SwampMouse
Member
I spent most of Sunday shooting my 1861 Navy pistols in preparation for hunting season. I am not satisfied with the accuracy of either one and would welcome some help.
This was my procedure. Both pistols started clean and have tresco nipples. I used a gauge to set the cylinder gaps to .006 inches. I weighed charges from 21 to 16 grains in ½ grain steps. I fired all shots at 15 yards using Hornady 80 grain balls and a few Speer balls with Goex 3F powder and Rem 11 or CCI 11 caps. I used two different ways of adding lube. I still don’t have thick felt, so I am using old hat felt with tallow and beeswax liniment to make wads. I ran out of wads so I switched to lube over the loaded balls.
I ended up only shooting one pistol, so I cleaned it again after deciding to shoot only one and again after I finished the first box of balls. Then three more times before each 24 shots with 3 different loads at the end. After going through all of the first measured charges I weighed more at 19, 18 ½ and 18 grains and shot 24 more of each. The 18 and 18 ½ grain groups look almost identical. They are strung out vertically from 3 inches to 4 ½ inches, but they don’t have much windage variation.If the groups were round they would be close to 2 inches.
I can’t find a lot of posted information on target shooting with the Navy models. I have read where people say there is target competition with black powder pistols, but I’m not finding links to the organization or individuals doing it with any meaningful discussions on the ideal loads, etc. Any words of advice or where to look from those of you that have Navy models that shoot better than 2 or 3 inches at 15 yards would be appreciated.
SM
This was my procedure. Both pistols started clean and have tresco nipples. I used a gauge to set the cylinder gaps to .006 inches. I weighed charges from 21 to 16 grains in ½ grain steps. I fired all shots at 15 yards using Hornady 80 grain balls and a few Speer balls with Goex 3F powder and Rem 11 or CCI 11 caps. I used two different ways of adding lube. I still don’t have thick felt, so I am using old hat felt with tallow and beeswax liniment to make wads. I ran out of wads so I switched to lube over the loaded balls.
I ended up only shooting one pistol, so I cleaned it again after deciding to shoot only one and again after I finished the first box of balls. Then three more times before each 24 shots with 3 different loads at the end. After going through all of the first measured charges I weighed more at 19, 18 ½ and 18 grains and shot 24 more of each. The 18 and 18 ½ grain groups look almost identical. They are strung out vertically from 3 inches to 4 ½ inches, but they don’t have much windage variation.If the groups were round they would be close to 2 inches.
I can’t find a lot of posted information on target shooting with the Navy models. I have read where people say there is target competition with black powder pistols, but I’m not finding links to the organization or individuals doing it with any meaningful discussions on the ideal loads, etc. Any words of advice or where to look from those of you that have Navy models that shoot better than 2 or 3 inches at 15 yards would be appreciated.
SM