My day with my Chronograph.

Raider2000 · August 4, 2007, 04:39 PM

I've had my Competition Electronics, ProChrono for a cupple of years, mostly using it for reloads & archery related excercises but today I decided to see what my Stone Mountain Arms repro. 1851 Navy .44 would be capable of doing, sortof a test of how powerful these loads were for the persons using such weapons during the Cap & Ball era.

My findings were quite interesting.

28gr. FFFg & then Pyrodex P
142gr. .454 swaged ball
CCI #11 percussion caps

Now mind you this is stuff I've had in my inventory for going on 12-14 years.

Standing 5 feet from the chronograph.

Velocity:
845 FPS average
Muzzle energy:
221.8 Ft. Lbs.

WOW, that is a little better than an orriginal 158gr. LRN load from a .38 special!!

How about this!
24gr. Pyrodex P
200gr. .452 semi wad cutter
CCI #11 percussion caps

Velocity:
739 FPS average
Muzzle energy:
242.5 Ft.Lbs.

That's a pretty decent thump from a weapon & caliber that was obsolete more than 100 years ago...

What do any of you think?

w_houle · August 4, 2007, 04:50 PM

I wonder how much of a diff it would make if you were using goex

Joe Martin · August 4, 2007, 06:45 PM

Those results are real close to the Lyman test that were done for the, 'Lyman Black Powder Handbook' where they used 28 grains of 3fg and
4fg, G&O & C&H black powder along with a .451 RB, and .450 bullet (450229)...

Contrary to what many may think in todays world of magnum loads, those using the old cap & ball revolvers were not under gunned by any means. Add these ballistic tests you did into the equation that they were also (just as today) able to load a fresh cylinder (the equivalent to a fresh magazine for them back in the C&B days) and those who relied on the reliability of the C&B Revolvers and knew how to use them were quite a force to be reckon'd with.

Thanks for the test info!

Raider2000 · August 4, 2007, 11:13 PM

Ya know if I was in the hey day of either before or slightly after the Civil War, I deffinitly wouldn't feel under gunned with one of these fine weapons next to me.
I would imagine that a Dragoon being capable of handling a charge of 40 grains safely would produce approximatly 920 FPS - 263 Ft. Lbs. or more using just a Ball & the Walker being capable of loading 55 grains would approach .357 magnum velocities!!!!

marcseatac · August 5, 2007, 12:35 AM

The more things change, the more they stay the same, is what I was thinking when I first shot my 47 Walker.

August 4, 2007, 06:45 PM	#3
Joe Martin Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Mid-West Posts: 16	Those results are real close to the Lyman test that were done for the, 'Lyman Black Powder Handbook' where they used 28 grains of 3fg and 4fg, G&O & C&H black powder along with a .451 RB, and .450 bullet (450229)... Contrary to what many may think in todays world of magnum loads, those using the old cap & ball revolvers were not under gunned by any means. Add these ballistic tests you did into the equation that they were also (just as today) able to load a fresh cylinder (the equivalent to a fresh magazine for them back in the C&B days) and those who relied on the reliability of the C&B Revolvers and knew how to use them were quite a force to be reckon'd with. Thanks for the test info! __________________ Joe Martin NRA, NMLRA

August 4, 2007, 04:39 PM	#1
Raider2000 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 719	My day with my Chronograph. I've had my Competition Electronics, ProChrono for a cupple of years, mostly using it for reloads & archery related excercises but today I decided to see what my Stone Mountain Arms repro. 1851 Navy .44 would be capable of doing, sortof a test of how powerful these loads were for the persons using such weapons during the Cap & Ball era. My findings were quite interesting. 28gr. FFFg & then Pyrodex P 142gr. .454 swaged ball CCI #11 percussion caps Now mind you this is stuff I've had in my inventory for going on 12-14 years. Standing 5 feet from the chronograph. Velocity: 845 FPS average Muzzle energy: 221.8 Ft. Lbs. WOW, that is a little better than an orriginal 158gr. LRN load from a .38 special!! How about this! 24gr. Pyrodex P 200gr. .452 semi wad cutter CCI #11 percussion caps Velocity: 739 FPS average Muzzle energy: 242.5 Ft.Lbs. That's a pretty decent thump from a weapon & caliber that was obsolete more than 100 years ago... What do any of you think?

August 4, 2007, 04:50 PM	#2
w_houle Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,391	I wonder how much of a diff it would make if you were using goex

August 4, 2007, 11:13 PM	#4
Raider2000 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 719	Ya know if I was in the hey day of either before or slightly after the Civil War, I deffinitly wouldn't feel under gunned with one of these fine weapons next to me. I would imagine that a Dragoon being capable of handling a charge of 40 grains safely would produce approximatly 920 FPS - 263 Ft. Lbs. or more using just a Ball & the Walker being capable of loading 55 grains would approach .357 magnum velocities!!!!

August 5, 2007, 12:35 AM	#5
marcseatac Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2006 Posts: 225	The more things change, the more they stay the same, is what I was thinking when I first shot my 47 Walker.