rodwha

Looking at Hogdgon's chart 777, which is 15% more powerful than Pyrodex, gives nearly 850 fps with 30 grns of powder. Multiply that by .85 and I get about 720 fps for the 30 grns of Pyrodex P I used.

Computing that into the ballistics calculator it shows 165 ft/lbs. That's not even 380 ACP territory. Why the amount of recoil with a fairly heavy platform? And how are people getting passthroughs on deer using a RB?

1000 fps only gives ~320 ft/lbs (RB), which drops quickly as the distance gets out there (275 ft/lbs @ 25 yds and 242 ft/lbs @ 50 yds), which hardly seems enough for a passthrough, especially with such a light and easily deformed projectile.

1874sharpsshooter

I use 110 grains in my round ball gun., the minimum I ever shot in any of my round ball guns is 90 gr.

cayugad

I don't know of anyone that would deer hunt with 30 grains of any "black" powder, or any caliber. Now granted, 30 grains in a 32 caliber would make a good turkey or small game load. And I am not saying it would not kill a deer. Shot placement and range would be very important. Many early settlers used small caliber rifles and small powder charges. But they understood the importance of getting close and placing that shot. I have shot 50 grains in a .50 caliber and even that could be used for deer, but you might not get pass through.

70 grains for a roundball is a good load for 75 yards and under. But when shooting large conical bullets 65-90 grains with a heavy conical is a good load and the weight of the bullet helps in the penetration.

rodwha

These few people have stated that they hunt using their cap n ball (44/45 cal) for hunting and have gotten passthroughs on deer and hogs with a RB.

On another forum I was shown someone else's chrono results with various powders with his 1858, which was much higher than the #s that Hogdgon's shows. Not that the results are all that similar, but the recoil I got using 30 grns and a ball was more akin to 45 ACP +P from a 1911, which I'd guess would be similar to a 45 Colt from a similar revolver as mine, and not something akin to a 380 ACP.

The deer around these parts run 75-100 lbs on the hoof average with some "monsters" getting to be maybe 125 lbs. For them a 38 Spl might be enough. I would feel better knowing I had something akin to a 45 Colt, which is about what I thought I should be able to get with more like a full load of powder (~40 grns and ball or ~30 grns and a conical).

I intend on finding what I can keep a good group with out to 25-50 yds with as much powder as I can get in it to keep that group (6" or less) and still have enough horsepower to be humane (300 ft/lbs + I would guess). I'd have to get about 1200 fps with a RB to have that out to 50 yds (given I can keep a 6" group that far, which would be unlikely offhand, but possible from a blind with a great rest).

Muley Hunter

Get a rifle.

rodwha

I certainly will. But I was hoping to be able to use this as well one day. And I certainly will if I can attain ~45 Colt levels. 'Tis why I've been looking at conicals for it as I'm not so certain a RB is all that good for hunting much less past 25 yds. Yet I've read many accounts... It defies what I thought I "knew" about what was necessary.

bronko22000

rodwha - I would not use a black powder revolver on deer or hogs no matter what the so called "experts" say. A 30 gr charge is just not enough to humanely kill a deer or hog. Now, that being said, I do plan on using my .54 cal Lyman pistol on deer with a RB and a 50 gr charge of FFFg. But only if I get a shot <40 yds. If beyond the 40 yd mark it will have to suffer the effects of the same .530" RB out of my rifle stoked with 90 gr of FFFg.

Gm54-120

The best thing to ever happen to a ROA.

http://www.gunblast.com/Cumpston_ClementsFugett.htm

txhunter58

ffg 777 is probably not 15% stronger than pyordex P. The 15% comparison is to pyrodex RS or to pellets. P is smaller grain and would be closer to 777 stength but I don't know how much closer

I assume you mean 30 gm BY VOLUME? If so, I agree that I would never feel comfortable shooting a deer, even one's as small as you describe, with that load. Certainly if you keep the distance to 20 yards or less you may be OK, but it would not be my cup or tea...

Muley Hunter

Look at it this way. Would you load just 30gr of powder in a rifle for hunting? The rifle would have better performance than the ROA, and it still sounds like a silly hunting load.

If you want to hunt with a handgun. Buy a .44 mag.