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faraway · November 19, 2004, 11:35 PM

Keep it on the low side, the comment about the 'magnum' is well placed. 60-70 Grains is enough. On the originals and close replicas the barrel walls are fairly thin (albiet obviously better steel on the newer versions).
If your using paper cartridges, go 3-5 or so grains above, as some it lost in the biting (ripping) of the cartridge.
And heavy charges will, as noted, deform the skirts of the minie. Takes the accuracy right out. Really no value to a heavy charge in a RM, as the powder expansion is more or less expended well down the barrel. The long barrels seemed to have been tied to the rifling, and the bayonet situation. Also with real heavy charges, and the larger cone hole of the RM, there is a better chance of fragmenting, blowing the cap. Musket caps do that enough, without the extra assistance. Or at least it seemed so, took mine up to 90gr and that happened more than usual.
When loading it, on the last set with the ramrod, tap the butt a little on the ground. Was a standard practice with the originals, as it seated the ball directly on the powder, speeded loading, and compensated for fouling. Although the foulings not as much of an issue in your case.

November 19, 2004, 11:35 PM	#4
faraway Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2001 Location: ne montana Posts: 437	Keep it on the low side, the comment about the 'magnum' is well placed. 60-70 Grains is enough. On the originals and close replicas the barrel walls are fairly thin (albiet obviously better steel on the newer versions). If your using paper cartridges, go 3-5 or so grains above, as some it lost in the biting (ripping) of the cartridge. And heavy charges will, as noted, deform the skirts of the minie. Takes the accuracy right out. Really no value to a heavy charge in a RM, as the powder expansion is more or less expended well down the barrel. The long barrels seemed to have been tied to the rifling, and the bayonet situation. Also with real heavy charges, and the larger cone hole of the RM, there is a better chance of fragmenting, blowing the cap. Musket caps do that enough, without the extra assistance. Or at least it seemed so, took mine up to 90gr and that happened more than usual. When loading it, on the last set with the ramrod, tap the butt a little on the ground. Was a standard practice with the originals, as it seated the ball directly on the powder, speeded loading, and compensated for fouling. Although the foulings not as much of an issue in your case.