(See BlackPowder page 1 for reloading instructions, information and more)
Loads shown below are from Lyman’s “Black Powder Handbook” by Kenneth Ramage, editor. 10th Printing, June1994
I highly recommend owning your own copy of this book. It contains much more information needed by black powder shooters. Black Powder is measured by VOLUMN and not weight, but it is close (1%-2% difference) with Goex powder. Other powders may not be as close as Goex. I have not used the C&H or the G-O listed below.
For ALL loads below: C&H = Curtis & Harvey Powder
G-O = Gearhart-Owen Powder
Notice that there is quite a difference in amount of powder required for near maximum loads between the two brands of black powder. Carefully check which brand you are using and if unsure, start with mild loads and work up. You may exceed pressures for your rifle using the maximum loads shown, and should avoid them if there is any doubt. These heavy loads are for modern guns. If you are shooting an antique, be extremely careful, even with mild loads.
36 Cal. Rifle
.360 Round Ball, 71 grains, .015″ patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 25 and 50 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
1300 fps and over 1900 fps respectively. (28″ bbl.)
40 Cal. Rifle
.395 Round Ball, 92 grains, .028″ patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 30 and 80 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
1156 fps and over 2100 fps respectively.(43″ bbl.)
.395 Round Ball, 92 grains, .028″ patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 25 and 70 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
1212 fps and over 2100 fps respectively.(43″ bbl.)
44 Cal. Rifle
.437 Round Ball, 127 grains, .015″ patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 30 and 110 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
1075 fps and over 1920 fps respectively. (20″ bbl)
.437 Round Ball, 127 grains, .015″ patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 30 and 110 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
754 fps and over 2000 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.445 Lyman #445599 bullet, 250 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 30 and 70 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
630 fps and over 1300 fps respectively. (20″ bbl)
.445 Lyman #445369 bullet, 291 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 30 and 75 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
568 fps and over 1340 fps respectively. (20″ bbl)
.445 Lyman #445369 bullet, 291 grains, no patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 30 and 100 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
617 fps and over 1500 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
45 Cal. Rifle
(Note: all loads below on 28″ bbl. Longer bbls may produce higher fps.)
.445 Round Ball, 133 grains, .015″ patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 30 and 80 Grains of FFg (Note: FFg) for velocities between
1144 fps and over 1750 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.445 Round Ball, 133 grains, .015″ patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 25 and 60 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
948 fps and over 1900 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.445 Round Ball, 133 grains, .015″ patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 30 and 100 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
1065 fps and over 2000 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.455 Lyman #454616, 230 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 25 and 80 Grains of FFg (Note: FFg) for velocities between
715 fps and over 1500 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.455 Lyman #454616, 230 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 30 and 55 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
939 fps and over 1400 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.455 Lyman #454616, 230 grains, no patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 30 and 110 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
939 fps and over 1700 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.454 Lyman #454612, 300 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 25 and 65 Grains of FFg (Note: FFg) for velocities between
744 fps and over 1200 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.454 Lyman #454612, 300 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 25 and 55 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
864 fps and over 1300 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.454 Lyman #454612, 300 grains, no patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 30 and 100 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
624 fps and over 1500 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.454 Lyman #454612, 300 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 25 and 65 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
872 fps and over 1400 fps respectively. (40″ bbl)
50 Cal. Rifle
(Note: all loads below on 28″ bbl. Longer bbls may produce higher fps.)
.498 Round Ball, 180 grains, .015″ patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 100 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
1333 fps and over 1800 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.498 Round Ball, 180 grains, .015″ patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 120 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
1290 fps and over 1800 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.503 Lyman #504617, 370 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 45 and 80 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
1002 fps and over 1400 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.503 Lyman #504617, 370 grains, no patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 100 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
938 fps and over 1450 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
54 Cal. Rifle
(Note: all loads below on 28″ bbl. Longer bbls may produce higher fps.)
.535 Round Ball, 220 grains, .015″ patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 40 and 100 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
1061 fps and about 1600 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.535 Round Ball, 220 grains, .015″ patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 40 and 110 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
929 fps and over 1600 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.533 Lyman #533476, 410 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 40 and 100 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
612 fps and over 1350 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
.533 Lyman #533476, 410 grains, no patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 130 Grains of FFFg for velocities between
582 fps and over 1400 fps respectively. (28″ bbl)
58 Cal. Rifle
(Note: all loads below on 32″ bbl.
Longer bbls may produce higher fps.) (NOTE FFg POWDER)
.560 Round Ball, 260 grains, .015″ patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 140 Grains of FFg for velocities between
944 fps and over 1500 fps respectively. (32″ bbl)
.560 Round Ball, 260 grains, .015″ patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 150 Grains of FFg for velocities between
845 fps and over 1450 fps respectively. (32″ bbl)
.575 Lyman #575494, 315 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 130 Grains of FFg for velocities between
745 fps and over 1400 fps respectively. (32″ bbl)
.575 Lyman #575494, 315 grains, no patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 140 Grains of FFg for velocities between
669 fps and over 1400 fps respectively. (32″ bbl)
.575 Lyman #575213, 460 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 110 Grains of FFg for velocities between
774 fps and over 1200 fps respectively. (32″ bbl)
.575 Lyman #575213, 460 grains, no patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 120 Grains of FFg for velocities between
650 fps and over 1260 fps respectively. (32″ bbl)
.577 Lyman #577611, 530 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 120 Grains of FFg for velocities between
675 fps and over 1150 fps respectively. (32″ bbl)
.577 Lyman #577611, 530 grains, no patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 120 Grains of FFg for velocities between
613 fps and over 1150 fps respectively. (32″ bbl)
.577 Lyman #57730, 570 grains, no patch, G-O powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 110 Grains of FFg for velocities between
675 fps and over 1050 fps respectively. (32″ bbl)
.577 Lyman #57730, 570 grains, no patch, C&H powder, lube=Crisco
Use between 50 and 110 Grains of FFg for velocities between
606 fps and over 1060 fps respectively. (32″ bbl)
