Converting drams to grains

[jondar]

I have an old L. C. Smith 12 gauge I would like to shoot (damascus barrells) but I forget the above formula. Does anyone remember how many grains of black would constitute the mild load of a three dram charge? Or any mild load? Thanks

 

[ccyooper]

Go to onlineconversion.com.You can convert anything into anything else.
1 gram equals 15.4xxxx grains

 

[c_yeager]

Be carefull, im fairly sure that both of these measures can be used either to measure volume and weight, and you cannot easily convert between the two (volumes and weights, i mean).

For weight, 1 dram = 27.3 grains

I cant find a volumetric conversion though. Just make sure you dont try to convert a volume of drams into a weight of grains or visa versa.

 

[jondar]

Thanks for the comebacks. That tells me what I need to know.

 

[jondar]

C. Yeager I checked on onlineconversion.com as the other poster recommended and you are right. 27.34375 grains = 1 dram. Makes a load of around 81 grains of black. So I'll start out with 75 grains.

 

[ccyooper]

OOPS! Sorry,I stand corrected....

 

[c_yeager]

27.34375 grains = 1 dram. Makes a load of around 81 grains of black. So I'll start out with 75 grains.

isnt BP measured by volume?

 

[Jim Watson]

Black powder is measured by volume for convenience, just like smokeless. Actual load data is by weight, just like smokeless.
A dram is 1/16 ounce, 27.34375 grains, as said above. Knock off as many decimal places as you find convenient.

Ccyooper, you gotta be careful. Grains, grams, and drams sound alike and their abbreviations look a lot alike, but they are not interchangeable.

Jondar, it is getting to where Damascus barrels are recommended to not be shot even with black. They were made for it when new but a hundred years of rust penetration of the seams can weaken them to where they will not take any firing pressure. I don't know what good a gunsmith inspection would do for you unless he has a magnaflux or xray. On the other hand, the leading collector hereabouts shot his Damascus guns all the time.

Y'all be careful, now, you hear.

 

[jondar]

Jim, Yes I hear you loud and clear. Although Hunter Arms are supposed to have made good damascus, the use over the years of mercuric primers certainly could have weakened it. I stumbled into a good website for black powder, FWIW it's http://tbullock.com/bpsg.html