1874Sharps
04-26-2009, 06:40 PM
Dear Afficianados of the darkside (black powder),
I have a cool little 31 caliber eight barrel pepperbox that was most likely made around the 1840s or 1850s. It does have hammerforged barrels and is in quite good shape. Thus far I have not shot it due to concerns about its strength, as I have heard that the metalurgy of such antiques is such that the iron weakens with age. What do ya'll think about the prospects of trying a 5-10 grain load of FFFG with a 75 grain pure lead bullet (from a Lyman 32 ACP mold)? Do you think that would be safe enough?
I have a cool little 31 caliber eight barrel pepperbox that was most likely made around the 1840s or 1850s. It does have hammerforged barrels and is in quite good shape. Thus far I have not shot it due to concerns about its strength, as I have heard that the metalurgy of such antiques is such that the iron weakens with age. What do ya'll think about the prospects of trying a 5-10 grain load of FFFG with a 75 grain pure lead bullet (from a Lyman 32 ACP mold)? Do you think that would be safe enough?