Author Topic: Grains for a .45 cal pistol (Read 4098 times)

Bonnie54 · « **on:** March 11, 2021, 05:09:56 PM »

What is a good starting load for .45 caliber flintlock pistol? 2f? 3f? 55grns? Any assistance would be appreciated . Thank you

smylee grouch · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2021, 05:15:29 PM »

55 sounds like a heavy load for a 45 pistol. JMHO

DGB · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2021, 05:34:46 PM »

I shoot a .45 with about a 10' barrel. It is quite accurate with 16 grains of 3F.
Also use same load in >31 cal. Even better.

Regards,
Dave

DGB · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2021, 05:36:38 PM »

Also should have mentioned that those loads are for 25 yard paper punching, not hunting.

Dave

BrianS · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2021, 07:33:42 PM »

Have you seen these charts?

https://goexpowder.com/resources/load-charts/

Fyrstyk · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2021, 07:48:00 PM »

I shoot 15 grains of 3f in my .32 pistol with 10" barrel, 20 grains in both of my 45 pistols with 8" barrels, 30 grains in my .50 with 9"barrel and 40 grains in my 54 with 9" barrel.

flinchrocket · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2021, 08:27:46 PM »

I shot 20gr. FFF in my 45 flint pistol. The load was developed shooting from a rest at 25 yards. It had a 12 in GM barrel.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2021, 08:31:46 PM »

I have a .45 cal pistol barrel made from a piece of Numrich Arms 45-70 barrel blank. It has a rifling twist rate of 1:22" and likes 25 gr. FFFg GOEX. This barrel is capable of putting five shots in a quarter sized bull at 25 yards. If your barrel is made from a cut-off of a muzzleloading rifle barrel, and has a slow twist, I submit it'll require more powder to find it's sweet spot for accuracy.

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2021, 09:01:49 PM »

Well if your pistol is made from a piece of old rifle barrel, a little piddling amount of powder is going to be a waste of time, and powder. The rifling twist rate dictates how much powder is needed to stabilize the ball. I have an old Jukar .45 cal. Belt pistol that has a 1 in 48” twist rate that shoots very well, but not with a light charge, it takes about 50 gr of 3F to make it shoot well. A friend has a .54 Hawken pistol with a 1 in 48” twist that won’t shoot well with less than 60 grns. It’s all about twist rate. If either one of these guns had a 1 in 20” twist you could no doubt shoot them accurately with 25 or 30 grns. Of 3F.

Hungry Horse

Daryl · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2021, 09:36:33 PM »

Seems well covered. Small charges for normal pistol R O Twists of 18 to about 24",
and large charges for slow twists, 48" to 66" - both with patched balls.
My .45 barrel has an 18" twist and it likes 20gr. 3F.
My .54 barrel has a 66" twist and it likes 55gr. 3F.
Same 'gun' different barrels.

hanshi · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2021, 10:19:35 PM »

A charge of 30 grains of 3F is the normal load in my .50 flint pistol with a 10" barrel , rot unknown. Accuracy at 25 yards is amazing and has taken first place in a match. Going as low as 20 grains makes little difference. If it is being carried in the bush for serious considerations I've gone as high as 50 grains, but recoil is horrendous in this lightweight pistol.

shifty · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2021, 12:11:16 AM »

This one likes 50 grns FFg Goex with RB =50cal. 1/48 ROT 16" barrel 3-3 1/2" groups at 50 yards.

mushka · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2021, 12:23:39 AM »

In my 45 cal Ky pistol I use 2grns of 3f .It shoots well and is powerful enough to kill small game. It's all Ineed.

Daryl · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2021, 02:24:51 AM »

Quote from: mushka on March 12, 2021, 12:23:39 AM

In my 45 cal Ky pistol I use 2grns of 3f .It shoots well and is powerful enough to kill small game. It's all Ineed.

20grs. maybe?

Prairie dog shooter · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2021, 02:27:32 AM »

I have a 45 cal Pedersoli Charles Moore in percussion. It shoots best with 27 grains of 3-f Goex.

Bonnie54 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 12, 2021, 05:55:16 AM »

Thank you gents for your input and guidance. Picked up a Bill Kennedy .45 cal Pennsylvania pistol with Bud Siler Lock. Got to shoot it today with my friends. 25grns of 3f and a .010 patch. What a joy to shoot. Thanks again

Daryl · « **Reply #16 on:** March 12, 2021, 06:19:47 AM »

I'm using a .440" ball and .020" patch in mine, Bonnie54. From a rest, it will shoot sub 1" groups at 25 yards with that combo and 25gr. 2F GOEX, but 20gr. shoots just
about as well..

alacran · « **Reply #17 on:** March 12, 2021, 03:49:06 PM »

I currently have 3 .45 cal pistols. I shoot .440 balls in all of them, with Jo Anns # 40 drill with bear oil. I use 3f Swiss or Old E.
Shoot between 18 to 20 grains. I have never shot any of them from a rest.

hudson · « **Reply #18 on:** March 12, 2021, 06:43:47 PM »

When shooting pistol silhouette at friendship I use a TC Patriot .45. I use Goex 3f 25gr to 60 yards then up to 35gr out to 100, the sight is raise ½ turn from 60 on to 100yards. Good luck.

mushka · « **Reply #19 on:** March 21, 2021, 07:45:50 PM »

Thank you Daryl, it is 20 grns, not 2. Sometimes my fingers just don't work that well and I always don't proof read what I type. Maybe I should.

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Author Topic: Grains for a .45 cal pistol (Read 4098 times)