Cap N Ball revolvers

I own several cap and ball sixguns. From an 1851 with a brass frame to a Ruger Old Army,2 cylinders, and my son owns several, including and original Dragoon. The best info I have found is Elmer's Care and Managment of Cap and Ball revolvers, in Sixguns. Everything he says is absolute fact. I have gone to 3 fg powder, just because the 2 fg has been neutered so much, and tolarate the extra fouling. I have shot 4 fg out of my Ruger, and boy that makes a MAGNUM out of it. Stands right up in your hands, with a 200 grain bullet, and 35 grains of powder.
I shoot 25 grains 2fg in the 36 navy, brass frame. I and my son have shot it for many years, with no problems of frame battering. It will shoot though an oak pallet at 25 yards with the top load. Less and the balls bounce off.
Hit the house a few times before I figured out what the WHACK sound was after I fired. Dimpled the aluminum siding in a few places.

.. said "be careful, you'll shoot your eye out." I think I would stand a bit farther away from the house. Chris

The target was 25 yars away. Thought that was far enough to stop splinters from hitting me. Another 10 to the house. Just goes to show you what kind of bouncing power the combination of lead ball, and oak pallet has. But loaded it with 25 grains and never looked back.
My wife finally made me stop shooting there, when the guy that lived a half mile away complained about bullets flying around his head when he was outside. Seems some of those 7.62x39ers were bouncing rather badly. I got a first rate range out of the deal, 130 yards, and no one complains now. Got a BIG backstop and all.

I'm really hoping that Upper Michigan is far enough away from that range of yours, stray bullets do funny things. Chris