Onebigelf
02-11-2018, 06:50 PM
Do any of you gentlemen know if there is a difference in charge weight when using Blackhorn 209 compared to regular black powder? If so, do you know what the conversion is?
Accurate just sent me their load date, which would be fine except that I'm loading a cartridge not on their list.
I'm loading an old Webley revolver. The original Webley mark 1 cartridge was a black powder round utilizing a case of almost exactly the same volume as the 45 ACP / 45 Auto Rim that my revolver has been converted to use. The cartridge was loaded with 18gr of black powder under a 265gr HBRN bullet, generating 750fps and about 11,500psi. Modern smokeless charges don't achieve this. Currently I'm loading 255gr cast bullets over 4.4gr of Unique at about 600-650fps.
The early MK1 through MK3 or MK4 guns were black powder. Many of them were proofed to the higher pressure of the cordite round when the Brits changed over, but BP pressures are supposed to be less, and thus should be safer in these guns.
I'd like to load something closer to the old black powder rounds in performance, without all the smoke. Blackhorn 209. The first information I read suggested that BH209 was designed as a volume for volume substitute. Later reading suggests that it's more energetic and that loads should be reduced- but I've still got to fill the case, right? So I need to figure out what the equivalent charge to 18gr is, then see how much that fills the case and see if I can seat deep enough to eliminate free space.
So step 1, what is the equivalent charge?
Thanks,
John
Accurate just sent me their load date, which would be fine except that I'm loading a cartridge not on their list.
I'm loading an old Webley revolver. The original Webley mark 1 cartridge was a black powder round utilizing a case of almost exactly the same volume as the 45 ACP / 45 Auto Rim that my revolver has been converted to use. The cartridge was loaded with 18gr of black powder under a 265gr HBRN bullet, generating 750fps and about 11,500psi. Modern smokeless charges don't achieve this. Currently I'm loading 255gr cast bullets over 4.4gr of Unique at about 600-650fps.
The early MK1 through MK3 or MK4 guns were black powder. Many of them were proofed to the higher pressure of the cordite round when the Brits changed over, but BP pressures are supposed to be less, and thus should be safer in these guns.
I'd like to load something closer to the old black powder rounds in performance, without all the smoke. Blackhorn 209. The first information I read suggested that BH209 was designed as a volume for volume substitute. Later reading suggests that it's more energetic and that loads should be reduced- but I've still got to fill the case, right? So I need to figure out what the equivalent charge to 18gr is, then see how much that fills the case and see if I can seat deep enough to eliminate free space.
So step 1, what is the equivalent charge?
Thanks,
John