31 cal BP

[green grunt]

Just got this little 31cal Black Powder , can't wait to try it out , marked "S. Marco" under the barrel , "made Italy" on the left side under Madison Import Corp , date code XXII (1966?) , I don't see to many with a square trigger guard in the 31 cal. , and one have one ... what charge of powder do you use ? do you use .315 or larger lead balls ?

Thanks for help and info

Semper Fi.




[IMG][/IMG]

[Sousuke]

Just got this little 31cal Black Powder , can't wait to try it out , marked "S. Marco" under the barrel , "made Italy" on the left side under Madison Import Corp , date code XXII (1966?) , I don't see to many with a square trigger guard in the 31 cal. , and one have one ... what charge of powder do you use ? do you use .315 or larger lead balls ?

Thanks for help and info

Semper Fi.




[IMG][/IMG]

Try .323 balls for a good ring of lead. Powder charge ranges from about 10 grains of FFFg to 12.

Mike Bellevue mentions in one of his articles that you can use FFFFg in an 1849 replica though I can't vouch if its actually safe to do.

[Eljay]

That sounds about right.

I have a couple of .31s and they definitely vary in terms of which ball they like but .323 is a good starting point. I use .319s in my Remington though. I'm using 10 grains in the Remington and 12 (and .323 balls) in my Colt. That's 3F 777, for whatever reason I haven't used real black in the .31s.

[musketjon]

It is totally safe to use 4F in that pistol. The chambers don't hold enough powder to be dangerous--
Jon