What are the particulars for shooting a .45 kentucky pistol?

[timbermutt]

I'm just finishing up a CVA .45 kentucky pistol percussion kit. I need some info for shooting and hunting:
1. What size power and how much for hunting?
2. What is the rifling twist, and do the new conical bullets work.
3. What kind of accuracy and distance can I expect?
I got this kit a long time ago and recently found it. I can't wait to throw some lead. Waiting for the barrel to come back form blueing.
Thanks for the help

[Jerry]

Is this a single shot pistol or a revolver?

I have no knowledge of the pistols so I cant help there.

As far as a single shot pistol I have a CVA Trapper pistol in 50cal.

It shoots well now but when I started out I had a hard time with it.

Once I found out the correct powder charge and loading technique the grouping came along real well.

Do you have a blackpowder pistol manual? It is important with black powder as well as modern powder to make sure that you use proper loads for the firearm.

Modern powders generate high volumns of gas and pressure....black powder is an EXPLOSIVE! and has to be loaded carefully!

Black powder and modern(smokeless) powders are NOT interchangeable! and you can injure and or KILL yourself if not properly used.

I dont know if you have been using black powder before so I cant tell you everything that you may need to know as you may already know what you need to know.

Let us know your experience level is and we may be able to help you along with your project..... :wink:

JR

[alex-vitek]

There is a guy who does some of the Doug Carl gun shows in the state who is a specialist in BP shooting. He might be your best choice at this time. Unless, of course, you can help us out with some more info as Jerry mentioned.

[enfield]

After completing my Kentucky pistol, I proofed it by loading a triple charge (3 loads of powder, 3 patched balls) and firing it with a string attached to the trigger while the pistol was bungee-corded in the crotch of a tree.

The gun and the tree survived, and I felt confident in holding in my hand to shoot it.

Unfortunately, I haven't shot it in years (30) and I don't recall the powder load I used. Mine is also a CVA, and I don't think it's rifled fast enough for unpatched conical bullets.

Your paperwork with the kit should have a recommended load.

[timbermutt]

Sorry I haven't been by lately. My experience with muzzle loaders is a .54cal Hawkins, that is a Thompson/Center kit (T/C fit and finish better than CVA). I've had that for 20yrs now. I use both black powder, when I can find it, and Pyrodex. I can hold 3" groups out to 150yrds. I have only shot ball and patch and maxi, but none of the new stuff (little bit of a purest).
As for the pistol. It to is a kit gun. It is a single shot, looks like a gun Dan Boone would carry. I have had it for a long time and just now getting around to finishing it. I have long since lost the paper work, but I thought it's rifling twist was 1 in 32. Having never shot a black powder pistol of this type I don't know how many grains I should use for target and hunting. I went to CVA web site to get info but could not find a thing about any of their older guns and kits. All they had on the site was the new in-line shooters (not muzzle loading IMO).
Thanks again for any help Marv

[enfield]

My copy of CVA's booklet "Start Muzzleloading", dated 1977, says that CVA's recommended charge for a .45 pistol is a .440" ball, a .012" to .015" patch, and a powder charge of 20 gr FFF starting and 40 gr FFF maximum.

There are also 3 notes:

* Use only 1 round ball. We do not recommend minnie or "Maxi" balls.
* As you gain experience you may choose to adjust patch thickness.
* Increase from starting charge, a few grains at a time, until most accurate load is found. Do not exceed the maximum charges. You will gain little or nothing in doing so and can create excessive pressures.