Cutting powder to make it weaker

[sussexmuzllodr]

Next up "Watering down your vintage Scotch"

 

[Daveboone]

I may have missed a detail in the responses, but....You say this is for reenacting, but you are loading ball...Most reenactment groups I know of a ball is never....not even available in the kit...for reenacting, unless being shot at a range...Most reenactors I know will not even use the same rifle used in blank charge (battle) reenactment vs a rifle that is is loaded even occaissionally with ball.
If you are target shooting in any capacity, I do not see why you would be wanting to load/mess with a standard load in any way. It doesnt surprise me that you cold be "bottoming out" at the vent with a larger bore, which would normally never be loaded with such a small load.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Larry,

Thank you for the guide I really appreciate it.

In my case it's more complicated since there's unfortunately a patent breech down there (don't know its dimensions), and furthermore, there is a slight choke near the muzzle.

Last year I did ask the leader of our reenactment group if there was something I could do to fill up the chamber of the patent breech, since it's unnecessary volume what with my vent hole being entirely forward of the breech face, making it harder to clean. He told me, anything you put in there is a potential projectile if it comes loose. For reenactment with audiences, even though we never shoot in the direction of other people, the idea of a potential projectile in there could get me in trouble. We're not allowed to use wadding or anything but powder. I believe you when you say that if done correctly it won't come loose, but I'm not comfortable going against what the leader told me.

Still I am glad to be informed about this little trick.

Janissary,
Whole new ball game with your gun's patent breech. Obviously you will discard my suggestion for a breech plug spacer. Hope you get your problem solved or maybe able to get another gun.
Larry

 

[Trigger]

I’m really cornfused now. Does the gun have a traditional flat faced breech or a chambered breech?

How can a blank load put stress on a gun?

Good one.

Yea things like that. He thanked us for being worried about his safety?

Larry,

Thank you for the guide I really appreciate it.

In my case it's more complicated since there's unfortunately a patent breech down there (don't know its dimensions), and furthermore, there is a slight choke near the muzzle.

Last year I did ask the leader of our reenactment group if there was something I could do to fill up the chamber of the patent breech, since it's unnecessary volume what with my vent hole being entirely forward of the breech face, making it harder to clean. He told me, anything you put in there is a potential projectile if it comes loose. For reenactment with audiences, even though we never shoot in the direction of other people, the idea of a potential projectile in there could get me in trouble. We're not allowed to use wadding or anything but powder. I believe you when you say that if done correctly it won't come loose, but I'm not comfortable going against what the leader told me.

Still I am glad to be informed about this little trick.







It's nice that you two care about my safety. Have a good day.

I think it's closer to 4 people have in some way questioned safety. That's not common around here.
You also had a few on the other topic.

I don't care..Good luck. A couple of people "worried" about your safety and that of others; that's just being nice. Can... could this all be done with a non functional training rifle?- just practice handling and the motion without fire.

What's this little poof going to do for you? I'm not the only one to point out that something isn't right. Good luck.

I don't get it?

 

[nkbj]

I do reenactment shooting and want to have the look/feel of a full powder charge without actually creating so much noise and stress in my gun. Old gunpowder was not as powerful as it is today, and 1600s powder charges were made to hold more than 200 grains. On top of that, my gun has a space between the breech face and the touch hole, so if I load less than 40 grains at the shooting range then the ball obstructs the touch hole and the gun can misfire. Given that, is there some type of low energy combustible powder that I can mix with blackpowder to make it weaker? (Hopefully without creating any horrible kind of residue/fouling)

What kind of 1600's gun are you shooting?