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Hi

I've just bought one of the above from a guy who is giving up. The seller hasn't fired it for a couple of years and can't give me load details. Ardesa's site has nothing. All I can find is data on the 'Traditionsfirearms' website in the US which states 10-20 gns of fg or ffg.

Can anyone point me in the right direction, as 20gns seems pretty light for a max load.

Many thanks

Donald

Firstly you need to establish the minimum load, that will be enough powder for the ball to be seated on it without appearing under the touch hole. Work your loads up from there, round balls need to be driven hard for accuracy.

Is there no proof load with the proof marks?

My Napoleon, which is .70" calibre, uses 70 gns of Swiss 2F for out to 50 yards.

Check out Youtube

Redcat

have a look on Dixie gunworks website

Thanks guys

the proof marks are pretty faint and have an '8' so no idea what that means. From Dixie's reviews, folk talk about 25gn. Can't really find much reliable info on YouTube.

So, I'll go with the 10gn minimum from Traditions, check that the ball is clear of the touch-hole per Dromia's advice, and see what happens.

Donald

Where can one shoot these mighty weapons?

On any range that is certified for black powder shooting.

Well, 10gn was too little and didn't clear the touch-hole. 15gn not much better so went for 20gn. Patched ball was a bit tight, but produced satisfying bang and drove ball into the backstop from 50yds. Second attempt with better aiming failed - charge vented out touch-hole and needed several charges dribbled through the touch-hole to clear. Decided to call it a day there!
The Traditions site states .490 ball with 15 thou lubed patch. I used the .495 which came with the cannon with a 10 thou lubed patch.
Will persevere and try different balls/patches combos. Maybe with what I used I need to clean bore out between shots?

Any further advice welcome

Donald

Sounds like the ball is still interfering with the touch hole.

I don't bother with patches, just seat a wad of tow on the powder, seat the ball on that and then another tow wad to keep it in place. 0.69" ball in a .70" diameter bore. Easy 8" groups at 50 yrds when I do my part on consistent sighting. I run a moist patch down 'tween shots but after the powder has been loaded, not so much to clean the bore but to keep its condition consistent from shot to shot.

Thanks Dromia

I'll check to make sure the ball really is clear next time. Somewhere I have some old hemp rope, so will have a try with the tow wads instead of patches.

Donald