Jukar single shot

[wormbobskey]

I recently picked up a Jukar single shot percussion pistol and was told it was .44 caliber. There is no caliber stamped on the barrel, but the grooves mic'ed at .463 and the lands at .451. This is a .45 right? What would be a good starting load with this pistol using 3F powder. Thanks, Worm.

[coyotejoe]

My own starting load for a .45 caliber of different style but similar bore was a .440" ball, pillow ticking patch, wet with saliva and cut at the muzzle over 15 grains of Goex 3f. I chronograped the load at over 900 fps and the first five shots fired went in a group just over 2" at 25 yards. I know 15 grains doesn't sound like much but 900 fps sure seems like plenty. I was shocked at the speed because I've mostly played with revolvers in the past and I know 15 grains won't do much over 700 fps from my .44 revolvers and 900 fps is about all you can get from a revolver with black powder. Certainly the pistol can be loaded much heavier but why bother?

[wormbobskey]

Thanks coyotejoe, 15 grains sounds like a good starting point. The cool thing is is I just bought a 45 flintlock so I'll have a good combination to play with. Should I go with the thicker pillow ticking to start out with? Thanks again, Worm.

[coyotejoe]

Should I go with the thicker pillow ticking to start out with? Thanks again, Worm.

Uhhh, thicker than what? The striped pillow ticking as from Walmart goes around .016-.018" and with the .440" ball it loads fairly easily in my pistol. I'm thinking of trying a .445" ball with that same patch since it seems like a larger ball often does better in a shallow groove barrel such as yours and mine. I like really tight loads in rifles but there you can set the butt on the ground and really whang on the short starter. Can't do that with a pistol, not without breaking the stock, so pistols need a little easier starting ball and patch combo. You'll have no trouble loading the .440 ball with a ticking patch.

[wormbobskey]

I used to shoot patched round balls out of my hawkin and it like .012 pillow ticking patches, but my buddy used .015 patches in his and shot excellent groups. I'll do some experimenting with different patch materials to find what shoots the best. Thanks for your help.

[Draxx]

 I have the same pistol, a Jukar percussion sidelock. I use a .440 ball, .015 patch and 20 grs. of Pyrodex P. I shoots fine, but is WAY high. I have filed down the read sight groove and really need a taller front sight to do better then about a foot high at 25 feet.

 It was a kit I built a good 25 years ago and is mostly a shelf decoration. My .50 Kentucky pistol is my sidelock shooter

[wormbobskey]

I hope mine shoots a little lower than yours, but I still haven't found the time to get out and shoot it yet. Now I've got that flintlock on its way and it needs a little attention so I don't know when I'll ever find the time to shoot it.