Black powder loads for 2 guns?

What is the correct grain load for a working replica of an Colt 1860 Army? How about a modern .50 caliber muzzle loader? On the same note what is the best way to measure the loads when you do not have a measuring device? IE scales or a drop loader.Black powder loads for 2 guns?
if memory serves... black powder firearms usually take a square charge. that is ... .44 cal would take 44 grains of fffg powder... .36 would take 36 grains, and so on.





Those charges were proved safe for my guns... you should always start low and work up. Your individual weapons may like a lighter or heavier charge for accuracy's sake.





You need a scale to measure your charge. I used to cut down a empty cartridge to a length that would hold a measured charge and silver solder a wire handle on to make a dipper. You can find items that will do this job in the blackpowder section of Walmart and other guns stores and online sources like Midway.com





When you load that Colt... pack the top of the cylinder with a cotton wad... or a dollop of Crisco or other grease... those BP pistols throw fire everyplace and are know to chain fire the other chambers if you don't grease over the bullets. The Crisco melts and coats the pistol and makes it a lot easier to clean after shooting.Black powder loads for 2 guns?
Pietta and/or Uberti will be happy to send you a FREE owners manual.





As long as you're using real black or Pyrodex, in most modern replicas, if you can seat the ball and rotate the cylinder, it probably won't grenade in your hand. In that .44, you use a .451 or .452 round ball, by the way. If you don't get a little ring of lead when you seat the ball, the ball you're using is too small. You won't get the best accuracy with a max charge, though. 25-30 grains (by VOLUME) usually gets you the best accuracy.





Be sure to use Crisco over the ball, as a chain fire is something you won't soon forget.





It's probably going to print a lot higher than you think, too.





Your mileage may vary.