I have tried up to 60 grains. Little velocity increase over 50 grains. Most accurate 25 yard or less squirrel type loads were around 15 grains.
I’ve never measured, but I think the Crockett barrel might be 3/4” where the T/C Cherokee is 13/16”. Maybe that’s why there is a difference in max loads?
I’ve never gone past 20 grains in either of them.
That's interesting, I have an original .40" long rifle, along with it's original powder horn, and antler tip powder measure. It is a very small charge, like maybe 20 grains. The rifle was used both for hunting, and in battle. Now it makes more sense to me, that it was used with such a light charge. That always used to puzzle me, as I am not experienced with the small-bores.I'll chime in with Brown Bear. I find 10 grains of 3f out of my 42" barrel gives me close to 1750fps which is hotter than a 22LR and pushing to 22mag. I use a 315 ball and patch and find it is deadly out to 50yds on small game like squirrels and rabbits. Head shots are necessary if you don't want to destroy the good eating parts. At 25yds I am sighted dead on, and only about 1" low at 50yds.(which is as far as I could see a squirrel head in my open sights with my eyes) I get 3shot groups at 25yds (off the bench) that can be covered by a quarter. I tried going to 30 grains as a coyote load, but found groups at 50 yards to be around 4-5". Not good enough for me. I think the balls are driven too fast at that charge and they are skipping over the rifling resulting in the poor accuracy.
That could be, I was just thinking it seemed smaller. If I had a bit more ambition this afternoon I’d go measure mine.My understanding is that the Traditions is also 13/16” across. I don’t recall if I got that information from them directly, but I think I did.
The information in the Lyman's "BLACK POWDER HANDBOOK & LOADING MANUAL" says a load of 30 grains of GOEX 3Fg powder shooting a .310 diameter, 45 grain patched lead ball gave a muzzle velocity of 1940 fps. That gave a muzzle energy of 376 lb/ft.Traditions says it is 35gr of 3F, but I gotta ask. How much would/have you really load in it to up the muzzle energy?
I measured my Traditions Crockett barrel once and it was 3/4". The most accurate load was 30 grains of 3F. That load would shoot sub 1" at 50 yards. I fired some heavier loads but they offered no advantages. I killed squirrels with it and had no problems with damage; Not much different from a .22LR HP. So no problem there if you head or mid-body shoot and stay away from the shoulder or rear end..
I’m going to have to measure one when I get home because it certainly seems to me like it’s smaller that a Cherokee which has a 13/16th barrel.
I wouldnt go no more than 50 grs . I shoot 30-35 in my pedersoli flintlock .32 calTraditions says it is 35gr of 3F, but I gotta ask. How much would/have you really load in it to up the muzzle energy?
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