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Post by brokennock on Jul 9, 2020 16:32:47 GMT -7
Anyone have any starting load recommendations for a flintlock pistol with a 20 gauge bore. I'll be looking to work up a roundball load and a shot load.
Not historical but also thinking about using a heavier version of my paper shot cup/cartridge and trying a rock salt load as a possible non-lethal threat diterant.
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Post by spence on Jul 10, 2020 6:52:04 GMT -7
I have a 20 gauge flintlock pistol with approximately the same configuration as yours, and the range of charges I use is 20-40 gr. 3F. I mostly shoot 35 grains 3F. These pistols have significant, noticeable recoil, so the charge needs to be adjusted to the comfort of the shooter, depending on their experience with and tolerance for that. I have shot as much as 50 gr. 3F with equal volume of shot, but I've shot a lot of heavily loaded pistols and enjoy it, and most people wouldn't, it's a handful.
A starting load of 20 gr. for either ball or shot would work, then add until it starts to buck too much.
Spence
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Post by brokennock on Jul 10, 2020 7:53:20 GMT -7
Thank you Spence.
I find my tolerance for recoil in a handgun to be strongly dictated by grip shape. My, shall we say stout, hand loads for .44 magnum I find very tolerable in my single action framed Ruger Black Hawk, those same loads in my friends, heavier, double action frame Ruger Redhawk, are miserable to shoot more than a couple cylinders of. This grip shape should be interesting.
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Post by spence on Jul 10, 2020 8:11:05 GMT -7
Yes, grip shape is the problem with a lot of these early pistols, they want to rock back in you hand instead of taking your hand up with them. Mine is a sort of bird's head type, not the best for a good grip. Great fun to shoot, though.
Spence
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coot
City-dweller
Posts: 156
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Post by coot on Jul 10, 2020 9:18:04 GMT -7
I have typically started with half of the powder that I would use in a longarm of the same caliber. The exception is my screwbarrel .60 where the powder chamber is so small that anything other than filling it would seem problematic. Having once double charged a .50 pistol that I had, you can achieve magnum level recoil (not that that is a good goal).
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Post by brokennock on Jul 10, 2020 11:37:09 GMT -7
Interesting take on grip shape Spence. I feel that the single action frame slipping in my hand is why I find it more tolerable than the squared off double action frame delivering all the recoil energy into my hand.
To my eye, this grip would seem to be in between the two.
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Post by spence on Jul 10, 2020 12:56:53 GMT -7
I agree about the Colt grip slipping, I had a Blackhawk .44 magnum rock back and cut the web of my thumb. It makes a difference what the grip material is, too, a slick wood finish with a little oil on it is hard to hold. My flintlock 20 gauge grip is round and smooth, but I don't have a problem with recoil using it, even with heavy loads. It does tend to rock back some.
It has only an 8" barrel, so I've always used the quicker 3F powder. I should try it with 4F some day, that would probably work well.
Spence
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Post by brokennock on Jul 10, 2020 14:12:11 GMT -7
I'm getting excited to try this when the piece finally arrives. I'm hoping late for late next week.
Oddly with all the professional and competitive modern pistol shooting I've done, and do,,,,, I've not played with a muzzleloading pistol before. I shot my cap and ball revolver a little, doesn't "do it" for me. This should be a good new chapter.
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