also that blackpowder or its substitutes are slow-burning and depending on your length of barrel you won't get any extra velocity out of it. A chrony is the only way to know if it really benefits you.
Good luck.0 -
Most makers will list a maximum load in their user manual; this will be somewhat less than what a "safe" load might be because of liability, etc. As others have stated, use a black powder equivalent VOLUME measure, start out low, and shoot a few rounds. Gradually increase your load by a few grains at a time until you find one to your liking. Personally, I don't shoot anything over 80-90 gr. ffg; anything more than that ends up unburned on the snow in front of me, or at least some of it. That load will push a round ball thru a deer unless it hits a heavy bone. Sometimes Pyrodex is hard to ignite in a flintlock, others seem to have no problem. Oh, your round ball weighs 227 gr.using the conversion: grams divided by .0648 = grains www.4oakton.com/TechTips/OAK_TT19.pdf
Hope this helps. Emery
"Well done is better than well said"
Ben Franklin0 -
Sam Fadala has published the Black Powder Loading Manual and lists tested optimum and maximum loads for a large variety of front stuffers. Published by Lyman as I remember, check www.bookfinder.com for a nice used copy.
My heros have always killed cowboys.0
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