Progressive Reloading Black Powder

Anyone use a progressive to load say a 45LC gallery load with RB, or maybe something in other rifle or pistol calibers. My main interest is how to quickly pre charge brass powder tubes. Given the volume of some loads will the powder measures made for smokeless have the necessary volume capacity.

Fingers McGee said:

I use a Hornady L-N-L progressive to load .44-40, .45ACP and .38 Special with blackpowder without any problems. The standard powder measure will throw sufficient charges of BP.

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Thanks for the input: I have a Dillon and would like to use it to throw BP charges into
30/06 brass that I cut down to use as tubes.I posted this same thread, by accident, on the handloading forum and the replies there were quite negative. I have ask Dillon for their input also. Safety is, of course a concern.
Aside, 45ACP with BP, seem an oddity not much case capacity. What gun?

J-Bar said:

Just curious.... How will you seal your brass powder carriers after they are charged?

If you are going to just plug them with a cork or something, that means you will be taking the charged tubes off the shell plate at the 3rd station on your Dillon anyway. I would just put the trimmed tubes in a loading block that holds 50 cases, charge them with a funnel and dipper, then seal them. It would save having to change the setting on your powder measure.

You could make your own dipper by using one of the tubes attached to a handle of some sort, or a .45 case trimmed to give you the powder volume you want.

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The tubes are just 30/06 cases cut at the shoulder. They hold up to 40 grains and are corked. I am a "gun de jour" type and wanted something to fit that. 100 cases set in a wooden block and rotated under the powder measure to charge. I also like to put a lot of lead on target. My Lyman 55 is suited to that, just did not know if that was a "safe" procedure. One day it may be the Patterson the next the Walker, in between the 1860, the ROA or the Remy 1858 I have been called many things but never a "KISS" sort. Funnel and dipper, that is too simple, and slow. LOL

Then there is the possibility of loading 45C with round ball for the ROA conversion cylinder, the Dillon would come in there.

Thanks for the response and good shooting.

sail32 said:

Here is video of duelist1954 reloading .44-40 on a Dillon progressive press.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS2Hv14RdeU

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Thanks for that.

Fingers McGee said:

I use the 45ACP in an AMT Hardballer in SASS Wild Bunch matches. Blows everyone mind when it functions as well as their 45s do with smokeless powder loads.

I'm not surprised at the negative responses on the other forum. I've found that most smokeless shooters are ignorant of anything outside their little world.

Most people think BP in a semi-auto will gum it up and require a complete teardown to clean within 5 seconds of finish firing or the gun will turn into a 2 lb hunk of rust. My BP loads are cleaner than any loads I've ever used with Unique. A truly nasty powder.

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Fingers: Been a lot of input, went to the SASS site and did a quick search. LOTS OF PROS AND CONS THERE ALSO, BUT MORE PROS. Would seem the bottom line is : use all the safe guards and practices one would use in any reloading process.

One fellow at SASS quoted an answer to the same question in the August issue of the 1974 Rifleman. The answer to the question as posed to Dupont Powder Company, I assume when DuPont made BP, dealt with friction and static in hand loading equipment. Their opinion was that it held no more risk than any other method of handling BP.

BP in a 45ACP who would of thunk it. LOL I will have to try that and look for the reaction on the line at Knights Trail. Wonder if it would knock over the falling plates, using frangible bullets.

sail32 said:

Here is video of duelist1954 reloading .44-40 on a Dillon progressive press.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS2Hv14RdeU

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No way would I use a Progressive in that manner. I have loaded so many rounds on my 550 in the last 30 years I wore the machine out, the linkage and bushings had to be replaced and Dillon did that for free, three years ago. Progressives, in my opinion require rythm and attention to use properly. Stopping to drop powder down a tube would just throw me all off. Would rather step it out in 100 round batches as I did for years with single stage presses. I just know I would have rounds with no powder.

J-Bar said:

"Funnel and dipper, that is too simple, and slow."

Aw, I dunno...

I honestly have not timed myself, but I think I get 50 cases charged by using a funnel and dipper in about 2 1/2 minutes.

And I have arthritis in my thumbs...

I never considered it a race.

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J Bar. That was a "tounge in cheek" comment, but what the hey I got the tools might as well use them.