.69 Cal. Sporting rifle

[Old Ford2]

I am just finishing up a .69 cal. percussion sporting rifle.
Would anyone have a good starting load suggestion. The barrel in an Orion 1 1/4" at the breech and  1 1/8 at the muzzle, 34" long.
I was thinking 100-120 grains 2f   
I don't want to shatter any world records.
Any help will be appreciated.

[varsity07840]

What's the twist?

[Dphariss]

I am just finishing up a .69 cal. percussion sporting rifle.
Would anyone have a good starting load suggestion. The barrel in an Orion 1 1/4" at the breech and  1 1/8 at the muzzle, 34" long.
I was thinking 100-120 grains 2f   
I don't want to shatter any world records.
Any help will be appreciated.

If you want a flat shooting hunting load try 135-140 gr on FF. This will approximate James Forsythe's load for his 14 bore percussion rifle using a "#15 ball".
If it will shoot well with lighter loads for matches and such then use that.
Maybe Daryl will chime in. I think he shoots a heavier charge in his 69.
John Baird used to shoot 120 out of Bodacious his 69 caliber Hawken.
I shoot 140 gr of FF Swiss in my 15 bore Nock breech FL rifle. It gives 1600 fps with a .662 (16 guage) ball. This with a 30" when the breech is included. Even lighter loads can be hard on hanging steel targets unless well secured. The Nock breech does not like lower grade powders.
But I don't shoot it much anymore for various reasons.
The very heavy loads used in some modern "Forsythe" rifles are just silly. Once past about 140 gr of powder the velocity gain in my FL rifle starts to fall off and 1600 with that ball size is all thats needed and from calculations of Forsythe's trajectories its what his percussion rifle was getting with "Halls #2" powder and a shorter barrel. Also he stated that it would drive a hardened lead ball through an Indian Elephants head from side to side.

Dan

[Dphariss]

My rifle has a 80" twist and shallow grooves.
Dan

[457121]

In my October Country .69 Great American Sporting Rifle, 170gr. of Goex 2Fg shoots very accurate and gives 1475 fps. I have switched to Swiss and Old Eynsford 1.5 F a few years ago which is even better. You can use less powder and still get higher velocity with equal accuracy. I would start at 125gr.

[rich pierce]

You guys are tough. I shoot 90 grains of FFG in my .69 smoothbore and just lob it out there. Of course I limit myself to 60 yards though it does ok to 75 or so.

[varsity07840]

My rifle has a 80" twist and shallow grooves.
Dan

Mine is 90" and shallow grooves in a 30" barrel.  With 120 gr of 2f GOEX, it groups fine at 50 yds but is a bust at 100. Ot needs a lot more powder and seeing as I don't hunt anymore, I don't bother.

[Old Ford2]

The twist I believe is 1:72
Thank you all for the information.
In a day or two, I will let you know how things worked out.
All the best!
Fred