Powder charge VS barrel length
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location:
Posts: 43
Powder charge VS barrel length
Hello all,
I have a 0.45 Philadelphia derringer, with a 3" barrel. I"m looking for the most potent load. With longer barrels, the heavier the load, the faster the bullet. Simple.
However, in this short barrel, the powder thakes a significant part of the barrel length. So heavier load means shorter barrel.
Can you provide info or ideas on getting the best load?
Also - what about using 4Fg instead the regular 3Fg?
I dont have access to chronograph, so cant simply experiment.
One more: how do I measure barrel length? is it the Inside bore length? The total outside length? other?
Thanks,
I have a 0.45 Philadelphia derringer, with a 3" barrel. I"m looking for the most potent load. With longer barrels, the heavier the load, the faster the bullet. Simple.
However, in this short barrel, the powder thakes a significant part of the barrel length. So heavier load means shorter barrel.
Can you provide info or ideas on getting the best load?
Also - what about using 4Fg instead the regular 3Fg?
I dont have access to chronograph, so cant simply experiment.
One more: how do I measure barrel length? is it the Inside bore length? The total outside length? other?
Thanks,
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Saxonburg Pa
Posts: 3,925
#5
Ditto on the 4F...don't use it. And I would probably only use 15-20 gr of 3F. Most potent load? You're not going to get any appreciable accuracy with that lil' feller so why waste any more powder than necessary. Has anyone beside me ever wondered what charge J.W. Booth had in the barrel of the one he killed Lincoln with?
BPS
BPS
#6
Once sure of the amount of powder that the pistol can SAFELY shoot. And I stress SAFELY as the weapon design is often based on the capabilities of the powder it is meant to shoot... I can not see something with that short of a barrel shooting any large amount of powder.
But to obtain the top performance, if percussion cap, I would shoot 3f Triple Seven powder. If flintlock I would shoot 3f Swiss black powder. Remember these were belly guns. Made to be used at extremely close quarters. Most of them only produced around 450 ft per second ballistics as I once read.
A friend of mine once owned a derringer, very much as you described. I will not say I recall the load he used. But the powder amount was very low. What amazed me was the penetration of that ball at close ranges when he shot it. He shot into bundled magazines. And I never thought it would penetrate as deep as it did.
But to obtain the top performance, if percussion cap, I would shoot 3f Triple Seven powder. If flintlock I would shoot 3f Swiss black powder. Remember these were belly guns. Made to be used at extremely close quarters. Most of them only produced around 450 ft per second ballistics as I once read.
A friend of mine once owned a derringer, very much as you described. I will not say I recall the load he used. But the powder amount was very low. What amazed me was the penetration of that ball at close ranges when he shot it. He shot into bundled magazines. And I never thought it would penetrate as deep as it did.
#7
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,425
BPS...If memory is correct the one used to kill Lincoln was about .40 caliber, I can't imagine Booth using more than 30-40grs...
I've also read that Lincoln also probably died as much from one of the doctors probing for the ball as the damage made...
To the OP, I'd start with 20grs FFF Goex and move to about 40grs...You can check penetration by shooting into gallon jugs of water or 2x4s...
I've also read that Lincoln also probably died as much from one of the doctors probing for the ball as the damage made...
To the OP, I'd start with 20grs FFF Goex and move to about 40grs...You can check penetration by shooting into gallon jugs of water or 2x4s...
#8
I would probably only shoot no more than 20 -25 gr of FFFg. With its 3" barrels you're likely not to get much accuracy past 10 or 15 yds anyway. Which is all this little guy was intended for (and probably much closer.)
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Anne Arrundle County, Maryland
Posts: 1,672