Loading black powder pistol cartridges

[Chubbo]

Hi, All:
I have loaded cartridges for 50+ years, for 15+ cartridges. I want to start loading black powder cartridges, the .38 Long Colt & the.45 Colt. It seems to be the best kept secret in the loading comunity. I can not find manuals or information this subject. All the many manuals, including my black powder manuals do not mention the subject. I found a manual on loading black powder cartridges, but it was on loading rifle cartridges. Can anyone help me with this?
Chubbo

 

[wile326]

Here is a link that will give you the basics on it. It is pretty much the same as loading for smokless except always remember that you can not leave any spaces in the case when using black powder, it either has to be full of powder or a wad to fill the case. I reload in .44 colt and .38 colt. I use a powder compression die to compact the powder slightly, some people use a drop tupe, then a wad then a soft lead well lubed bullet. I usually use a rnd nose or a flat nose with a heavy crimp. It all depends what kind of loads you are developing, target, hunting or just plinking loads.

http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.black-powder-cartridge-reloading.html

 

[Souris]

I don't know the answer but

You can try Hodgdon Powder company who make Pyrodex and triple seven BP substitutes.

You can also try John Taffin's book "Action shooting, Cowboy style" It has a section on load data for BP using several of the Cowboy cartridges.

You could go to the SASS general forum and ask there. You will find several people that shoot BP in the Caowboy matches.

 

[Archie]

Deceptively simple

I've loaded Pyrodex for .44-40 rifle and revolver, 12 guage shotgun and .45-70 rifle. The same procedures apply to Pyrodex and Black Powder.

A proper load of black powder, or Pyrodex, is that which fills the case and is lightly compressed by the bullet. Don't worry about the weight.

The only 'burning rate' difference is the size of the kernal. Fg is the slowest, then FFg, FFFg and FFFFg. To be honest, I normally used Pyrodex 'pistol' or 'cartridge'; those are supposedly equal to FFFg, if I'm remembering correctly. For real BP, use FFg for rifle or FFFg for pistol.

The good news is, BP is rather forgiving in overloads, typically it just blows out the muzzle.

What BP will NOT forgive is leaving empty air space in the cartridge. Having powder loose in the cartridge will give either a squib load (poof and bullet stuck in barrel) or - I have been told - a detonation. If you don't want to load 'full' loads, and wish to back down for recoil considerations, charge the case with BP then drop in enough corn starch to fill the case so the bottom of the bullet lightly compresses it. I suppose you could styrofoam or something else, but I think the plastic would clog the rifling. Corn starch or corn meal is biodegradeable as well.

Cases get rather cruddy. I always dumped them in hot, soapy water and agitated them for awhile, then let them air dry and tumble. (Make sure they are dry prior to priming them. Wet primers are an adventure to avoid.)