.44 muzzle loading revolver.

[PeterN]

After the pistol ban I got myself a.44 Pietta muzzle loading revolver. I shot it for a while but then it sat in the cabinet for a few years. A couple of years ago, I got it out and took it to the range again. I used up my remaining stock of Kranks fine black powder. I then had a look in my black powder box to see what I had in there that would be suitable for the revolver. I got left a few tubs of black powder from a friend who emigrated. Among them were a full sealed tin and part used tin of powder of unknown make or age in red tins. Written on the back of the tins are med/fine in black felt tip pen. I used the powder in the part used tin. It went bang OK but had a lower point of impact compared to Kranks powder. I checked the velocity with the Garmin it and it averaged out at the mid 650s FPS. I used that tin up and then rather than open the sealed tin, I started on a tub of French powder that I got about 30 years ago from York Guns but never used. There was quite a difference. The report was louder and sharper and the point of impact was almost to point of aim. On checking with the Garmin the velocity averaged in the mid 850s FPS. This is shooting round ball with about 25 grains of powder. I will finish off the French powder and then probably go back to the powder in the sealed red tin rather than buy new. I am quite enjoying the smell and smoke of black powder. I am not a very good pistol shot, the foresight wobbles and I don't hold the pistol as steady as I should. If these excuses aren't acceptable, I have others. Hopefully, I will be out on the range with it again this week. Not sure if anyone is interested in me rambling on but it will give someone something to read if nothing else. A couple of photos.

Regards
Peter.

[1066]

I had a .44 Italian Rem 1858 for a long time - it actually shot very with 25 gns of Swiss powder. Good enough to win a few medals back in the 80's at the AD meetings at Bisley. I now have a Weslake .357, A Zylab Patriot .32 and a LePage .36 with a set trigger.