PSI with black powder

[Zonie]

"...I asked a while ago if ANYONE had a manual with PSI for loads in a 12 ga BP ML (shot not slugs)."
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The Lyman "BLACK POWDER HANDBOOK & LOADING MANUAL" 2nd Ed has that data, or at least some of it (I'm not sure what loads you are curious about.)

A few loads for a 12 guage 26 inch modified choke barrel are:

1 1/8 oz #7 shot, Goex FFg 82gr (3 dram) 2 Ox-Yoke Wonderwad underwad, 1 Wonderwad overwad =980 FPS, 2,900 PSI

same load except 96gr Goex FFg (3 1/2 dram) = 1160 FPS, 4,200 PSI

There are a number of other loads given. I suggest that you buy the book or visit your library to look at their copy.

zonie

 

[Mad Professor]

Thanks Zonie! :hatsoff:

When I asked before some members were kind enough to volunteer their own loads for my particular barrel. They were similar to the two you posted and seem quite mild pressure wise.

It's funny how big bores develop so much less pressure than the small ones.

P.S. none of our local libraries have much of anything with guns, lucky if they have Field and Stream or Outdoor Life :shake: ......................Will get a Lyman manual ASAP :grin:

 

[Zonie]

Sorry to hear that your library is stifling your need to know about firearms etc.
Before giving up on them though, most libraries have a sharing system where they can borrow books from each other. That allows small libraries to make a lot of books available even though they are not on the shelf.

As for Lymans book, I know of two editions. The first edition included (among other things) some pistol loads using 4F powder. They removed those loads in their second edition.
I also don't know if the first edition has any 12 guage loads listed because I don't have that book.

Before you spend your money, here is a brief touch of the loads they have for shooting shot in a 12 guage:
1 1/8 oz #7 lead, 1 1/4 oz #4 lead, 1 1/2 oz #4 lead, 1 oz #2 steel, 1 1/8 #2 steel, 1 1/4 oz #2 steel, 1 1/2 oz #2 steel.

Let me say I'm not really into shotguns but I notice the loads for both lead and steel are listed as using 2 Ox-Yoke Wonderwads for underwads and one Wonderwad for a overwad.
My mind says this is probably OK for the lead shot, but I would question using steel shot in the soft steel barrels common to muzzleloading.

I have heard that plastic shot cups don't work very well in smoothbores, but I would think something like that would be needed to protect the bore from steel shot.
zonie

 

[paulvallandigham]

I have the first edition, which is why I could not find loading data in it. From what you have mentioned here, it appears that the second edition leaves much to be desired.

With so many shooters now owning their own chronographs, perhaps we can pool information, and by sharing it, help everyone-- even lyman-- do a better job of publishing loading data on BP shotgun loads.

The only other place I found any information was in the back of the Dixie Gun Works catalogue, BTW.

When I can get set up to do this, I will use my paper shot cups, closing them over the top of the shot to make a " solid " load, to shoot over my chronograph. That will protect the machine from being hit by pellets, and damaged or destroyed. I will start with Muzzle velocity for a variety of shot loads, and powder charges, then vary components. Later I will move the chronograph back to 20 yards, and repeat the process. With those two figures, it should be an easy reference to Lymans Shotshell Handbook, and the tables there on velocity and pellet energy, to find out approx. how fast these loads will still be going at 40 and 60 yards, and use the pellet energy, flight time, and pellet drop information already available from Lyman. My only worry is that because most BP loads have so much lower a MV compared to smokeless powder loads, Most of the data will not related to those existing tables at all.