Blank Powder Charge

[muffinman67]

I wasn't sure whether to post this here or in the reenactor forum, but here goes. Does anyone know what the recommended powder charge for a blank .69 smoothbore paper cartridge to be used at a historical event is? I know the original cartridge had 110 grains of musket powder, but that might be too much at an event. I'm wondering if 75 grains is enough for an appropriate bang and smoke in a model 1842 smoothbore?

 

[Choatecav]

Due to safety issues, lots of reenactments will not allow the usage of ram rods. If you are simply pouring it into your rifle barrel with little to no ramming, then you have a lot of leeway. You really don't have to go with 75 grains as 60 would be fine, or even less. Again, this is only with no projectile and just for historical demonstration.

 

[captaindrew]

60 grains is not enough for a .69, it will come out as a wet fart. 80 to 90 does well for blanks in a .69. When I use my .69 I use 90.

 

[Pollaco]

Wasn't the old rule of thumb something like start with the caliber? In this case 69 caliber, so use 69-70 grains of powder. From that work your way up to a decent charge.

 

[captaindrew]

Wasn't the old rule of thumb something like start with the caliber? In this case 69 caliber, so use 69-70 grains of powder. From that work your way up to a decent charge.

Or for whatever it's worth you can take the word of someone who owns and has fired thousands and thousands of rounds out of .58/.577 and .69 caliber muskets over the course of a 30 + year reenacting career. I've experienced myself and witnessed others deal with the exact question many times over those years, it takes at least 80 grains to make a good report out of a .69 with no projectile. From my own experimentation I like to use 90 grain rounds with my .69 smoothbore and 60 with my .58 and .577 rifles.

 

[Conquerordie]

I never reenacted the Civil War, but I did the Revolutionary War for about 15 years. My French musket was .72 caliber, M1728 infantry musket that I built from TRS parts. By normal charge was the same as shooting, about 100 grains of powder. Everyone in the unit used that charge. We could have gone smaller, but why

 

[captaindrew]

I never reenacted the Civil War, but I did the Revolutionary War for about 15 years. My French musket was .72 caliber, M1728 infantry musket that I built from TRS parts. By normal charge was the same as shooting, about 100 grains of powder. Everyone in the unit used that charge. We could have gone smaller, but why

Yeah you need a little bigger load with the flintlocks to account for filling the pan first.

 

[DixieRifles]

60 grains is not enough for a .69, it will come out as a wet fart.

Any blank round sounds like a firecracker in a pipe to me.
When I shoot a blank for the 4th, I pack it down with a wadded ball of paper with my ramrod. I know that isnt possible in reenactments.

 

[captaindrew]

Any blank round sounds like a firecracker in a pipe to me.
When I shoot a blank for the 4th, I pack it down with a wadded ball of paper with my ramrod. I know that isnt possible in reenactments.

We do just that when we can get away with it, especially at living history demos. Even just the paper gives it a completely different sound.

 

[DixieRifles]

Even just the paper gives it a completely different sound.

Yep. It does. Not as loud as it is with a lead ball in it.

 

[poorjack]

Shoot live ammo.

I'm shooting a 1842 "Macon" in smoothbore in N-SSA. My charge is 65g 3f Swiss, RWS caps. While I'm not the best at Smoothbore, I can hold my own.

25yd offhand