formula for powder charge

I say don't make things more complicated than they need to be on stuff like this.
As someone else has said, there are too many variables, and you are going to have to actually shoot groups anyway.

smoothshooter said:

I say don't make things more complicated than they need to be on stuff like this.
As someone else has said, there are too many variables, and you are going to have to actually shoot groups anyway.

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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :metoo:

I think this thread is gone as far as it will go, productive wise. In fact it really was done some time ago.

Formulas usually only work for on small range of bore sizes. 1/2 ball weight works great for some calibers like 44-50. And its documented to the Revolutionary War period by the writings of Col. Hanger. But is too much for some calibers and not enough for others.
A 32 caliber may need 30-35 to shoot well, the old one grain per caliber formula will be ball park in this bore size. In a 69 caliber is wrong with both the ball weight and the caliber formulas. My 67 caliber shoots a 437 gr ball at 1600 fps with 140 gr of FFg. This formula (about 1/3 ball weight) with a ball weighing 50 gr would give very poor performance though I have used 15 grains in a 32 to shoot rabbits setting under bushes in the grove when I was a kid. Very low velocity but head shooting rabbits at 10-15 ft does not need much velocity. In a 40 cal the the one caliber per grain is a little light for some rifles, though many may shoot well with it. Up to about 54 we are back to the 1/2 ball weight again. But by 58 it starts to be a little much.
Twist is usually irrelevant unless VERY slow even by RB standards. A 72 twist MAY shoot better with a little more powder than a 48" twist 50 cal but either will accurately shoot all the powder necessary for 1900 fps velocity if this is decided. I would prefer to have a 48" twist to at least 54 caliber but moderns have lost sight of this original twist rate and most modern barrels are slower than necessary.

Dan

I've been shooting muzzleloaders since I got my first one in 1962 when I was 14 yrs old. It was an original .36 percussion that some old gunsmith in Finleyville had freshed out the barrel. Shot good but I wanted a flint so I sold it and got a T/C Hawken. One of the more stupid things I ever did. I've always shot at the range with different loads to find the best but after finding the formula in question I found that it very well paralleled the loads I found best for my different guns. Just curious because now I don't know what it was. Anyway, lots of good comments even though no one came up with what I was looking for. Thanks to all who replied..