blackpowder how much to use?

[Guest anvil]

I have a cva .32 squirrel rifle. I can't remember how many grains of powder to use. If my memory serves me right i believe it was between

30 to 60. Is 30 to 60 grains safe for this gun? i built the gun from a kit about 1986. haven't shot it since 1993.

[TnShooter83]

Not sure if this will help a lot...

But it seems that 50+ is a bit much.

15-30 seems to be the standard loads.

http://www.google.com/search?q=load+for+.32+squirrel+black+powder&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS293US293

[Mike.357]

I don't shoot BP rifles but in my .44 revolvers I use between 20 to 30 grains of fff.

I suggest you start out at 15 grains and work your way up to an optimium load.

A lot of the time a maximum load is not very accurate anyway.

If you took five shoots maximum and started at 15 grains I bet you find the optimum load before you hit 35 grains. I am guessing the rifle will easily and safely accomodate 40 or 50 grains, maybe more, but it is just a waste of powder.

[ShaunM]

I don't shoot BP rifles but in my .44 revolvers I use between 20 to 30 grains of fff.

I suggest you start out at 15 grains and work your way up to an optimium load.

A lot of the time a maximum load is not very accurate anyway.

If you took five shoots maximum and started at 15 grains I bet you find the optimum load before you hit 35 grains. I am guessing the rifle will easily and safely accomodate 40 or 50 grains, maybe more, but it is just a waste of powder.

+1 thats what I would do.

[eehlert]

I have been shooting muzzleloaders since I was 6 years old. My father was a custom muzzleloader builder. His rule of thumb and has always worked for me, is that it is a safe bet to put the number of grains of powder down the barrel equivilant to the bore size. For instance:

.32...I would start with 30 grains of powder

.45...I would start with 40 grains, but most likely will get better results with 50 grains.

Etc...

I shoot a .50 and use 60 grains.

E

[Mark@Sea]

Looking at a 50 year old gun mag my wife mailed me, there was an article on shooting original muzzleloaders. In the article, it was suggested that to determine a starting load, put a ball on a sheet of paper, and trickle powder over the ball. When you have a cone of powder covering the ball, thats' your starting load.

[Mike.357]

When you have a cone of powder covering the ball, thats' your starting load.

I will test that theory tonight if I remember. I am curious how many grains it would take to cover a .454 ball.

[Guest gunnutt]

an old man told me that 90 grains in a .50 cal was plenty so thats what i shoot so 50 in a .32 sounds good but thats just my opinion,john

[gunsablazin]

My .54 likes 90 grs. with a patched round ball, 25 grs. works great in my .36, based on that 15-20 grs. sounds right for a .32 My .36 will handle alot more than 25 grs. but accuracy starts dropping off above that. Hope this helps.

[cannoncocker]

The manual supplied with T/C .32 Cherokee recommends 30 gr of FFF. 50 gr is the maximum charge.

[Guest Loaded247]

I don't have one with that small a bore, so I don't know...but it seems to be that something in the 20 to 30/35gr. range may be about right. It's a matter of starting with a small charge, and working up the load, to determine what the gun itself performs best with.

My .50 caliber Tennessee Flintlock performs well with 78grs. of FFG.

My .62 caliber Smoothbore Flintlock performs well with 60grs. of FFFG.

[Mike.357]

i gave up at 50 grains and the .454 ball still showing