Mixing shotgun shells?

[John E.B. Rawton]

This was my first year back and I got in 3 shoots. Circumstances allowed me to shoot the last match with black powder and that ignited a new level of interest and desire to play cowboy. 

Now I’m looking at taking the conversion cylinders out of my Walkers and putting the c&b cylinders in. 

I’ve also got my eye on an 1860 and maybe an 1851 too. 

Here’s the question. Due to the fact that the wife n I share the shot gun and she does not shoot bp, can we shoot over the counter rounds and black powder through the gun during the same match?

[Turkey Flats Jack]

I've done it at the range just testing rounds and didnt seem to notice any major issues. but i've never tried it at a match. Maybe someone more knowledgeable will speak up. I personally would leave the conversions in and just load BP cartridges unless youre looking to shoot frontiersman. But frontier cartridge makes for a less stressfull day for me. I can help out spotting or picking up brass instead of spending all my time reloading the cylinders.  I shoot a pair of 1858 remingtons with drop in conversion cylinders. the only draw back is if you have a stage that requires a pistol reload. Kind of a pain to drop the cylinder add a round and put it back in on the clock. But you could always have a percussion cylinder in the cart incase that scenario comes up. then just load it and then cap the last nipple on the clock. Still would be considered frontier cartridge. 

[watab kid]

you can but she will not be happy with the residue from your shells on her hands i think , i could be wrong here , but i dont think so , 

[J-BAR #18287]

I’ve done it during practice sessions with no problem.  There should be little to zero bp fouling on the breech face and in the chambers.  The crud should all be in the barrels.  Guns are like snowflakes, each one is a bit different,  but I think you should try it, and I think you have a good chance for success.  If fouling does pose a problem a swab or bore snake should be of help.  I don’t think you will be able to detect any change in shotgun patterns during a match.

Edited November 9, 2018 by J-BAR #18287

[Sedalia Dave]

I have done it once with APP but have no experience with real BP.

 

Shared my SG with a new shooter a few years ago because his malfunctioned.. Didn't notice any adverse effects.

 

If you are concerned run a patch down the barrels between shooters.

 

[John E.B. Rawton]

Thanks. I will have to give it a go. 

Turkey, I have been using Kirst conversions from the first day I got the walkers in ‘11. I must say dropping in that 11th round was so quick the spotters had questioned it. And with me bein’ partial to Josey Wales shootin’, loading 4 percussion cylinders might be tedious. I’ll have to give it at least one try but need to do a good bit of loading practice first. 

Edited November 9, 2018 by John E.B. Rawton

[Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329]

No Big Deal:

SG will run just fine

--dawg

[Two-Bit Charlie]

I share my double barrel with my grandson all the time. I load smokeless for him and use APP for myself. We've never had a problem with fowling. I think the smokeless may evan clean the fowling out. Like shooting a black powder smokeless duplex load. At the end of the day I do have the "snake skins" in the barrels (melted plastic wad fowling), but that cleans right up after soaking in Windex.

 

Two-Bit Charlie

[Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409]

I have done both in my TTN double and no issues. The only real issue might be if one of my BP shells ends up in my wife's ammo...she does not like those kind of surprises and I get the stink eye as she comes to the unloading table.

 

Hochbauer

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Only if you want to spend the next week cleaning the plastic wad residue left melted to the bore of the barrel.

BTDT and worn't do it again.

I was using real BP.

OLG

[John E.B. Rawton]

So ... where did the melted plastic wad fouling come from?

The standard store bought loads or bp loads?

how does that happen?

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

From the BP.

OLG

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

1 hour ago, John E.B. Rawton said:

So ... where did the melted plastic wad fouling come from?

 

how does that happen? 

 

BP burns hotter than smokeless, and leaves a ton of residue (potassium carbonate and sulfate, mostly) from the combustion products of saltpeter-carbon-sulphur.

 

As the plastic wad slides through the hot barrel, plastic melts off the wad and plasters onto the bore.   Each shot adds more combustion by product fouling, and plastic from the wad.   With really moist cool air, the residue stays pretty soft and each shot can clean out what was left in barrel.   With hot and dry weather, it keeps piling up in the barrel.    After a dry hot day, when you clean, you will push out a "snake skin" of black mixed plastic and BP fouling.

 

Smokeless - cooler barrel, and no fouling.   Just a tiny bit of the wad wears off on it's trip down the barrel, and mostly collects at the choke (if you have one in the barrel) where the barrel gets tighter.   Hardly anything to clean out.

 

Good luck, GJ

 

 

Edited November 10, 2018 by Garrison Joe, SASS #60708

[John E.B. Rawton]

Ah. Makes sense. Good thing it’s so stinking hot and humid here in Pittsburgh, I guess. 

[Judge'm All Duncan, SASS#67320]

Just shoot both. The wife and I shared a shotgun a few times with both.  NO PROBLEMS.

 

The smokeless helps keep th crud out and it's so easy to clean up.

 

Done over think it. JUST DO IT!

[Constable Nelson #11784]

I never shared my shotgun...but - when possible at a match I would put a few rounds of smokeless through after a day of BP stages....  Im basically lazy and that would take the vast majority of the BP crud out....

[July Smith]

I shoot Frontiersman and my sister shoots Cowgirl.  We currently share one SKB slicked up by Johnny Meadows.  Factory smokeless ammo will leave plastic residue in the barrel period.  My BP shells are loaded with natural fiber wads and work just fine.  The only issue with sharing a gun is we have to be sure to stagger the times we end up shooting.  My standard method for cleaning BP (plain hot water followed by Ballistol) cleans out both BP and plastic without issue.

[Black Mike]

You can shoot smokeless and BP without issue. Often share shotgun with smokeless shooters. 

 

Cleaning plastic from barrels is no big deal. Ten minutes. No fuss no muss. Shoot black every week and even run a few rounds of skeet now and then. 

[Buffalo Bill Mathewson, 37826]

On 11/11/2018 at 12:38 AM, Constable Nelson #11784 said:

I never shared my shotgun...but - when possible at a match I would put a few rounds of smokeless through after a day of BP stages....  Im basically lazy and that would take the vast majority of the BP crud out....

+ 1 on crud removal 

[Your Nemesis]

As long as you don't tell the shot gun what you are doing it won't mind at all. But make sure and just keep it between you your wife and the other shooters.  Do not tell the SG.  

I  have done it just recently with black MZ I had a bunch of shells that were not quite up to par (small splits not great crimps etc) and shot them up at a local match. Some 

were black and some were smokeless.  Just put them in the belt and used them.  not paying attention to what was what.  It was kind of fun with the surprise .  

[Cole Younger Requlator]

Just plug the end of the barrels with paper towels and spray in Windex with Vinegar (not Ammonia) let set while you reload or clean other guns and then run a paper towel on the end of a wooden dowel-the black snakeskin comes out intact and you are good to go.. Easy Peasy 

[Black Mike]

3 hours ago, Cole Younger Requlator said:

Just plug the end of the barrels with paper towels and spray in Windex with Vinegar (not Ammonia) let set while you reload or clean other guns and then run a paper towel on the end of a wooden dowel-the black snakeskin comes out intact and you are good to go.. Easy Peasy 

Exactly.