
These Buffalo bullets were one of four types that were tested in two revolvers to develop effective deer and hog hunting loads.
Click on the iBooks image to order Book
Experimentation with two modern percussion revolvers reveals that they will muster the 500 ft./lbs. of energy usually considered to be the threshold value for taking deer-sized game. Testing with Cabela’s stainless steel .44-caliber cap-and-ball Buffalo revolver with its 12-inch barrel and adjustable sights along with Ruger’s stainless Old Army demonstrated that the use of Hodgdon’s Triple Seven powder enabled this threshold value to be obtained with bullets as heavy as 240 grains.
These revolvers are individualistic. The Italian-made Pietta Buffalo sold by Cabela’s has slightly tighter chamber and barrel dimensions that the Ruger. Without question the now discontinued “Old Army” is the better-made gun, but the longer barrel (12-in. vs. 7 1/2) of Pietta’s Buffalo gives it a ballistic advantage. The Pietta uses a slower twist which is advantageous with round-ball loads, whereas the Ruger’s faster twist allows it to shoot heavier, and longer, bullets with greater accuracy.
While these tests were limited, they did demonstrate the power of these pistols, and I will use them on game later this Fall. A table giving the load and test results appears below.
Hunting Load Development
Black Powder Revolvers
Pietta. Cabela’s Stainless “Buffalo” with 12-in barrel and adjustable sights made by Pietta. These loads are not recommended for the brass-framed version of this pistol.
Bullet Weight Powder Charge gr. L. vol. H. Vol. Av.vol. ME
Grains. Vol/Wt. fps. fps. fps. ft./lbs
——————————————————————
.454 RB. 141* Trip-7**40/30.7 1037 1123 1074 361
.454 RB. 141* Trip-7**42.5/33.0 1092 1294 1139 406
.454 RB 141* FFFg 35/36.5 847 876 864 234
Buffalo 180 Trip-7**42.5/33.0 981 1087 1031 425
Kaido*** 240 Trip-7**32/26.1 832 1020 952 483
Kaido*** 240 Trip-7**30/22.6 801 867 823 361
Kaido*** 240 FFFg 25/28 609 666 638 217
Ruger Old Army Stainless with 7 ½-inch barrel and adjustable sights.
.457 RB. 145* Trip-7**40/30.7 916 1008 963 299
.457 RB. 145* Trip-7 35/28 1000 1011 1004 325
.457 RB. 145* Trip-7 35/? Hodgdon data 987 314
.457 RB. 145* Pyro.P 40/31.3 977 1061 1019 334
Buffalo 180 Pyro.P 40/31.3 1127 1176 1156 534
Lee Real 250 Pyro.P 30/23 NA NA 866 416
Lee Reel 250 Trip-7 30/22.6 894 912 904 454
Kaido*** 240 Trip-7 35/28 961 999 987 519
* A felt lubricated Wonder Wad was used under the round balls. When velocities increased to the point where these wads were destroyed accuracy suffered.
** This was a 3-4 year-old old jar of Triple Seven that had apparently somewhat deteriorated in Georgia’s hot, humid atmosphere. With fresher powder the velocities increased a significant amount. In the Ruger Old Army, 35 grains of the fresh powder produced higher velocities/energies than 40 grains of the older powder. If your Triple Seven has lumps or cakes up in your container, it may not produce best results.
*** This was the first shooting of “Kadio’s C&B Revolver Hunter” which is designed to be a universal bullet for percussion and cartridge revolvers that will provide longer-range performance. This first lot of bullets was both lighter weight, 240 vs. 255 grains, than designed and slightly undersized. The heavier, larger bullets would be expected to give better performance in the Ruger Old Army.
A video was shot over the three days that the guns were being tested and cut to give an eight-minute overview. Many products used in the video were furnished by the manufacturers. It may be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7OqKuVp-eg if you have any problems viewing it below:
Click on the iBooks image to order Book
Great info!