Your TMA Officers and Board of Directors
Support the TMA! ~ Traditional Muzzleloaders ~ The TMA is here for YOU!
*** JOIN in on the TMA 2024 POSTAL MATCH *** it's FREE for ALL !

For TMA related products, please check out the new TMA Store !

The Flintlock Paper

*** Folk Firearms Collective Videos ***



Author Topic: STARTING LOAD  (Read 1215 times)

Offline Swamppanther

  • TMA Contributing Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 40
  • TMA: Active Member
  • TMA Member: TMA #801
  • Location: FL
STARTING LOAD
« on: March 30, 2021, 09:49:06 AM »
i HAVE A PEDERSOLI INDIAN TRADE MUSKET  (62CAL/20GA) THAT SANTA  GOT ME ABOUT  2  YEARS AGO. NEVER BEEN FIRED.
i HAVE PLENTY  OF FFF, OVER  POWDER, OVER SHOT, PRELUBED CUSHION WADS, NO 5 LEAD  SHOT. BASICALLY EVERYTHING  I NEED TO  LOAD   AND SHOOT.
ITS TURKEY SEASON IN SOUTH FLORIDA. THOUGHT I  WOULD LEAVE MY "SWEET" HOME AND  TAKE THIS TO THE  WOODS AND  AT LEAST SHOOT IT.   
USING A STANDARD POWDER MEASURE  SET AT  70  GR  FFF WOULD IT BE OK TO USE  SAME MEASURE/SETTING FOR THE NO 5 SHOT?
JUST  TO GET  IT IN  THE WOODS AND SHOOT!
 :Doh!
USMC Life - Siemper Fi
NRA Life

Online rollingb

  • TMA BoD
  • ****
  • Posts: 6942
  • TMA Founder
  • TMA: Founder
  • TMA Member: TMA Charter Member#6
  • Location: Northwest KS
Re: STARTING LOAD
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2021, 11:22:50 AM »
Yes,.... an equal (or greater) "volume measurement" of shot is generally recommended.  :bl th up
"An honest man is worth his weight in gold"
For only $1.25 per-month, you too can help preserve our traditional muzzleloading heritage.
TMA Founder
TMA Charter Member #6

Online Bigsmoke

  • TMA Contributing Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 4133
  • TMA: Charter Member #150
Re: STARTING LOAD
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2021, 11:37:48 AM »
Yes, that sounds good to me.  Volume for volume is a good way to start.

But, before you go out into the woods, you really need to have a pattern board session.  If your local gun range doesn't have a shotgun area with a pattern board, it's not that difficult to conjure one up.  You will need a fair size cardboard box, maybe 30x30", some butcher paper, a roll of masking tape and a big rock.  Put the big rock into the box to keep it from moving around, then tape a piece of paper to the box.  Mark an aiming point on the paper and let rip.  Have fun !!!

John (Bigsmoke)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest Up to God.

BigSmoke - John Shorb
TMA Charter Member #150  
NRA - Life
Coeur d'Alene Muzzleloaders - Life

Online Winter Hawk

  • TMA Contributing Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2397
  • Location: Chauncey, OH
Re: STARTING LOAD
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2021, 12:08:15 AM »
Volume by volume definitely, but usually you determine how much shot you want to use and get a measure for that, then use the same measure for the powder.  For shot you will probably want to go with Ffg rather than 3F, although the latter will work.

~Kees~
NMLRA Life
"All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse and a good wife." - D. Boone
USN June 1962-Nov. 65, USS Philip, DD-498

Dues paid to 02 Jan. 2025