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B.L.E. · January 23, 2013, 11:22 PM

.440 ball and .015 patch should work, I doubt you will be able to load a .451 unless you use a hammer.
10-15 grains of fffg, any more and you get diminishing returns out of that short barrel, to the point where the extra room the powder uses up is that much less barrel available to accelerate the ball. The barrel will survive 30 grain charges but it's mostly a waste of powder with the powder charge using up nearly half the barrel.

January 23, 2013, 11:22 PM	#2
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	.440 ball and .015 patch should work, I doubt you will be able to load a .451 unless you use a hammer. 10-15 grains of fffg, any more and you get diminishing returns out of that short barrel, to the point where the extra room the powder uses up is that much less barrel available to accelerate the ball. The barrel will survive 30 grain charges but it's mostly a waste of powder with the powder charge using up nearly half the barrel.