What size powder charge

[csaduck]

This past weekend we did an event at Old Bedford Village and around the campfire we got to discussing blank rounds. The powder charges that were mentioned ranged from as low as 50 grn. of 3 F to as high as a 200 grn. blaster! I roll two types myself, 70 grn. charges for my 58, and 100 grn. for my 69. I know most events say 70 grn. Max. Kind of got into a very heated discussion as each person had many reasons for using a particular charge and justified it with shouting. How about it guys, what do you use, and burn?

 

[johan_steele]

I use the original loads.

 

[Craig L Barry]

I am not sure why such a discussion would result in any kind of argument. There is no reason to overload your rounds, it wastes black powder which is expensive and it can lead to safety issues. The National Park Service allows no more than 60 gr of FFg to be used for historic weapons demos in a .58 cal reproduction musket. The manufacturer of the musket also recommends the same charge.

 

[csaduck]

I don't know where you're buying powder, but I buy it cheap.
I buy bulk and loose, 25 pounds at a time, so I get it for about $9.00 a pound.
At 70 grains, that gives me about 100 rounds to the pound. Caps are more expensive than my rounds.

When I was working at Gettysburg, max. load was 70 grains per blank, and no 6 wing caps. When did it get changed?

The reference for a 60 grain charge from the manufacture is for firing a bullet, that is what they are referring to, same as NSSA rules for firing live rounds.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Most misfires are the result of too light a charge, so sometimes you have to find your musket's sweet spot. I used to have an 1863 Springfield that would fire on as little as 35 gr. Now my 1861 prefers 70. My Brown Bess will fire adequately on 70, and so will my long rifle, allowing for a generous priming charge. So, I use 70 for everything.

 

[capt13th]

i usually use 60 gr in my .58... i have used as low as 40 gr when money was tight and had no problems, just a little less bang... 200 gr however is extremely dangerous. i have seen nipples blown off in guys faces before. in cases where nipples weren't blown off, everyone got ****** for having to hear the unneccessary "big bang". if someone in your group is loading 200 gr rounds and your comapany commander hasn't put a stop to it, leave the group group immediately and find one that is much more safety concious.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Any charge over 100 gr is just pushing powder out the barrel. At best, it's a needless waste of money. At worst, a real safety hazard. When your musket is one of dozens or hundreds going off at the same time, there's no need for you to stand out like you're firing Big Bertha.

 

[kevikens]

I find 70 grains in the cartridge for my Bess (10 in the pan) and 60 in the Enfield work just fine when the public is nearby. No sense in scaring the daylights out of the spectators, especially the kids and pets.

 

[frankconrad]

There comes a time with any black powder weapon when you are just burning powder and 200 grains is way beyond that point in a .58 cal. Shoot it with a white sheet or over snow and see how much unburned powder you see. It only hits harder on the shooter, not the target.