Which Black Powder

[BallsOnFire]

Not sure if this is the right forum to ask. I just bought my first black powder revolver, an 1858 Remington replica by Uberti. What black powder should I be using? I have Pyrodex pellets, wads, and balls from Midway but can't find regular granulated black powder and if/when I do I am not sure what type to buy. Suggestions please, thanks.

PS Today, I just found/bought several hundred percussion caps, so getting closer to getting all the stuff necessary to make this gun go BANG.

 

[barracudadave67]

Balls
Just use 3FFF real black powder, Name brand dosn't really matter. I use GOEX, and Grafs powder From Grafs reloading.
Have fun.
Dave

 

[BallsOnFire]

Hey Thanks. 3FFF, got it.......and hope to find it somewhere.

 

[rafterob]

Pyrodex does make pistol pellets. So if that is what you have you can use them. But you will want to try to get some 3f black powder.

 

[mustanger]

I would recommend 3F black powder. Somebody said try Graf's and I agree. They have Goex right now, not sure about their own brand, but if you can get it, it's lower priced.

 

[Winchester97]

3f black powder is definitely the way to go. Plenty of other options, but it's hard to beat the real stuff.

 

[deermanok]

Midway USA has Goex 3f powder in stock now. 2 pound limit.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Midway USA has Goex 3f powder in stock now. 2 pound limit.

Yes they do..., at $34.76 per pound when all fees and charges are included.

That's why I buy 10 lbs. at a time from Graf's, and the price is $24.44 per pound including all fees and charges.
Graf's 3Fg GOEX

LD

 

[user 36911]

Not sure what you bought for caps but all the revolvers I had used the #10 caps. If you bought #11 caps they'll be too big for the nipples.

 

[BallsOnFire]

Not sure what you bought for caps but all the revolvers I had used the #10 caps. If you bought #11 caps they'll be too big for the nipples.

I bought both because I have seen people say my 1858 Uberti replica uses #11's and others say #10's are the ticket. I thought I better buy both since I could get my hands on them. Looking at them side by side on my desk the #10's look to be just a hair taller than the 11"s. I will test them to see how they fit.

 

[mustanger]

I thought the 11's would be too big for the nipples on my 1848 Pietta Remington, but they fit snugly. Glad they did as that was the only size I could find. I did have to snug them down with a well placed thumb.

 

[user 36911]

Probably depends on what nipples are use. I remember the Treso nipples and Rem 10 caps were a perfect match in my revolvers. I used Colt 1860's in CAS shooting. A ton of fun.

 

[Zonie]

Hey Thanks. 3FFF, got it.......and hope to find it somewhere.

While your looking for real black powder, here's a few things to remember.

It's against the Federal law for a dealer to sit real black powder out on a shelf with the other powders. Federal regulations require the black powder to be kept in a locked, approved storage unit. Put another way, you won't see any kind of real black powder on a shelf.

Because real black powder must be locked up, many times the sales clerk at a gun store won't even know they have it for sale. If you go into the store or phone them, always ask to speak to the owner or the store manager. They will know if they have it.

Some sales clerks think all powder is black and they may try to sell you some smokeless powder. Smokeless powder will make your gun blow up so, never use it in a muzzle loader or a cap & ball pistol.

Pyrodex and Triple7 will work fine in your pistol. Loose granules is the best way to go because it allows you to adjust the powder load for the best accuracy.
You will need to measure it so you will need an adjustable powder measure. If you can find some fired cartridge brass at the range, this link will give you the amount of powder one of those spent shell casings will hold.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/black-powder-measures-from-cartridges.58311/