AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Black Powder Shooting => Topic started by: projeeper on June 13, 2009, 12:57:06 AM
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what is a good starting load for the first shots out of a just done rifle?45 cal, 13/16 across the flats, flint, 3 1/16 pins and tang screw holding the barrel
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If she were mine I'd start with 45 3 f goex or 40 swiss and move uip til she seems to have peaked groupwise then go out from 25 yds to 50 etc. I move my charge up as I move out. Some shooters do fine by showing more frt sight; but thats a whole 'nuther' story :D
Some folks claim they sight in offhand I must get comfy and shoot from a rest to do that... ;D
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I agree with Roger about the starting load. Dont site your rifle in till you establish a group. Do this from a bench or some kind of stable rest to eliminate errors. Then site your rifle in after you have worked up a load she likes. Then have fun. My 50 cal shoots the same POI at 50 yards as it does at 25 yards. Ed
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I always use the old standard of as many grains of powder as the caliber of the gun. Fifty grains for a fifty caliber, and (in your case) 45 grains for a forty five. Remember the finer the powder, the more of it fits in the same space. So a charge of 3f will be a bit more powerful that a charge of 2f.
Maximum load is usually twice the standard load.
In pistols, halve both (25 grains for a Fifty cal, etc, with a max of 50 grains).
This is not a unvariable law, just a handy guide for starting loads.
Dave
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Sounds like all good advice to me.