Dragoon powder charge for whitetails?

My Walkers and Dragoons....

don't seem to like more than about 40 grains.

They are all ASM manufactured revolvers in cood condition. I shoot only 777.

What I find is that accuracy suffers above 40 grains. I think I remember shooting about 1050 fps at fifty grains and about 950 at forty grains. I don't know what is it about the system that makes it less stable with the higher volume of powder. I suspect it might be things that are going on just outside the muzzle when the round is in its first three to five inches of travel outside the barrel.

Not smart enough to know for sure.
 
robhof

Someone had posted tests with sheets in front of the gun, on the ground and various charges and with the Walker; from 50gr up, there was residue on the sheets, consistent with unburned powder. They also had rifle tests and found those 150gr loads put out large amounts of unburned powder residue. Even relatively fast powder like real b/p can run out of room in a barrel.:D:D
 
My Dragoon Likes.....

.....45gr of Pyrodex P behind a .454RB or hand cast Lee conical. The RB's are tighter grouping, but the punch of the conicals launched with 45gr P is astounding. Steel gongs that rock and sway when shot with a RB jerk and jump when pranged with the Lee.
This load, unfortunately, is just strong enough to drop the loading lever almost every time.
Anything over that just wastes powder, and accuracy suffers.
Some guys just twist one of those ladies stretchy hair elastic thingies or a rubber band around the barrel/loading lever to combat the LL drop.:rolleyes:
Being a 'real man', I just deal with it.....LOL!:D
 
Doc, the terrain varies. You can have up to and beyond 1000 yard shots in bottom land to some thick stuff that will limit shots to near point blank and anything in between.

Most states hunting regs tell you the minimum caliber, FPS, ft# and powder charge.
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Tennessee regs only require .36 caliber and higher for big game (black powder, any centerfire for modern), rifle or handgun.

I believe I will hit the range tomorrow (didn't make it today) and work up some loads and put myself and the Dragoon through the paces.
 
Rifleman1776, I am far more familiar with a Walker than the Dragoon which is why I was unsure on it's maximum powder charge. Rest assured I will not take to the woods with it unless I am confident I can make a clean shot.
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Ben Towe, good. Glad to hear you are concientious on that point. I am very aware of just how hard accurate shooting with a handgun of any kind can be. I used to shoot competitively with my Ruger Redhawk in .44 mag. and was braggin' good. Then shoulder injuries, surgery, etc. took me away from serious handgun shooting for several years. Now, I have to admit, my accuracy abilities with a handgun are simply not suited for hunting. Whether it be with yer ole timey replica or my modern magnum banger, practiced accuracy is necessary for successful and humane hunting.
Good luck.
 
Curious about the several comments about a "full 40 gr charge", when the Dragoons should take 50grs. Mine has room left over when loaded with 50.


....This load, unfortunately, is just strong enough to drop the loading lever almost every time.....Some guys just twist one of those ladies stretchy hair elastic thingies or a rubber band around the barrel/loading lever to combat the LL drop.
Being a 'real man', I just deal with it.....LOL!
Click to expand...

Um, why not just fix it? A heavier spring can be used, or some put a small stell ball bearing or piece of shot in under the spring to stiffen it up.


I can't imagine that it would be that hard to kill a deer with a Dragoon. Back in the day, the Dragoons were used for killing buffalo from horseback, and considered a good tool for the job. Audubon killed a buff that was about to overtake him on foot once, it was so close it burned the hair on its head at the shot. Killed it dead with the one shot though. There was also a report from Wyoming in the 1850's of a cavalry detachment that had cornered a grizzly and they had shot it several times with 36 cal Navies, without effect. Another guy came up with a Dragoon and killed it with two shots. When they skinned it, the discovered that the 36 cal balls hadn't penetrated far enough to do fatal damage, tho the Dragoon certainly had.

I'm planning on using my Dragoon to shoot deer, and a buffalo one day.
 
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Ben Towe: Probably more deer were killed with the old 44/40 than any other round except maybe the 30-30. The 44/40 had a 40 grain charge of black powder but the velocity was higher shot out of a carbine versus a pistol. Custer- in his book my "Life on the Plains" spoke of using just a plain old 1860 Army to ride up beside a buffalo and shoot it at point blank range.
I don't know what it is about that soft lead ball but it seems to defy logic in how it kills. The foot/lbs of muzzle energy used with most modern arms don't seem to apply.
so....I'd say at a VERY close range with a 40 grain charge, placed where it doesn't have to plow through a shoulder- should be okay.
 
Curious about the several comments about a "full 40 gr charge", when the Dragoons should take 50grs. Mine has room left over when loaded with 50.

Mine takes a full 50 of Pyrodex with a little room left over; but accuracy suffers. 40-45 is my best accuracy, so that's what I usually use.

Um, why not just fix it? A heavier spring can be used, or some put a small stell ball bearing or piece of shot in under the spring to stiffen it up.

Haven't got around to it yet. I have like twenty other BP pistols to shoot and the Dragoon has only made it out to the range twice.
 
Sorry if I was misunderstood, if you have a dragoon then go ahead and cram as much powder in it as it will hold. I was just pointing out that the 44/40 had a 40 gr black powder charge and killed plenty of deer, and I realize that the bullet was a lot heavier than a round ball and shot out of a lever action rifle, the velocity higher; still, Custer did claim to have killed buffalo (probably females) on many occasions with an Army 1860 at point blank range.
Many years ago I was sitting against a tree (I'm right handed) with my rifle resting on my lap and a buck came in on the "wrong" side- my right. The only way I could shoot it was to slowly move my rifle around and try to shoot left handed- the only trouble was I was in the thickets and the buck was only about 8 yards from me. If I had a revolver I could have taken that deer. I started to move the rifle and got it about half way and the buck took off. After that I have often carried a pistol if I am on the ground, stump sitting.
 
Many years ago I was sitting against a tree (I'm right handed) with my rifle resting on my lap and a buck came in on the "wrong" side- my right. The only way I could shoot it was to slowly move my rifle around and try to shoot left handed- the only trouble was I was in the thickets and the buck was only about 8 yards from me. If I had a revolver I could have taken that deer.

I had the same thing happen a while back, and after the season ended ran right out and bought a Contender in .35 Rem.
 
Finding them isn't the issue, paying for them is.

True statement.
Occasionally one slips through the cracks, though. Sometimes, twenty. :D
 
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