Shapes and sizes of pelletized propellant

[SLOTHEAD]

I have been looking in vain for .36 cal Pyrodex pellets to facilitate .36 cal revolver loading. All I have found to date is .50 cal Tripple Seven in 50 grain volumes. I have no idea if they can be cut to shape or even repacked in the smaller caliber. My .44 cal revolvers (especially my Walker) would work fine with the 50/50 Triple Seven pellets, but my .36 cal not so much. So I’m looking for the smaller size and volume for those. I’m also open to making my own pellets in the smaller size/volume, but I have not experimented with an adhesive that could safely hold powder together for transport and use. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks, and 73,
Tom KC3QAC

 

[TreeMan]

A 50 grain pellet in a 36 or a 44 revolver is way too much powder excluding a Walker. I normally only use 15-25 grains of 3F in both. Optimum target loads normally fall in that range. Pellets do not allow for working up optimum loads for a particular pistol. Pellets offer one load and done. I’d never shoot that much triple seven in a revolver. Triple seven is a good bit hotter than real Blackpowder. In a 36 you’ll find that around 15 to 25 grains of 3F is going to be what works best. Pellets are also extremely expensive. Loose powder is the hands down winner in revolvers.

 

[SLOTHEAD]

A 50 grain pellet in a 36 or a 44 revolver is way too much powder excluding a Walker. I normally only use 15-25 grains of 3F in both. Optimum target loads normally fall in that range. Pellets do not allow for working up optimum loads for a particular pistol. Pellets offer one load and done. I’d never shoot that much triple seven in a revolver. Triple seven is a good bit hotter than real Blackpowder. In a 36 you’ll find that around 15 to 25 grains of 3F is going to be what works best. Pellets are also extremely expensive. Loose powder is the hands down winner in revolvers.

Agreed Treeman, except that loose powder is way too difficult to measure accurately in those amounts, and time consuming to load when you are in a hurry (maybe you’ve never been in competition). So what can be used as an adhesive or fixative to hold a 15-20 grain pellet together?

Thanks, Tom KC3QAC

 

[dave951]

Agreed Treeman, except that loose powder is way too difficult to measure accurately in those amounts, and time consuming to load when you are in a hurry (maybe you’ve never been in competition). So what can be used as an adhesive or fixative to hold a 15-20 grain pellet together?

Thanks, Tom KC3QAC

Loose powder isn't the issue you'd think and yes I shoot Civil War competition. We typically use small vials designed for medical centrifuge operation and they have a "pop" top so just load it with a premeasured amount of powder and when needed, just pop the lid and pour it in.

 

[hawkeye2]

Go to the range with premeasured charges in containers of some sorts that are small enough that you can pour directly into the chambers. I shot revolvers in N-SSA competition (team & individuals) for years and did well enough that I brought a number of medals home from the National matches. If you are prepared when you get to the range loading is not an issue. My method consisted of telescoping rubber tubes. The larger tube, .58 cal., held the premeasured powder, insert the smaller one, .45 cal., and add the premeasured filler (Cream of Wheat) and insert the ball in that tube. Pull the larger tube off and pour the powder in the chamber, pop the ball out and empty the smaller (filler) next, drop the ball on the chamber mouth and repeat 5 more times. Seat the balls and put the uncapped cylinder back in the gun. It takes longer to describe the method than it does to load. With my powder measure set up it didn't take long to charge the tubes with powder and filler.
If you come up with an adhesive to hold the powder together and not make it harder to ignite or affect it's combustion we would appreciate it if you would share that info with us.

 

[SLOTHEAD]

Loose powder isn't the issue you'd think and yes I shoot Civil War competition. We typically use small vials designed for medical centrifuge operation and they have a "pop" top so just load it with a premeasured amount of powder and when needed, just pop the lid and pour it in.

It sure was for me the other night making paper cart’s, I made a mess all over the place! So vials would indeed be a good alternative, but filling them would still be more problematic than a nicely shaped and right sized pellet.
Tom

 

[Kansas Jake]

A empty brass pistol cartridge large enough to hold your pre measured charge with a small cork stopper can can make reloading easy. Small corks can often be found in craft stores. I even use 45-70 cases for my 50 TC Hawken. They hold about 80 grains with room for the cork. I also use one of those round brass powder flasks with the appropriate size spout to reload revolvers. I just don’t load directly into the cylinder after firing the first cylinder. After that I pour the measured charge into an empty measure and then into the cylinder.

 

[SLOTHEAD]

A empty brass pistol cartridge large enough to hold your pre measured charge with a small cork stopper can can make reloading easy. Small corks can often be found in craft stores. I even use 45-70 cases for my 50 TC Hawken. They hold about 80 grains with room for the cork. I also use one of those round brass powder flasks with the appropriate size spout to reload revolvers. I just don’t load directly into the cylinder after firing the first cylinder. After that I pour the measured charge into an empty measure and then into the cylinder.

That’s just what I was considering Jake, and by the way, where are you in KS? I lived in Wichita for almost 10 years. Both my kids were born there.

 

[hawkeye2]

It sure was for me the other night making paper cart’s, I made a mess all over the place! So vials would indeed be a good alternative, but filling them would still be more problematic than a nicely shaped and right sized pellet.
Tom

All you need is a reloading tray and a funnel. Easier than pouring salt out of a shaker. I load using a Lee powder measure and load directly into the tube.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Slothead, I’m in Manhattan.

 

[TreeMan]

Agreed Treeman, except that loose powder is way too difficult to measure accurately in those amounts, and time consuming to load when you are in a hurry (maybe you’ve never been in competition). So what can be used as an adhesive or fixative to hold a 15-20 grain pellet together?

Thanks, Tom KC3QAC

I shoot matches with my pistols every month and have for 20+ years. I load my chambers with the spout on my flask one at a time. Put my finger over the spout, depress the plunger, release it and my measure dumps exactly 20 grains every time. Want more or less powder than change spouts. Using a loading stand makes it easy peasy.

 

[new2bp]

I have a reloading tray dedicated to this (my other three get sprayed with lube etc) but to quick measure a LOT at once...

make sure tray is nice and dry and nothing in the corners of the indentations/case holders (blow it out w/ compressed air).
put fresh foil liner on old cookie sheet
tray on cookie sheet. 50 *fired* .223 cases in tray (a 223 case holds 30gr of powder so perfect for me... )
funnel on top of case, pour powder until case is over full a bit, move funnel to next case, repeat
When done, case gets dumped into a 5ml plastic sample tube with pop-top I got off Amazon (mentioned above by someone else)
Tray gets dumped on to fresh foil liner, liner gets rolled into a cone and all the spilled powder gets dumped back in container for next go-round.

Alternatively, a test tube rack to hold the pop top tubes and some other method of measuring powder would work as well... principle is all same, implementing is up to you