loading

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

paleryder

32 Cal.
Joined
Sep 1, 2011
Messages
43
Reaction score
0
Now that My '51 Colt Navy is getting put back in order, and I'm waiting on another one from Pietta, I'm getting my gear ready to shoot. I have an old T/C brass flasht that throws a little over 25grns. I also have a measurer. I used to shoot a 50 cal rifle and I used the flash to measure out the powder. Now that I'm just shooting a pistol, I want something a little quicker and more appropriate for a revolver. I don't want to have to measure it out if I can avoid doing so. I tested out my techinque with the T/C flask and I was consistent. I am assuming that the 25gr is too high for a '51 Colt Navy. I see Cabelas sells a Colt style flash with a 15gr tip. Any recommendations on this style flask or any other quick way of throwing a consistent charge appropriate for a '51 Colt Navy? Thanks.

Todd
 
Nah, man. 25gn of real 2-3F is fine in a steel frame. I'd go 20gn of 777, or other repro, just to be sure you don't over-do it.

As for flask and such, throwing straight from the flask is somewhat iffy. I use a standard brass flask with a 25gn tip, pour into a spent cartridge, then throw the charge. Takes me one extra second or so per cylinder, and makes sure my face doesn't get blown off.
 
I picked up Graf & Sons black powder. Used to use Pyrodex in the past and wanted to try BP. I see that Pedersoli sells something that looks just like my T/C brass flask. They also sell different spouts. I wonder if those would fit? I tested how well I threw from the flask and out of 15 attempts, I threw under by one grain twice and over by one grain once. I vaguely recall that I used to tryand measure out 17gr or so. Yeah, it was guessing based on the crude markings on my measuring tool. 25gr just seemed so much more and I heard that less was better for accuracy.

Thanks for your wisdom! I will test out some different sized casings for measuring.

Todd
 
At the range I like to scoop revolver powder with cartridge case measures made up with wire handles on them. Just scoop the powder from a margarine tub or other plastic container. Be sure to close the powder tub lid and set the powder tub safely away before firing.

Quick basic scoops can be made using coat hanger wire looped around the case neck. If you like using the scoops you can improve them later.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check this chart posted by Claude, compiled by Zonie, from Articles - Charts - Links, then sub-forum Links, Charts, Reference:

Black Powder Measures from Cartridges

Compiled by Zonie

Using empty cartridge cases to measure black powder loads can easily be done. Simply fill the empty case to the mouth and wipe off the excess powder. The following gives a few common cases and the amount of black powder they will hold.
The bottleneck cases like the .30-30 and .30-06 must have the smaller mouth diameter and the taper removed leaving a straight walled case.

Cartridge Grains
.22 LR = 5
.320 ACP = 7
.380 ACP = 10
.30 cal Carbine = 20
.38 Special = 23
.357 Mag = 27
.45 Auto = 26
.44 Colt = 35
.45 Colt = 41
.38-40 = 40
.30-30 = 42
.30-06 = 70
.45-70 = 83
 
Thank you very much! Anyone use 9mm? I can't do the math in my head but it might be what I'm lookin for.

Todd
 
I have loaded from the flask but only after making very, very, very sure that there was nothing left burning in a chamber. Better to use something to pour the powder in from the flask and then into the cylinder. Having said that if you still load from the flask and you find a load you like that's less than what your spout throws you can adjust the amount the spout can hold by filing it down until it holds the correct volume. :hatsoff:

Schutzenkette
 
Eh...now you're scarying me. Forgot about the possibility of something still burning in the chamber. :shocked2: I better rethink this. Scoop sounds like a great way to go. Paper cartridges are starting to sound nice too.
 
I do not mean to scare anyone but rather to inform. I have read and heard about a flask or powder horn becoming a very good imatation of a hand grenade but I've never saw a photo or any real documentation of such an event.

Being rather fond of my fingers and eyes as well as other portions of my body I tend to be somewhat cautious when handling things that can remove any of the above without warning! Maybe I'm getting scary in my old age or maybe just a bit smarter but I think of the artillary batteries of the civil war and the loaders with their buckets of water to swab the barrel of their canon prior to stuffing another bag of powder down the bore. Not the same animal I know but fouling wasn't the only thing that I think they were concerned with. :idunno:

Schutzenkette
 
I like pouring from powder cans using my homemade spouts made from 223 cases.

IMG_6492.jpg
 
Back
Top