Crimson23Locke
07-18-2013, 08:22 PM
Goal: The absolute most utilitarian (cheap and effective) way to shoot various cast projectiles (birdshot, buckshot, slugs, and round ball) out of a modern smooth bore shotgun using homemade black powder.
This project is actually a combination of various projects I've seen online. I'm hoping I can make decent powder at a fraction of the cost of commercial powder, cast shot/slug/ball at a fraction of the cost of the commercial stuff, and reuse the all-brass hulls enough to warrant their slightly exorbitant cost. I will be buying commercial large pistol primers.
The Powder: (100 parts saltpeter : 24 parts charcoal)
I've read that the main difference between Sulfur BP vs non Sulfur BP is the temperature required for ignition; in a brass hull with modern large pistol primers I would think that ignition temperature would not be much of an issue? Would a cut 2 x 4 x 8 of pine from home depot serve as a decent substitute to young willow branches? Would a no-sulfur powder be less corrosive?
Source: http://www.musketeer.ch/blackpowder/homemade_bp.html
I've seen DIY ball mill projects on the cheap and know to use only pure lead for the 'balls' as it were (no sparks on collision = no explosion = good) Would it be worth it to try making one of these instead grinding with mortar & pestle?
Load Data: I've read that equal volumes of shot & powder is the traditional ratio in black powder shot shells, but I've also read that in the recipe I have the density is just a little over half that of a commercial product (industrial mills trump mortar and pestle). Any advice on loads with homemade BP?
I plan on getting a little cheapo Lee Load-all for this as I've seen some people loading these all brass hulls by hand. (MacGuyvering it) I've read Dixie Gun Works makes some good/cheap (lubed?) patches, sodium silicate is a great sealant, and I'm most likely going to get the BuffaloArms hulls. http://www.buffaloarms.com/Shotgun_Reloading_Brass_it-161406.aspx?CAT=3832
The Projectiles: Good molds? What do you use to cast your shot/ball/slugs? What alloys if any work well? Are wheel weights okay? (I'd assume not for round ball or even slugs, but shot?)
The Gun: Most likely going to be a Mossberg 500 with 20" barrel. I also have an old bolt action 28" smoothbore I might try it on, but I'm not sure if it has a choke. Should I consider a different shotgun with my goal in mind? I think I've seen a vid of someone using similar 2 1/2 inch brass shells in a Mossy pump-action but I'm not sure. Will they cycle? Will the BP dirty up the action? (I'm not afraid of lots of cleaning) Do I need to get (or remove) chokes for different loads?
Will this blow up in my face?
Sorry for the tirade of questions, but I'd really appreciate any feedback on any part of the project. If anyone else is interested I can post the results of any progress I make.
Thanks!
Crimson
This project is actually a combination of various projects I've seen online. I'm hoping I can make decent powder at a fraction of the cost of commercial powder, cast shot/slug/ball at a fraction of the cost of the commercial stuff, and reuse the all-brass hulls enough to warrant their slightly exorbitant cost. I will be buying commercial large pistol primers.
The Powder: (100 parts saltpeter : 24 parts charcoal)
I've read that the main difference between Sulfur BP vs non Sulfur BP is the temperature required for ignition; in a brass hull with modern large pistol primers I would think that ignition temperature would not be much of an issue? Would a cut 2 x 4 x 8 of pine from home depot serve as a decent substitute to young willow branches? Would a no-sulfur powder be less corrosive?
Source: http://www.musketeer.ch/blackpowder/homemade_bp.html
I've seen DIY ball mill projects on the cheap and know to use only pure lead for the 'balls' as it were (no sparks on collision = no explosion = good) Would it be worth it to try making one of these instead grinding with mortar & pestle?
Load Data: I've read that equal volumes of shot & powder is the traditional ratio in black powder shot shells, but I've also read that in the recipe I have the density is just a little over half that of a commercial product (industrial mills trump mortar and pestle). Any advice on loads with homemade BP?
I plan on getting a little cheapo Lee Load-all for this as I've seen some people loading these all brass hulls by hand. (MacGuyvering it) I've read Dixie Gun Works makes some good/cheap (lubed?) patches, sodium silicate is a great sealant, and I'm most likely going to get the BuffaloArms hulls. http://www.buffaloarms.com/Shotgun_Reloading_Brass_it-161406.aspx?CAT=3832
The Projectiles: Good molds? What do you use to cast your shot/ball/slugs? What alloys if any work well? Are wheel weights okay? (I'd assume not for round ball or even slugs, but shot?)
The Gun: Most likely going to be a Mossberg 500 with 20" barrel. I also have an old bolt action 28" smoothbore I might try it on, but I'm not sure if it has a choke. Should I consider a different shotgun with my goal in mind? I think I've seen a vid of someone using similar 2 1/2 inch brass shells in a Mossy pump-action but I'm not sure. Will they cycle? Will the BP dirty up the action? (I'm not afraid of lots of cleaning) Do I need to get (or remove) chokes for different loads?
Will this blow up in my face?
Sorry for the tirade of questions, but I'd really appreciate any feedback on any part of the project. If anyone else is interested I can post the results of any progress I make.
Thanks!
Crimson