[Pancho]

I've read references about using cornmeal to increase the volume when using light loads in C&B revolvers. Is there a problem with the loading lever being able to seat the ball on say a 36 cal. using 15 gr. of powder or is there some advantage in having a full chamber?

[pohill]

I did the Cream of Wheat/cornmeal routine for awhile, but I gave it up as an unnecessary, messy, extra step. Some guys get better accuracy results from using a filler, but accuracy is a very subjective, relative issue.
What I do use are lube pills (over the powder, under the ball) made of beeswax, paraffin and whatever else Rifle throws into them (Rifle, a poster here, sells them.) I've made my own but Rifle has hit on a good formula.
Back to the cornmeal - give it a try. It's certainly cheap enough. And it's no problem when using, say, 15 grs of BP.

[JCT]

That's one of the things I like about my homemade Black Powder, it's not 1.7g/c3 like commercial BP density.
This means, 30 grains in weight of my BP takes up the same volume as about 45 grains of commercial. When I fill the cylinder on my Dragoon with homemade BP, it's about 35 grains, a nice load for accuracy and a full cylinder. With GOEX, a full cylinder is about 50 grains!

[Pancho]

Whoa JCT, More information than I can handle. You are really into it. I thought I was basic cause I cast my own bullets. My hat's off to you, but I won't go there cause BP shooting is complicated enough for me. BTW, did you ever try mixing your BP with urine like the oldtimers did. Supposedly it made a more homogeneous mixture and added more nitrogen to the mix. As I read it they would make a paste of it and then spread it out to dry it.

[Redd Flynt]

Way back when, I used the old Cream-O-Wheat trick and finally gave up on it. There is a bit of leeway in all revolver chambers to adjust the load. Fifteen grains in a .36 should be doable. With an empty chamber, lower the rammer full in and measure the distance it extends into the chamber. Then add the bullet diameter to that. Now determine the internal length of the chamber. The difference is what must be filled with powder.

Regards, Redd

[ArmedBear]

I used to do it. I quit. No problems so far, with 24 gr-equiv Pyrodex P in Remmie .44

Got maggots in my flask of Cream of Wheat. Hell with that.

[dwave]

I used to use 15 grs. BP (goex) in my .36 without using a filler and I had no problems. I use lube pills now and that takes up some space.

[Bad Flynch]

If you live south of the Mason-Dixon Line, you should endeavor to use grits. Instant grits are fine.

[Pancho]

somewhere on the forum someone had a formula for lube pills it'd like to have it. I use beeswax toilet bowel rings for lot of things . Would that work with a little crisco mixed in to sofen it a bit. How big should the piles be for a 36. do you place the pill between the patch and the ball?

[pohill]

I had heard that the wax in toilet bowl rings was petroleum based and should be avoided for making lube pills.
Like I said before, I get mine from Rifle. When I used to make my own, my method was a little different; I mixed up the concoction of beeswax, paraffin and maybe some Bore Butter or Crisco, and while it was hot, I poured it down the barrel of the revolver (removed from the frame, of course, and sealed at the other end with an ear plug). After it cooled and hardened for a minute or so, I removed the plug and pushed out the hardened mixture with a dowel. I then had a lube stick, from which I could cut off pieices from the end as thick as I wanted. The good thing about this method is that the lube stick and cutoff pills are the diameter of the barrel and cylinder.
I put the lube pill over the powder, under the ball. NO PATCH in a revolver. They also work over the ball, but under is better.

[dwave]

My recipe for lube pills is 50% beeswax (real beeswax from a local bee keeper) and 50% crisco. Works very well for me.

Here, have a look at this thread I made. I fired 100 rounds without cleaning my gun:

100 shots with lube pills (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=252458&highlight=100+shots+lube+pills)

[Pancho]

Dwave, Seein is believen

[dwave]

I haven't done it yet, but I will be someday (lol), I am going to go for 100 shots with my Pietta 1858. I don't know if I will make all 100 without cleaning the cylinder pin, but I won't touch the barrel or anything like that. I am also switching to real Black for the new test. Last time it was 777. I'll be getting laid off for the season here this week, so I guess now will be a good time to go for it.

[ArmedBear]

OT, but what do you get laid off for the season for, in Athens?

[dwave]

I work at Ohio University and the students will be leaving tue or wed depending on the classes. When they leave I won't be needed until the students come back after New Years.

[Pancho]

Gee, laid off for deer season, what a bummer.

[dwave]

Not a bad thing for Deer season. Me and my Pedersoli .45 are going to have a blast. :) (Well, except that whole not getting paid thing, that stinks.)

[Tony4VA]

The reason for using filler in a c&b revolver is so the ball won't have far to "jump" out of the cylinder to enter the throat of the barrel. I prefer Cream of Wheat instead of cornmeal as the Cream of Wheat won't compress like the cornmeal and therefore you can measure precisely and get a very consistent load for each shot. I then smear wheel bearing grease over the open end, both for safety and it keeps the fouling soft.
Results? I have a Remmie c& b revolver loaded that way that shot (from rest at 25 yards) a 1" group of 12 shots. Now if I could only do that well offhand. . . .