In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
.58 cal. minie
1825michaeli
Member Posts: 4 ✭✭
Does anyone know what powder charge to use for .58 cal. 545gr.minie? I have an original 1855 Springfield and I would like to try it out.
Comments
This would be a good starting point.
The MAXIMUM charge used in .58 cal Muskets during the Civil war was 66 grains of ffg.
A 10% reduction for a starting load would be 60 grains minus 6 grains, equaling 54 grains.
If it is an original gun, I would back off from the max load a bit. Metalurgy wasn't then what it is now and 150 years of corrosive black powder can't have helped. Plus, modern black powder is far more consistent than batches from days of yore, some more, some less powerful. I'd start at about 45 gr of FFG and see how that does. Just make sure the bullet is seated to the powder.
+1. My 1864 Sprg musket likes 42 grains of FFFg for an accurate
target load at 50 and 100 yds.