Black Powder rules!

[eyebrows]

Holy cow why did no one ever tell me how awesome it was to touch off 34 grains of bp 
SO got me a 1858 New Army bp revolver, we were at the range yesterday and I bumped it up from 24grain loads to 34. The difference is amazing!!!!
2 1/2 hours, 23 shots, and I felt like a kid in the candy store the whole time. SO chewed through half a bulk box of .22 with the Ruger MKII while I fiddled around  .

I could see, way back when, carrying a couple extra loaded cylinders but to imagine loading these weapons under stress.. that would be tough. I bet there was a lot of shooting what they brought and then clubbing away.

[charby]

I shoot 100 grains from my Hawken with a 250 grain sabot.

[AJ Dual]

The first thing I think of when I see "Black Powder rules!" from a member named "eyebrows" is to wonder if you still have yours?  

[HankB]

. . . 2 1/2 hours, 23 shots . . .

Whenever I see a BP shooter on the range - especially one with a flintlock - I'm always tempted to ask: How the heck did the Indians lose? After all, THEY had bows & arrows!!!

[eyebrows]

I shoot 100 grains from my Hawken with a 250 grain sabot.

I'm new at this but I'm guessing that much powder with that big a bullet it must be a rifle.

The first thing I think of when I see "Black Powder rules!" from a member named "eyebrows" is to wonder if you still have yours? 

  Yep I have two. "eyebrows" don't mean much. Just a random name.


BOOM! I still get giddy when I think about those 34 grain loads I was shooting. Pietta's maximum suggested load is 35 grains.

[Bogie]

I dunno. I had a .44 revolver a few years back that, if I recall correctly, 35 grains filled the chambers to the point where I didn't have to worry about air pockets with round balls... And it wasn't that horrific to shoot. And it wasn't a giant frame either...
 

[charby]

I'm new at this but I'm guessing that much powder with that big a bullet it must be a rifle.

Yes it is.



Looks like this one, except I have a hickory ramrod and a lot more figure in the stock.

[Gowen]

Whenever I see a BP shooter on the range - especially one with a flintlock - I'm always tempted to ask: How the heck did the Indians lose? After all, THEY had bows & arrows!!!

First thing that comes to mind is range matters.  Second thing is they still wore breast plate in the 1600's.

[Ben]

I dunno. I had a .44 revolver a few years back that, if I recall correctly, 35 grains filled the chambers to the point where I didn't have to worry about air pockets with round balls... And it wasn't that horrific to shoot. And it wasn't a giant frame either...

If you're worried about air pockets and don't want to shoot a hot load, cream of wheat is your friend.

[geronimotwo]

First thing that comes to mind is range matters.  Second thing is they still wore breast plate in the 1600's.

don't forget, the sound would wreak havoc on moral if you had no idea about that kind of science.

[41magsnub]

and don't want to shoot a hot load, cream of wheat is your friend.

I usually think of England...

[Ben]

I usually think of England...

Oh you guys!

[Angel Eyes]

I usually think of England...

 

[RoadKingLarry]

My latest charcoal burner is a Pedersoli made 1874 Sharps replica.
Current experimental load is 70 grs 2F Goex under a 525 gr rn bullet. So far I've been able to get fist sized groups at 50 yds with it.

[charby]

My latest charcoal burner is a Pedersoli made 1874 Sharps replica.
Current experimental load is 70 grs 2F Goex under a 525 gr rn bullet. So far I've been able to get fist sized groups at 50 yds with it.

I can get a 2" group with my hawken at 100 yards.

[RoadKingLarry]

Black powder cartridge loading is a whole 'nother level of the black arts.
I've had it less than a month and have only had time to do minimal load work up.
I can get pretty consitent 2-3" groups shooting prb out of my Lyman rock lock at 100 yds.
Nothing beats success with shooting using the holy black.

[230RN]

"Rock lock."  Heh.  I like that one.

[Tallpine]

I can get a 2" group with my hawken at 100 yards.

Back when I had my Hawken, I once put two balls through the same hole in a gallon jug - maybe 75-100 yards.

I was standing in a slightly different spot after reloading, so there were two exit holes, so I know I didn't miss entirely the second shot.  My eyes were a lot better back then.

[charby]

Back when I had my Hawken, I once put two balls through the same hole in a gallon jug - maybe 75-100 yards.

I was standing in a slightly different spot after reloading, so there were two exit holes, so I know I didn't miss entirely the second shot.  My eyes were a lot better back then.

I have a fast twist so round ball and patch are all over the place, but that is some fancy shootin' Tallpine.

[eyebrows]

My revolver seems very accurate. Don't know why but I expected it to be less accurate. Barrel is rifled.
Two range trips so far and every shot but one hit the center area of a paper plate. The one that missed hit the far side of the paper and was the first or second 34 grain shot I took.
Not much change in poi from 24 to 34 grains at 25 yards but the boom is bigger 

With 34gr of powder, wad, and ball in that order the ball still seats well inside the chamber. 24gr loads and I couldn't hardly see the ball once loaded. Revolver has ram built in and I've been very careful to make sure bullets were seated solidly. From what I've read air spaces sound bad.

How do you guys clean your bp firearms? I've read that warm soapy water and lots of oil is the way to go. So far I've been cleaning it like I would a normal firearm, using bp solvent, brushes, and running patches till they stay clean. Then lots of oil.
I don't like the idea of sticking it in water.

[Tallpine]

I have a fast twist so round ball and patch are all over the place, but that is some fancy shootin' Tallpine.

I wusn't aimin fur the same hole - jest tryin to hit the jug 

[RaspberrySurprise]

Water shouldn't hurt the metal if properly dried and oiled after being dunked. I've hosed my Mosin out many times after firing corrosive ammo and hasn't hurt it yet.

[TommyGunn]

   .....  How do you guys clean your bp firearms? I've read that warm soapy water and lots of oil is the way to go. So far I've been cleaning it like I would a normal firearm, using bp solvent, brushes, and running patches till they stay clean. Then lots of oil.
I don't like the idea of sticking it in water.

Use hot water; don't worry about it.  I use Palmolive dishwashing soap and HOT water.   The hot water will evaporate quick.
However as long as you're cleaning it well what you're doing will work fine in all likelyhood.

[Jamisjockey]

Oh...powder, not power....

[charby]

For my rifle I use this product called Barrel Blaster. Its a foam that you shoot down the barrel, let it sit for 30-60 minutes and patch until patch comes out clean.

I have used brake cleaner and hot soapy water in the past.

For a revolver I'd do the hot soapy water method.