Antler Powder Measure?

[luieb45]

I have never made anything that pertained to traditional muzzleloading. I read in an online article on that traditional muzzleloading magazine that you can make an antler powder measure by cutting off a tine of a shed antler and boiling it then carving it out with a pen knife. From the people that I have talked about it with, they think that you can't carve it out with a knife. Do you guys have any experience with this?

 

[vthompson]

I use a drill and an appropriate drill bit and I just drill a little at a time until I get the proper depth for the amount of grains that I need.

 

[luieb45]

I use a drill and an appropriate drill bit and I just drill a little at a time until I get the proper depth for the amount of grains that I need.

Do you do anything to the antler before drilling such as boiling it?

 

[omarick1948]

You don't really have to do anything! Clamp it in a vise and start drilling with a small bit and work yourself up in size and depth you need!

Rick

 

[John Wasmuth]

maybe pad the jaws with leather before you snug it down.

 

[Bob Gular]

Start out with a small pilot hole, then soak the antler in warm water which softens the core some, and remove the desired amount of material by scraping with a sharp knife or a small carving gouge. I use both. This allows you to follow the contour of the tine and looks better than just a drilled hole. But, it is time consuming.

 

[paulvallandigham]

The Way Horner75 describes it is the way I did it making my first powder measure. You might want to put cotton balls in your nose, so you don't have to smell burned bones, however. Its pretty nasty smelling.


Use a drill bit to drill a pilot hole. Then increase the size of the hole with larger and larger bits, until you get the size that works for you. Don't expect to do this all in one sitting. Take your time, so you don't screw it up. Approach the load you want to throw slowly, so you don't have to file the antler down when you make the hole too big, or deep! BTDT. You don't want to go there. Filing a piece of horn is even more difficult than drilling it. :shocked2: :hatsoff:

 

[dlpowell]

The biggest issue I've had with antler measures is the size of the tines I've had won't allow you to drill a large hole for your powder charge. So I made one from a tip of an elk antler. It'll hold 80 grains of FF. Kinda heavy now but I can do some carving on it to make it lighter.

 

[luieb45]

I was thinking of using some fat antlers I sawed off a dead deer a few years ago and making the measure to hold 35 grains so that for my .50 cal I use one measure for small game and 2 measures for deer.

 

[R.M.]

Myself, I would suggest making the 35 gr as you're planning, then make another one for your hunting load. I know the 2X thing will work, but it just makes me uncomfortable. What if you loose track of how many you poured in. It's just one of those things that make you say, KISS,

 

[bkovire]

i made a y measure 20gr 30 gr 90 gr, it is form a deer antler that was laying around, the pic is under brians work in this index. not fancy but it works.

 

[atki]

if you end up with a hole that is a little too large, just fill it in with bees wax. A dremel tool works well if you don't want to use a knife or scraper.

WB

 

[bkovire]

thanks, i will keep that in mind, the trick is drill it out little at a time and use a known amount of powder, it is a pains taking process, drill measure, drill measure, i was lucky, got it right the first time, on the 20 and 30 the 90 is like 88 when poured in to a store bought measure, but i'm not bo hoo'n about 2gr dif, it works. the reason is 20 for plunk'n paper with my 58 rem 30 is the max charge 20=30= 50 that's plunk'n paper with my 50cal 90 is the max charge no need to have to change settings on a store bought one, yes i have one of them, keep it for when i go shooting and some one new dose not have one

 

[napolean]

I made one out of section of tine that is about 4" long. I drilled and then hand gouged so it had a small Spout for pouring into the barrel. Holds 55 gr. and was still a little long so I turned it around and made my pistol measure (20 gr.) on the other end. drilled a hole through sideways in the solid area and strung a thong through it, At the range I wear it on my left wrist, Very handy.
Jon

 

[bkovire]

seems like a good one shot, i just use leather strap tie it at the points of the y, long for use, short to be out of the way. have plugs for when it rains, can leave a charge in the 90gr one too.

 

[luieb45]

I think I will do the technique where you drill a small hole and put it in arm water then scrape it out. I got a lot of time on my hands and I thik it'll look better if I carve it instead of just drilling it. Thanks for the tips. I hope making these powder measures will get me started on making other things like powder horns and bags.

 

[dbutch]

Here's one that I drilled out and sent to a friend to finish...

this one was made by a member here

 

[Curtis Makamson]

Wow. Double WOW!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jethro224]

Them are some purty nice measures Dan. :thumbsup:

 

[jethro224]

I think I will do the technique where you drill a small hole and put it in arm water then scrape it out. I got a lot of time on my hands and I thik it'll look better if I carve it instead of just drilling it. Thanks for the tips. I hope making these powder measures will get me started on making other things like powder horns and bags.

It probably will. Making your own stuff is half the fun. :thumbsup: Saves you a buncha $$$ too. Might even earn you some. :hmm:
Post pics when you get your measure/s done.