starting load

[projeeper]

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

[Roger Fisher]

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

Some folks claim they sight in offhand I must get comfy and shoot from a rest to do that...

[erdillonjr]

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

[northwoodsdave]

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

[hanshi]

Sounds like all good advice to me.