What Good to carry pre weighed BP in?..

[Mountainman56]

I have a whole collection of plastic cigar tubes. They are about 5/8" in diameter. Ther are too long but that's easily remedied. I could cut the solid end off and put a cap on each end. Carry ball, patch and powder in the same tube.

Course they've been settin there lookin at me for months and I haven't tried it......but I'm positive it'll work......I think.....maybe. :hmm:

 

[ohio ramrod]

For hunting I use the plastic tubes that horse worm medicine comes in. I clean them out and use a tapered and waxed doll rod for a plug. They have a nice "T" type end and fit well in the top pocket of my cartharts.The "T" top makes them easy to grap and the wooden doll plug pulls out quickly with your teeth. One motion to pull out of pocket up to mouth, pull out plug, down to barrel. I droped one once while crawling through a multifloa rose bush, The next year I happened to find it and the powder was still dry! For my shotguns I just roll a paper cartridge out of wax paper for the powder in the style they used for civil war and before. I also roll a simular paper cartridge out of newspaper for the shot.I used to use empty 35 mm film canisters but found out they are larger than the barrel diameter and some powder would spill in the transfer, also the lids were harder to remove quickly.

 

[dlpowell]

I use 1/2" clear tubing you can buy at any hardware store. Fits .54 cal snug. Find some corks or plastic caps for the powder end. I've used paper cartridges for carrying shot. Use the paper for os wadding.

 

[varsity07840]

Paper cartridges. You can find them premade on ebay. The guy sells them in lots of 250 for reenactors. I believe the max they'll hold is 120 gr. Put in the powder, fold over and glue the top end. Tear it off with your teeth when you need to reload in a hurry, similar to a musket cartridge. No need for two hands to open it.

Duane

 

[mazo kid]

You guys down South have access to river cane; I've used some for powder measures. Just have to be selective to find some that do not have the large flat side...or trim a cork to fit.

 

[lakota]

If you know someone who works in the medical field (especially in a lab) ask them if they can get you some blood specimen tubes. They come in various sizes & have different kinds of tops that seal very well. I have a friend that got me a lunch bag full of tubes that are the perfect size for my favorite load of 80 gr of FFg. These tubes also fit nicely into an MTM plastic rifle ammo box for storage.

That is a great idea. I would just like to add that if you use them wash and dry the inside very well because some tubes have additives in them depending on what type of blood test they are intended to be used with. I dont know if they could affect the reliabilty of your powder

 

[Robin Camp]

I went to my local veterinarian and procured three plastic test tubes. They are used, by the vet, to send in blood samples for cattle, to check for brucellosis. They come with a rubber cork/stopper and will hold about 150 grains of powder. I carry three in my shirt pocket, loaded with 90 grains of 777 for my percussion rifle, and 100 grains of fffg for my .54 cal flintlock....Robin

PS: The vet gave me the tubes

 

[Gus]

Every gun shop I go in, and sometimes the mega-Marts have speedloaders on sale. I like those. I also just started to use old brass cases, cut down with a pipe tubing cutter. I happen to have some 7mm Mag, .270 and .30-06 and they all work fine.

 

[kansashunter]

Quite a few years ago, I worked in Engineering for Beech Aircraft. On day I was out in the shop and stopped by the tool crib. They had just received a shipment of drill bits. The bits were package in non-static plastic tubes with twist off caps on the ends. Inventory clerk was tossing the empty tubes in the trash. I took a good look at them and asked her to save as many as she could for me. I used them for years. They eventually hardened and cracked, but for 5 or 6 years, they worked GREAT! I simply measured out 100 grains of powder in each tube, popped on the lid and had pre-measured charges ready to go. Now for a humerous side: When I shot my first deer, I had to take a second shot. In my excitement, I grabbed one of those tubes outta my pocket, ripped the top off and poured the powder out on the ground. I thought my hunting partner was gonna die laughing. I haven't lived it down since then, but that's okay. Today I use the story to illustrate "buck fever" to my hunter ed classes.

 

[poordevil]

Look at "Winchester Suttler" out of Ol' Virginia

 

[Captain outwater]

I suggest a simple solution that was used 300 years ago until after the Civil War...make paper cartridges! They are quick to open, stay closed until needed, and are reasonably water resistant- I once dropped several into a creek by accident and when I fished them out the powder was still dry.
Find a dowel a little under bore size, around 6 inches long. Cut regular copy paper into 4 sections (fold in half, and in half again, cut on folds) wrap the paper around your dowel (former) and then pull the former back slightly more than its diameter. Starting at the overlap, press the end in flat. Then one side, then the other.
Now, to ensure the paper stays closed- pull the former slightly back, and press the folded end in. Then crimp the edges down, making something like a shotgun shell crimp.
Remove former. Repeat and make several cartridge forms. Measure powder into one. press the paper tail flat, fold each side into the middle. I like to put a small fold at the end of the tail to double insure that no powder can escape.
With a smoothbore, you can of course put a ball in the cartridge first.
To use, just bite off the tail, and dump the powder into the barrel. With my Bess, I can then just drop the ball and paper down to follow the powder. Rifles can just toss the paper, or pocket it. You could wax or grease the paper around a ball when using a smoothbore.
Don't bite off the bullet, bite off the tail.

 

[J.D.]

Paper cartridges loaded with ball work well in many rifles too. My old "red gun" shot paper cartridges nearly as well as patched ball to about 70 yards.

The tail is torn off and the powder poured into the bore. The ball, paper and all are then seated on the powder. Paper cartridges loaded this way may not be best for really dry areas. I don't remember too many smoldering on the ground, but it only takes one spark, in some situations, to start a forest fire, so be careful.

A friend inverts the cartridge for loading the ball, after the powder is loaded. I haven't noticed any smoldering paper from his loads.

 

[Greenmtnboy]

The coolest thing I came up with is eather 45-90 cases or 20 guage brass shells with a cork stopper.
I grind down the rim and it looks like a ol timy powder or shot holder

 

[Mike 56]

I use 45/70 cases at the range i use masking tape to seal them up. I keep them on a loading block i made out of a 2x4.

 

[SAJones]

Hamkiller, I agree with ya. Used paper cartridges for powder only in reenacting, so started using them hunting. Have a wood block w/ about 7 holes drilled in it which fits neatly in my shooting pouch. Even carried it in the wet of West Oregon w/o hurting the cartridges. Quick & cheap.

 

[Semisane]

I can't believe that in 34 replies no one has suggested the powder tubes available from LaneNebraska. They are absolutly the best thing out there. If I post a link it will probably get deleted. So, just type Lanes Powder Tubes in your search engin and you will find him. You owe it to yourself to check them out. It's amazing how much time they save you in a range session. You can get a lot of shooting in with 50 pre-measured loads.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Years ago I bought some sample bottles sold as pill and spice containers for backpackers at the Eureka factory store. I carry seven and a loaded ball-block in a belt pouch. I carry this rig during regular gun season.

Seven seems like a good number, though I can't think of any deer hunt when I ever loaded more than twice. :hmm:

 

[kabic]

You could get the vials in bulk direct also: http://www.eandkscientific.com/home.php?cat=255

 

[nightwolf1974]

I use empty cases of centerfire cartridges ('06 casefull of 3F is perfect for my .50)to carry premeasured powder charges in useing vacum line caps to cap them with. PRB in a loading block of 4 ready to load.

same here except i use 458 WM cases for up to 100grns. of 2F and 38spl with 15grns.of 3F for the revolvers. i wrap the ends with aluminum foil and secure with rubberbands.

but they are only for an emergency, i prefer to take my time to reload. i carry my 2F reloading powder in an old Vick's 44 bottle, and the 3F reloading powder in a little metal bottle i got with a surplus rifle i bought.

 

[JackAubrey]

Paper cartridges.Best regards,J.A.