colt dragoon powder charge

[whbonney1806]

I've read/seen where 37 grains of FFFG is suggested, I'm more inclined to do 18.5 grains instead. Am I being over-cautious?

 

[beemanjohn]

37 grains is a hot load. When the army first went to the 1873 Colt, they loaded it with 40 grains of black powder and a 255 (m/l) bullet. The recoil was so stout that most of the men could not shoot it well. They then backed the load down to 30 grains and that was the standard load for years. So 37 in your gun is plenty.

 

[whbonney1806]

37 grains is a hot load. When the army first went to the 1873 Colt, they loaded it with 40 grains of black powder and a 255 (m/l) bullet. The recoil was so stout that most of the men could not shoot it well. They then backed the load down to 30 grains and that was the standard load for years. So 37 in your gun is plenty.

thank you.

 

[RCE1]

We were shooting .45 Colt cartridges with 35gr FFF and a 240gr cast bullet. The recoil was very stout. In fact, my friend shot his front sight off. Just went flying. It was a 1873 clone.

 

[SSL]

.457 round ball (larger diameter than ".44" to 'shave' fit in order to help prevent cylinder flash-around) weighs a nominal 143 grains. That's nearly 100 grains less than the 240 grain bullets mentioned above and probably wouldn't recoil as badly, but that would quickly increase if using conical bullets.

 

[std7mag]

I have a Colt Walker (reproduction).
Essentially the twin to the Dragoon.
For years we (friend & I) have been loading 44 round ball over 40-60gr of FFG.
40gr for plinking & just trigger time. 60gr with gallon water bottles, bowling pins, and other reactive targets.

I never thought about running it over the chrono. Might have to do that.

 

[JumboSammich]

I like to get my black powder revolvers out and clean them while watching The Outlaw Josie Wales.