How much blackpowder do you use in a 44 caliber cva pistol?

Answer 1

In your STEEL-FRAME "1851 Colt" pistol variants (made by CVA, Pietta, Uberti, etc.), you can use either a .451 diameter or .454 diameter lead ball (NOT a .45 caliber rifled bullet), and 30 grains of FFFg Black Powder. I recommend that you also use a "lubricated pistol wad" (NOT A PATCH) in between the powder and the bullet, so you don't "touch off" one of the other chambers, with a spark from the round you're planning to fire.

In your BRASS-FRAME "1851 Confederate Navy Colt" pistol variants (also made by CVA, Pietta, Uberti, etc.), you should use ONLY USE a .451 diameter lead ball, and ONLY 25 grains of FFFg Black Powder. Brass is a much softer metal than steel, and your frame can crack if you use too much powder when you shoot it.

Although Pietta "recommends" 30 grains, most reinactors will tell you that 25 grains is plenty enough to get the ball out of the barrel, and it is even more consistently accurate at 25 yards!

Most "starter kits" come with a 30 grain spout, but the "Confederate" (brass-frame) Colts are made from a softer metal, and you should use less powder in them, just to be on the "safe side". You can find a 25 grain spout that will fit most powder flasks at www.PossibleShop.com