Loads for a 54 Cal. Chambers Flintlock Pistol

[Fauquier]

I just completed building a Chambers Flintlock Pistol , 54 Cal.

Any favorite loads for this pistol ?

[volatpluvia]

In my Getz barreled pistol .54 I made to go with my Getz barreled .54 long rifle, I made both, I had a horn measure I made for 18 grains of 3fg, and a similar measure for 28 grains.  The 18 gr. load made really nice bang and a pleasant kick.  The 28 was a bit more serious in both sound and kick, but still pleasant to shoot with the plow handle.  One could shoot more in it.  If I remember the barrel was 10 inches, swamped with a shallow cone at the muzzle.  It was accurate if I shot enough.  If not it was not.  I used a .530 round ball with appr. .018 pillow ticking patch.  To just shoot I used alcohol and murphy's oil soap.  I did carry it in the woods a few times and used one of the commercial grease type lubes.
volatpluvia

[billd]

I also just finished putting one together.  Hope to shoot it next weekend.   There  was a write up in a gun magazine a few years ago about this gun.  I think I remember somewhere around 50 grains.  I do remember the accuracy test was fantastic. I plan on hunting deer with mine.

Jim is in Kentucky now, maybe he will chime in next week.

Bill

[WadePatton]

the "volumetric efficiency" equation, as esplained on here sommers, says that after 26 or so grains (2.63 x bbl length where caliber is .54) is where diminishing returns kicks in.

[Dphariss]

I just completed building a Chambers Flintlock Pistol , 54 Cal.

Any favorite loads for this pistol ?

If you intend to use it for something other than a prop or punching paper I would use about 40 grains to start.
I have never used less than 40 in a 50-54 but I carry them when hunting. I also tend to use slower twist barrels.
In short barrels, 5-6" loads over 40 in a 54 (at least) can get really loud.

Dan

[Daryl]

the "volumetric efficiency" equation, as esplained on here sommers, says that after 26 or so grains (2.63 x bbl length where caliber is .54) is where diminishing returns kicks in.

Wade - the .45 Colt & Walkers are a good examples of ball or bullet weight and powder charge.  The .45, with a 250gr. bullet easily used 40gr.fo pwoder andthe Walkers, with 9" of bl. used 55gr. but ball or up to 220gr. bullet.
The calibres are smaller, but the bullet/ball weights are similar.  The .54's, shooting 220gr. or 230gr. balls easily use the powder charges Dan speaks of. Formulae for figuring powder charges usually don't work well.  Is 26gr. more efficient than 50gr.- yes, when using fps per gr. as the criteria for efficiency but that 50gr. charge is MUCH more powerful and appropriate when shooting critters.

[hanshi]

Too much emphasis is often put on "efficiency".  The .22LR is more efficient than the .22/250; but which would you rather have for prairie dogs at 400 yards??

[WadePatton]

Oh, i thought i had learn-ed something. 

so the "efficiency" equation has no real use here?  ball-park load? at some point the extra powder is just that, and is limiting burn time by shortening the bbl--which would seem to be more of a problem in a short bbl.

I _am_ a fan of the "observed efficiency" method (i thunk it up, haven't tried it yet). to wit: shooting at extended range onto large target using ONE point of aim, one increases powder charge until POI stops climbing significantly on the target.   howsat?

based on point of impact being a function of time of flight which gets shorter as velocity climbs.  complicated by conditions and setup and shooter ability (as is everything).

[Dphariss]

ACCURACY is important. The powder charge used is just what is needed to make the gun accurate.
I had a 54 Sharon Hawken years ago that needed 120 gr of FFF to get it to shoot.
Had I decided that the formula was all the powder I should use I would have had to rebarrel the rifle since it shot like a smoothbore. It liked a lot of powder.
So while the formula is interesting, for practical use to the rifleman its just a number.

Dan

[Dphariss]

With 60 gr of FFF this 54 pistol made about 980 fps IIRC. Notebook is around here someplace.


Think this is about 10" with the patent breech.

Loads over 45gr need a well designed TG
This is good to at least 70 gr in a 58. The most I shot in it.


This is only good for about 40 gr in a 54. But this pistol is also significantly lighter having a tapered barrel.


I built a percussion pistol in 54 with the TOW Hawken pistol guard, I think that is what is on the one on the saddle as well.
I shot 70 gr in it with no pain but I cut the finger hooks off the guards.

Dan

[billd]

I test fired my .54 Chambers pistol last week.  It's not finished, tried it in the white.   18 yards at my local pistol range with the forearm on a sandbag.  With a 2" bull 30 grains 3F hit about an inch above the bull.  40 grains 3F put 2 shots thru the same hole dead center.  50 grains 3F shot about an inch lower and slightly to the right.  .535 balls with pillow ticking and Shenandoah lube.  Balls were hard to start but loaded easily. 

With 50 grains the recoil was pretty bad. It recoiled straight back with some torque to the right. I could feel the shock in my elbow. There was no noticeable rise to the muzzle, which surprised me. 

This pistol has a Rice barrel.  Discussing this with Jason, he thought 50 grains was a pretty hot load and recommended I back off 5 or 10 grains.

Bill   (I don't know why the picture is sideways)

[Daryl]

My .54 kicks similarly to a moderate load in my M29. I figured that was merely 'normal'.  The rise is higher due to grip shape. 

Your pistol appears to like the 40gr. charge or 50gr., with the ball and patch combination you are using. It is quite normal with a pistol or recolver, that the slower, lighter load shots hit higher with a given projectile.

Change projectile weights and that changes the impact as well, the heavier projectiles, hitting higher. It can be a ballancing act when trying to get a handgun to shoot to non-moveable fixed sights.

[billd]

Daryl,   Are you referring to this pistol when you say non-movable fixed sights?  This one has sights the same as a rifle, drift and file..

Bill

[Dphariss]

I suspect that Daryl is pointing out how  load changes can change the impact point. Pistols can be very sensitive to this.
It is  one way to regulate fixed sight pistols.

Dan