Black Powder Velocity Limit?

[Bullard4075]

Is there a generally accepted BP velocity limit?
Seems I read somewhere 2000 fps or so.

[Old Savage]

I know that it is somewhere over 2065.

[kimwcook]

I think it'd depend upon jacketed bullets v cast (hard, soft, imbetween), caliber, efficiency of design and ultimately how much powder you can stuff in the case or muzzleloader. But, I think it'd be over 2000 fps.

Don, Griff, Mike D., etc... should be able to easily answer this one.

[Nath]

.32 squirrel rifles get over 2000fps.

Nath.

[PEteacher]

Didn't some of the BIG guns on battleships use black powder? I know that is a bit different than our sporting arms, but I wonder what velocities they worked with.

<><
Jeff

[Old Savage]

2700 fps on the 16 inch I believe.

[Griff]

Don or Mike D., etc... should be able to easily answer this one.

There, fixed that for ya! I've only chrono'd two loads from my Sharps, Goex "Cartridge" & 5744 behind a 350 grain lead boolit. Both were in the 1680fps area. Which is fast for a big bore BP load. My full 100grain 2F load behind my .526 patched RBs in my Hawken are faster, but by how much, I don't remember.

[6pt-sika]

Hmmm muzzle loaders !

I've got a Savage 10ML-II 50 caliber that I launch bullets of 250 grains in excess of 2300 FPS on a regular basis . However thats using smokeless powder .

[kimwcook]

Don or Mike D., etc... should be able to easily answer this one.

There, fixed that for ya! I've only chrono'd two loads from my Sharps, Goex "Cartridge" & 5744 behind a 350 grain lead boolit. Both were in the 1680fps area. Which is fast for a big bore BP load. My full 100grain 2F load behind my .526 patched RBs in my Hawken are faster, but by how much, I don't remember.

That's why I like you so much, Griff, your humility.

[JB]

Didn't some of the BIG guns on battleships use black powder? I know that is a bit different than our sporting arms, but I wonder what velocities they worked with.

<><
Jeff

I believe the battleships, or at least the U.S. ones, used smokeless powder. They did have a small amount of black powder on the end to help with ignition, but it was something like 10 ounces of black powder to 110 pounds of smokeless powder.

[brno602]

I don't know, I have pushed a 200gr .430 bullet( Speer) with a sabot at 2200+fps out of my .54 Hawken Replica.
It blows up gophers real good!
I was using 105 or 110gr of fffg and it shot better, using the old T/C sabot better than any other load I have worked up for my front stuffer.
I would think it depends on how strong your gun is and if using a case how much powder you can stuff into it?

[rogn]

I beleive the old 16s used 6- 90# of smokeless for a full charge and a small 10 oz igniter for the priming charge. I dont remember if each bag had a priming charge or if there was only 1 per load.

[Don McDowell]

Not aware of any sporting cartridges that made it much past 1800 fps.