Hey 45 Colt BP shooters!

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

7 hours ago, Idaho Gunslinger said:

Velocity is what is directly correlated to damage not necessarily PF. Though I suppose enough PF could knock a target over and damage it that way.

 

I understand that velocity us a big factor. But we are talking here about lead bullets with a maximum of 1400fps vs modern full metal jacket in a rifle at 3000fps. Is a 125gr lead .358 bullet at 1100fps from a rifle more likely to damage the average SASS target then a 250gr 45cal at 800fps? 

[Dacotua]

Targets get damaged everytime you hit them. The plate abdorbs the hits and it slowly degrades the plate. The plate over time will start to bow and or the surface can become uneven. 

 

Each hit will have an inpact on the life of the plate. The harder you hit the plate, the more it degrades. There is a formula for it, it all depends on bullet hardness, bullet diameter and velocity. 

 

Now with that said, the damage per hit can take a very long time to be noticeable. You can look at the surface and see that the plate is not perfectly flat anymore. Plates will bow over time. Even AR500 plate will do this over time. Best maintenance is to alternate the target surface (flip the plate every 3 to 6 months).

 

Targets are wear items, you shoot at a target long enough, you will eventually replace it.

[Erasmus]

If a club is so concerned about plate wear with any SASS legal ammo they could always opt to have adults shoot .22s.

 

That would allow them to use less expensive ammo, less expensive guns, and potentially recruit more new shooters who are less affected by the cost of .22s and (if applicable) less intimidated by .22s. This could increase attendance, club membership, potentially SASS membership, and bring in more funds for the club that would then be able to afford better plates. 

 

But that's not really related to downloading black powder .45 colt loads. 

 

I think I'll have to experiment with just mixing my filler in with my powder, maybe just using charcoal instead of cream of wheat. In my limited searching last night I didn't see anyone who had tried it (everyone else of course just pouring filler on top of the powder), but doing so would bulk up the black powder such that you wouldn't need an extra dipper OR an extra step. It would be like the old "serpentine" powder, sort of. If I can get a reliable 550 fps with a 205 RNFP and a case full of pre-mix that'd be pretty alright. We're not shooting at such long distances that a high ES or SD would cause an issue out of our pistols. 

[Idaho Gunslinger]

23 minutes ago, Erasmus said:

I think I'll have to experiment with just mixing my filler in with my powder, maybe just using charcoal instead of cream of wheat. In my limited searching last night I didn't see anyone who had tried it (everyone else of course just pouring filler on top of the powder), but doing so would bulk up the black powder such that you wouldn't need an extra dipper OR an extra step. It would be like the old "serpentine" powder, sort of. If I can get a reliable 550 fps with a 205 RNFP and a case full of pre-mix that'd be pretty alright. We're not shooting at such long distances that a high ES or SD would cause an issue out of our pistols. 

I would worry about the consistency of the mix (assuming it works at all) over time. Is it possible that one of your cartridges gets loaded with mostly filler and you get a squib? 

 

I had wondered something similar: what if I mis-judge how much filler I need and I don't put enough in? That would leave enough air space for the powder and filler to get mixed around while bouncing down the road to the shooting range. My concern is whether this could cause a squib or not? 

[Erasmus]

3 minutes ago, Idaho Gunslinger said:

I would worry about the consistency of the mix (assuming it works at all) over time. Is it possible that one of your cartridges gets loaded with mostly filler and you get a squib? 

 

I had wondered something similar: what if I mis-judge how much filler I need and I don't put enough in? That would leave enough air space for the powder and filler to get mixed around while bouncing down the road to the shooting range. My concern is whether this could cause a squib or not? 

 

Definitely a concern. The way I see it, if you get a granulation of filler that is a close approximation to the buoyancy of the powder, settling/separation shouldn't be an issue. That said, the responsible thing to do would be to mix/shake it up every so often. 

 

Once compressed in a loaded cartridge I don't imagine the mix would settle or separate, but that's a good question. Something fine grained like cream of wheat would, if allowed to settle, settle to the bottom (potentially problematic if you're ammo is stored standing on the primer); but I don't see that happening if the mix is compressed. 

 

I dunno, it's just a thought. As has been pointed out it's not much more of a problem to just have a second dipper for filler while dipping black powder so maybe this isn't useful. 

[Eyesa Horg]

Maybe we should stop shooting all together  Then the steel would last until it rusts away. 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

OH YEAH!!!  POPCORN.   PEANUTS.  CRACKER JACKS.  Should be able to hit FOUR pages no problem!!

[Cinch]

Running the timer all day for full house loads is not as fun as it should be. 777 is hotter than black and it is not BP. 
 

The targets are big and close. Load accordingly. Red chalk makes a great filler. Save the full loads for some side match.

[Blackwater 53393]

8 minutes ago, Cinch said:

Running the timer all day for full house loads is not as fun as it should be. 777 is hotter than black and it is not BP. 
 

The targets are big and close. Load accordingly. Red chalk makes a great filler. Save the full loads for some side match.

Red chalk can blow around and get on clothing.  You won’t make folks happy when they try to get that stuff out!!  (I won’t tell you how I know this)

 

Blue chalk is better.  A clean easy way to make lighter loads is felt or cardboard wads.

 

If I am going to shoot cartridges I’m assembling soon, I’ll use a lubed wad.

 

If the ammo is going on the shelf for a while, I use either a dry wad or I’ll use an over powder card to keep the lube in the wad from leeching into my powder.

 

Yeah! I WILL load up those “rattle the rafters” rounds for the occasional “shock and awe” stage once in a while, but that s#!+’s expensive if ya’ do it all the time and folks start shying away from shooting with ya’!

 

That’s no fun!

 

I’ve never used a powdered or granulated filler, but I would lean toward an over powder card to keep powder and filler separated if I did.

[Eyesa Horg]

50 minutes ago, Cinch said:

Running the timer all day for full house loads is not as fun as it should be. 777 is hotter than black and it is not BP. 
 

The targets are big and close. Load accordingly. Red chalk makes a great filler. Save the full loads for some side match.

 

Please warn folks if you put red chalk in a cartridge. That would be nasty to breathe and would surely ruin cloths. Ever notice how long a red chalk line lasts. Use granulated charcoal if you don't like cereal.

[Sedalia Dave]

No Chalk and ABSOLUTELY NO GLITTER

[Blackwater 53393]

32 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

No Chalk and ABSOLUTELY NO GLITTER

NO GLITTER!! If you MUST put something sparkly in your ammo, use sequins!!  They are large enough to keep from getting in people’s eyes and are more easily seen and brushed aside!

[Cinch]

If you focus on the chalk you will miss all of the heavenly glory…

 

If you use paprika it will turn to smoked paprika. YUM !!

 

777 is still not BP. You may now return to literal land. 

[Cinch]

4 hours ago, Eyesa Horg said:

 

Please warn folks if you put red chalk in a cartridge. That would be nasty to breathe and would surely ruin cloths. Ever notice how long a red chalk line lasts. Use granulated charcoal if you don't like cereal.

Mandate all posse members wear red shirts or lose their shirts and get some color…
🤪

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

8 hours ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

NO GLITTER!! If you MUST put something sparkly in your ammo, use sequins!!  ...

...how about swarovski crystals?  You know, after you win the lottery and want to show off.

[Erasmus]

10 hours ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said:

...how about swarovski crystals?  You know, after you win the lottery and want to show off.

That's what labgrown diamond dust is for, being the sensible alternative! That and *ahem* polishing your bore...

[Tom Bullweed]

I wore out several cap&ball revolvers, shooting NRA BP matches, long before I heard of cowboy-action anything.

Cornmeal is the best filler, being compressible and soft on the guns.  It should not stay loaded in the chamber due to humidity issues.

Oatmeal and tumbling media are close seconds.

Grits are too hard and do not compress well.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

It's been my experience not to use filler that will compress.  My filler of choice is and has been Cream-0-Wheat.  Works a treat.