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I've decided to give black-powder pistol shooting a try, and will have a slot for a .44 BP revolver when I get my FAC in a few weeks.

Being new to all this, I've got a few very basic questions (bare with me):

• What size lead ball do I use? Does it vary between different models (even if they're marked as the same calibre? On Henry Kranks, none of the balls are marked as .44 exactly.

• Where do I find out how much (and exactly what type of) powder to load the thing with? I know using modern 'smokeless' is a complete no-no. Currently I don't have the explosives licence for BP, so I'm planning to use a substitute.

• Are the more modern styled revolvers (1873 SA's etc.) allowed (and not frowned upon) at comps?

Get your self a box and and a BP certificete.

Then use black powder, they are black powder guns after all.

Substitutes are an abomination and the work of the devil!

You don't use .44 dia balls in a .44 calibre black powder revolver. The ball needs to be a press fit in the cylinder which will be groove diameter of the barrel or slightly over.
To confuse matters more, the different makes and models are all different: for example, Ruger Old Army types use a .457" ball, my Euroarms Rogers and Spencer uses .454" and the Pietta Remington which I once to owned used .452".
Single shot pistols are very accurate, often have a set trigger but use a patched ball: as a result there is scope for endless experimentation between ball diamster and patch thickness.
I endorse what Dromnia said about BP substitutes---they are rubbish. We have quite a lot of shooters in my club who use them---I have yet to see one shoot a decent group on a target.
Fred

FredB wrote:I endorse what Dromnia said about BP substitutes---they are rubbish. We have quite a lot of shooters in my club who use them---I have yet to see one shoot a decent group on a target.

I would suggest that's more to do with the skill of the shooter than the propellant being used....

I'll look into BP later. At the moment I'm still looking for basic info such as how much powder to load etc.

Mikaveli wrote:I'll look into BP later. At the moment I'm still looking for basic info such as how much powder to load etc.

If you use BP in a revolver you can't really overload it, if you put too much powder in you can't seat the bullet. My .44 Remington (look alike) takes around 30grn of BP. When I have used Pyrodex I use the same volume from the same flask spout but I have no idea of the weight. BP pistols are usually loaded by volume measure rather than weight.

I also have a .36 Pedersoli Le Page dueling type pistol with set trigger, I use about 13 gns of BP (a 9mm cartridge case full) for that with a patched ball, but, as with any reloading, work up to a load carefully.
I have used these pistols in competition and both are exceptionally accurate, just as accurate as a modern cartridge pistol. (Shooting them well is another matter altogether )

I would never use anything but BP for a competition, the substitutes are more prone to misfire as they need a hotter spark.

If you are thinking of shooting proper competitions then you need to check the rules first, for example some comps no adjustable sights are allowed.

Thanks for the replies. So would the shop I get the revolver from know which size balls to use - or is it subjective / a matter of experimentation?

The model I was looking at has a fixed front blade, but no apparent sight at the back. The hammer protrudes quite high though, so I'm guessing that doubles as a rear sight?

Mikaveli wrote:Thanks for the replies. So would the shop I get the revolver from know which size balls to use - or is it subjective / a matter of experimentation?

The model I was looking at has a fixed front blade, but no apparent sight at the back. The hammer protrudes quite high though, so I'm guessing that doubles as a rear sight?

Do you know what model/type of revolver you are looking at? The basic rear sight is usually a small grrove in the top of the hammer or on the top strap in Remmington type revolvers, very basic and when you get used to it and have settled on a good load you may consider filing or building up the fore sight etc.

If the shop deal in BP type pistols then they should be able to advise you about the balls. If they are just general RFD's then they might not have a clue. As Fred said, the ball needs to be just a little bigger than the cylinder, when the ball is forced into the cylinder with the rammer there should be an even sliver of lead removed from the ball as it's seated. If the ball is slack when you seat it you will have a flyer or the ball may move forward under recoil and jam the cylinder.

1066 wrote:

Mikaveli wrote:Thanks for the replies. So would the shop I get the revolver from know which size balls to use - or is it subjective / a matter of experimentation?

The model I was looking at has a fixed front blade, but no apparent sight at the back. The hammer protrudes quite high though, so I'm guessing that doubles as a rear sight?

Do you know what model/type of revolver you are looking at? The basic rear sight is usually a small grrove in the top of the hammer or on the top strap in Remmington type revolvers, very basic and when you get used to it and have settled on a good load you may consider filing or building up the fore sight etc.

If the shop deal in BP type pistols then they should be able to advise you about the balls. If they are just general RFD's then they might not have a clue. As Fred said, the ball needs to be just a little bigger than the cylinder, when the ball is forced into the cylinder with the rammer there should be an even sliver of lead removed from the ball as it's seated. If the ball is slack when you seat it you will have a flyer or the ball may move forward under recoil and jam the cylinder.

Thanks. One of the shops local to me (Fenland Rural Sports) are supposed to be black powder specialists, so I'll go down and quiz them.

Mikaveli wrote:Thanks. One of the shops local to me (Fenland Rural Sports) are supposed to be black powder specialists, so I'll go down and quiz them.

I have a great deal of time for Fenland Rural Sports having popped in there several times when in the area. However, the only time they ever got anything wrong for me was when I bought a BP pistol from them a few years back and they sold me the wrong sized balls. :lol:

I'm sure they would have put it right without a question but it was a long time before I could get back there again and I'd bought a suitable mould by then so I melted them down and recast them the right size...