Originally Posted by
Vettepilot
Ok, yes, new to BPC and boy do I have questions, but first a little background. I am already a fairly accomplished hand loader, and while I have not (quite) loaded Black Powder yet, I have several general BP manuals, (Lyman and such), that I have studied. I also have untold hours researching on the web, but that can be "sketchy ground". Lots of heresay, myths, self proclaimed experts, etc. I have more books on order, and yet more on my wish list.
Too much study not enough action methinks
I wish to load black powder cartridges in 44 magnum occasionally, and in 45-70 a good bit. Use will be informal target, plinking, just plain fun, and maybe some hunting or dangerous animal defense. (Big "maybe's" there...)
My main reason for writing at this moment is to inqire about the real world truths of fouling. I have read every thing from "Blow tube every round, wipe every five" to "Shoot all day no problem, clean it when you get home." Pondering this in a historical sense, I never saw in a Cowboy and Injun movie where they frequently stopped during a furious battle and said, "Take five everyone, and clean your guns."
wanna bet that during lull in the fighting those ole boys didnt dribble a bit of H2O outa their canteen down the barl to cool / clean things - in their place I would for sure
So, I don't want to have to blow tube, but I don't want useless accuracy after 8 or 10 rounds either. That wouldn't be any fun....
I DO understand the need for an absolutely sufficient amount of a good and proper type lube. No petro-chemicals, etc. 45-70 is 24" barrel, 44 mag is 7.7" revolver. Will be using 240 grain cast in 44, and Lee 405 HB and Lee 500 in 45-70.
ok you lucked onto two of the best lube carrying mold designs for the 45/70 - make you some simple lube - beeswax and tallow, or neatsfoot, or olive oil, or, or, or, - and use an overpowder wad (thick card, or a couple thicknesses of juice box, or milk carton, or HDPE poly cut from a ten litre water jug - something that fits neat and is 40 to 60 thou thick)
Prime yr case, fill it with powder a whisker higher than the base of the boolit will sit, insert a wad, put in lubed boolit, little bit of crimp so it dont fall out, go forth and make ye some smoke - tis that simple (ya said plinking and fun not match ammo)
Get a big lube mold for yr 44 and its even simpler
Sorry for long post, but giving you as much info as possible negates unnecessary follow up posts and saves everyone time and typing.
Oh... an idea I had. Could a fellow blast a bp lubed SMOKELESS round through, say every 12th round, to blow out the fouling??? Would that be effective and restore accuracy??
I am gonna say BAD idea .........you should know why ........PRESSURE(potential)..... ya gonna fire a smokeyless load up a tube thats gunked up wit BP fouling to the point it wont shoot ........think about that fer just a teensy while!!!!!!!
Looking forward to your suggestions and responses.
Vettepilot