kentuckian

[DAT19K]

i picked up a euroarms "kentuckian". it is .44cal. it says on the barrel "black powder only" does this mean i cannot use pyrodex or the like? also i'm not sure of the twist yet but are round balls the only ammo for this rifle? also what would be a max powder charge? thanks.

[Ranger99]

the "black powder only" means black or
pyrodex or the like as opposed to smokeless
powders intended for modern cartridge arms.


gimme a bit and i'll see if i can find my lyman
manual for a load. . . .

[Ranger99]

lyman book is a no-show.
probably loaned it.


looking in d.g.w.'s catalog in the
info section, most all the loads they
list show 50-55 gr to start and 70-75
gr max . i would say that would be pretty
dang close . personally , i wouldn't go
over about 75 + - grains in that kind
of rifle. just guessing i'd say 65 + -
gr of FFF would be just about right.


good luck

[DAT19K]

thank you ranger i appreciate your time.

[Ranger99]

no prob.
hope i was of some help.


good luck with the rifle.
been doing b.p. hunting for
3+ decades now myself.
i know you'll enjoy it.


use the cleaning rod and patch method
to find the twist as on any rifle.

[keith44]

I agree with Ranger on all but one point.


Old wives tale, or Black Powder voo doo, says one grain per caliber number as a starting load, and two grains per caliber number as a maximum load.  This has proven to be fairly reliable over my 32 years experience with black powder rifles.  Whether patched round ball, or conical bullet best compromise between accuracy and power will be found in that range.  (This is valid for the 45 to 54 cal rifles, so 44 cal should also fit in here)  By this saying 88 grains would be max, 44 would be starting. Split the difference and you get 66 grains.  My money is on a load of 65 grains of 2F Goex being best.

[Winter Hawk]

I agree on a middle load of 66 grains.  I have always heard to start with 1 1/2 times the caliber in grains, then work up and down from there to find your most accurate load.  Use fffg grade of powder.  A quick Bing search found to use a patched .433 round ball.  One fellow claimed he used .440, but I think he probably had the .45 caliber version of this rifle.  There were numerous folks who said they had owned one at some time, then sold it and now wished they still had it.  It is a pretty piece, you should have a lot of fun with it.  Is it flint or percussion?

-WH-