BB - cartridge: how many grains?

[Furrier1714]

I make my cartridges following the Pickering manual. I normally use 130 grains. But with the military priming and loading process, it is difficult to calculate if with the priming process I don't waste to much powder.
What ammount you would suggest?
Thanks!

 

[TreeMan]

I know you’re being historically correct In your loading method but some will condemn you for priming the Pan then loading and ramming. Fine for combat but not a great idea from a safety standpoint. I know at many clubs this practice is not allowed.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Prime separately our friend unless ofcourse they are charging at you!

 

[Grenadier1758]

When we, First Royal Regiment of Foote, load live rounds using the paper cartridges, we reduce the amount of powder to account for the priming we do using a separate priming flask. So, our loads would have about 110 to 120 grains based on the assumption that with spillage, 10 grains of powder would be used. We often use 80 to 90 grains of 2fg since that is a sporting grade powder that is more energetic compared to the military grade powders used.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I make my cartridges following the Pickering manual. I normally use 130 grains. But with the military priming and loading process, it is difficult to calculate if with the priming process I don't waste to much powder.
What ammount you would suggest?
Thanks!

Well the Cuthbertson "System for the Complete Interior Management and Oeconomy of a Battalion of Infantry " (1776) states:
The ball-cartridges; should be made by the Pioniers, under the direction of the Quarter-master-serjeant, at the rate of forty five to a pint of powder;

and it also states:
if a Commanding officer wishes to have it in his power, to practise his Battalion to fire, as often as it is necessary for its improvment; the Cartridges; therefore used at common Exercise should not be under sixty to a pint, though at other times, fifty may be the calculation. ...

So the question THEN is, were they using a scale and a "pint" of powder was the same weight as a pint of water, or 16 ounces...???
OR were they using a liquid pint measure for the powder, and thus the amount of powder was around 12 ounces ??

So if the first is true then the British rounds were about 155 grains of powder for the Bess cartridge,
But if the second situation is correct, then the load is about 115 grains of powder for the Bess cartridge,

Then if you find some resource that can compare modern powder to British powder of the 18th century, you might get a better picture of what the actual combat ammunition was doing when fired from the Bess.

I'd say for right now, ... use no more than 100 grains, and prime the pan from a flask.

LD

 

[Furrier1714]

Many thanks!
When I do fire in "free styl", I also load first and prime afterwards, for a matter of safety, of course!
I think I'll go for the 115 grains.
Many thANKS AGAIN!