Reloading for black powder

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Originally Posted by Maca49

12 GAUGE BRASSAttachment 25147 So load powder (grade FFG) then cardboard wad from milk carton, then grease cookie, then maybe two wads from beer mats/coaster, bit of a cushion for the shot, then shot,then wad held with small dob of wax. I have load data at home. I usually mount a new, old, gun in an old tyre and fire with a string attached first few times for safety. Have used light smokeless loads as the proofing, as Bp wont have the same pressure. but be careful first few times

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This was a really helpful guide thank you. It seems reloading these is more trial and error / experience as there's little load data. I personally want light loads for cowboy action and was hoping to use Trail Boss not BP.

I've read issues with these specific hulls in 'some' cases where the recess around the primer in the brass head has left some slower powders unburnt. In some articles people plug the bottom with plastic, I was thinking to fill up the base with a little molten lead, then copy your load data but adjusted for Trail Boss. Is lead filler a good idea?

On a side note, I'm not a hot glue fan, wax seems ok. What was used 'back in the day' to seal off loaded hulls? Pitch? Pine resin? Shellac? Just curious.

When I loaded for my 16 gauge bp using plastic hulls I sealed the overshot wad in place with a run of PVA glue around the outer edges of the wad.
The PVA is normally not suitable for gluing the plastic used in shotgun hulls but I never had a wad come loose.

Good test was after firing just one barrel with a side by side, all the shot didn't run out of the second barrel when the gun was lowered due to the wad being disloded. Seen thus happen to other shooters.

Don't think the PVA would be suitable with brass hulls though.

Back in the day they roll crimped over the overshot wad with the original cardboard type hulls.

couple of dabs of $2 shop nail polish will hold most things in place.

I was thinking nail polish/shellac or waterglass (sodium silicate) from somewhere like this.

cowboy action loads with trail boss should be piece of wees to make up..... you want ????oz of 7s??? old rule was same VOLUME of shot as black powder..... strangely enough the starting point for trail boss in centrefire is 80% of volume of smokeless...... PERSONALLY I would run with load of same volume and see how it feels.... you shooting break open gun with no chokes...wads are surplus to requirements,circle of felt/cork is perfect,card over top of shot and nail polish it in place......it wont matter if case is only 3/4s full UNLIKE plastic hulls,you wont have wad pressure to worry about,just make sure no airspace around BP..... but you using TB so not so much of an issue.sounds like you have primers sorted.... have a look at Wingmans thread on everlasting .410 shells.....that will answer some questions and give you ideas.

Ye Gods,,,,,,,,yosamitesam has been excavating and has has revived "el borracho."

Well done, but let us hope that he has not also awoken "The Mummy".

https://images.complex.com/complex/i...4yv8/the-mummy

What ever happens , the development of an active BP thread is something to be looked forward to.

P.S. @yosamitesam my thanks for the link to Sodium Sillicate....I have been looking for as supply to use as a sealant for the over shot card in my period 12 bore brass.

You can use plastic cases for bp ( I do) but don't expect too many reloads from them, if you have one a roll crimper works well simply cut the petals off put a card over your shot and crimp away.

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Originally Posted by Marty Henry

You can use plastic cases for bp ( I do) but don't expect too many reloads from them, if you have one a roll crimper works well simply cut the petals off put a card over your shot and crimp away.

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If you use a plastic wad, you can line the barrel with plastic, I used plastic once and a full length condom was the result when cleaning. Never used plastic again?

Don't worry @Maca49 I only use greased pinex ones. Made that mistake about 30 years ago and won't be doing that again!

steel shot wads seem to handle it ok..the plastic hulls dont like crude BP very much,the wee lumps of sulphur stick to inside case walls and burn their way out LOL.

Use a better class of bp then, or is that being elitist?

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Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Use a better class of bp then, or is that being elitist?

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"Elitist?"...The Jury is still out on that, but definitely illogical in view of the current powder range shortage worsening.

that would also entail forking out $$$$$$$ to purchase commercial BP.
That would spoil the appeal for me.
cheap cheap cheap goes the sparrow.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

that would also entail forking out $$$$$$$ to purchase commercial BP. That would spoil the appeal for me.
cheap cheap cheap goes the sparrow.

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Should "Push come to shove" and you need to look for new employment, you will have experience for this........

Attachment 173974

My pleasure @Kiwi-Sapper - I do like to dig until I find something shiny.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

cowboy action loads with trail boss should be piece of wees to make up..... you want ????oz of 7s??? old rule was same VOLUME of shot as black powder..... strangely enough the starting point for trail boss in centrefire is 80% of volume of smokeless...... PERSONALLY I would run with load of same volume and see how it feels.... you shooting break open gun with no chokes...wads are surplus to requirements,circle of felt/cork is perfect,card over top of shot and nail polish it in place......it wont matter if case is only 3/4s full UNLIKE plastic hulls,you wont have wad pressure to worry about,just make sure no airspace around BP..... but you using TB so not so much of an issue.sounds like you have primers sorted.... have a look at Wingmans thread on everlasting .410 shells.....that will answer some questions and give you ideas.

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Appreciate the tips. Much of what I read on T.B. used in shot shells is it's mass is bulkier but I think I'll load a few at different weights and try through a chrono. My shotgun is like an anvil so if I blow a hull it's no great loss though Cowboy loads are usually pretty weak. Now to get a cartful of #7

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Originally Posted by Marty Henry

You can use plastic cases for bp ( I do) but don't expect too many reloads from them, if you have one a roll crimper works well simply cut the petals off put a card over your shot and crimp away.

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You can also just not crimp. Instead, put a bead of hot melt glue around the edge of the card covering the shot.

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Originally Posted by yosamitesam

Appreciate the tips. Much of what I read on T.B. used in shot shells is it's mass is bulkier but I think I'll load a few at different weights and try through a chrono. My shotgun is like an anvil so if I blow a hull it's no great loss though Cowboy loads are usually pretty weak. Now to get a cartful of #7

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if you down this way I could chuck a pound or three at you no worries at all......stop me kicking it every time I go to use vice on bench.