Well, here I am, dipping in the toes

[armoredman]

I'll be looking at everything I can find here for 45 Colt black powder. I got into 45 Colt by accident, (bought a Taurus Judge, and I can't own something I cannot reload, of course), but when I realized that A), I am now casting for 45 Colt and B), there is a Howell conversion cylinder for my Uberti New Model Army, and C) well, why not? So, the Howell will be here next week, and I will step into the wonderful world of black powder cartridge - Da Boy is ALL excited about shooting BP cartridge in the big stainless NMA...this should be very interesting.
That's all, just wanted to note that I am officially broadening my horizons again. :p

[country gent]

Start with a load of 2f powder no airspace no compression and a card wad in to .020-.040 thickness range. with the bullet seated to depth. work up from here adding compression and weight as you go. As you add compression fouling will go down velocities will get better and accuracy will improve. Use a lube suited for black powder like SPG. Crimp as needed to hold bullets in place. Being a full case there shouldnt be set back but the bullets could pull under recoil.

Once you find the load you can experiment with different primers wads and lubes.

Shooting BP you will want a handy cleaner at the range I have used windex with vinegar to remove fouling. dishsoap and water works well also.

I also deprime and put the cases to soaking as fired. a jug with soap water works well for this. An old tide bottle with the insert pulled out works good. You want to neutralize the salts and fouling as soon as possible. When home rinse several times in hot tap water then dry and clean.

[armoredman]

Whoops - I forgot to separate the brass on the line, and they tumbled with the rest of the brass. I guess they will be easy to spot when I dump it in a few minutes. Live and learn. Thank you for the post, good info, going to fire up the lead pot in a few minutes to try that other boolit. I will also take a "defouler" next time. I hadn't needed one before, so that definitely caught me off guard.

[Chill Wills]

If you live in AZ you have no issues with a time race to clean the cases, or the rifle for that mater. The south west is dry and under the threshold for problems. Contrast that to much of the country east of the Mississippi and coastal areas that really need to get on the cases right away.

I have shot 10 day match events in Raton, New Mexico and as always, never do anything to the cases and clean when I get home. No difference.

[armoredman]

Well, it seemed there was for me...

These tumbled in media and polish for about 3 hours. The BP ones one the left, smokeless on the right.

https://i.imgur.com/Ef3gEcu.jpg

So, I think next time I will follow advice and take that can with me. And speaking of next time, I think this boolit will do the trick, 200 grainer, Range Lead, (reclaimed berm lead from an LE range, 99% jacketed bullets), about as close to dead soft as I can get, and a nice big lube groove.

https://i.imgur.com/73ykrfd.jpg

[Chill Wills]

Yup, your system is not getting it. A good system to clean is wet tumbling with either ceramic or SS pins. For me the ceramic media is the easiest to separate from the brass.

The brass comes out shining like a dime in a goat's, well.... often better than new.

BTW - when I say no issues, I mean the brass won't be hurt in the long term.
Have fun.

[armoredman]

Yeah, sorry, I have what I have, can't afford a new machine right now, my bad. I apologize.
Thank you to everyone for your help, much appreciated.

[Froogal]

I soak the shells in a solution of water and DAWN dishwashing detergent. Soak them for maybe 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse with straight water and then lay the shells out to dry. After they are FULLY dry, then they go into the tumbler with walnut shell media for 3 to 4 hours. Forgot to mention that I deprime BEFORE soaking.

If the shells are not completely dry before tumbling, you will have a mess on your hands.

[country gent]

Add about 2 ounces of mineral spirits to you corn cob media have the polisher running and slowly trickle it in. Let run a few minutes and add the brass. This will rejuvenate the polish and media

I use the iosso brass polish in corn cob my bpcr rifle cases come out looking like new. But when fired at the end of each stage or group they are deprimed and dropped in the tide jug of lemishine and dish soap also. I want to neutralize the corrosive salts as soon as possible.

When the cases come out of the jug after several rinses they are dull in color. I do use a nylon brush on the insides and let dry then into the case polisher they shine up quick in the above method. I add 2 ounces of mineral spirits or alcohol and a cap full of the iosso brass polish. As you use the media over time it gets "full" and becomes less effective. With the soaking you remove most of the crud and media lasts longer.

[armoredman]

Thank you for that tip, I will try that next time. As it is I discovered the beeswax bullets I was using for the lube base are VERY old and that might be why the home made lube won't stay on the boolit. I think I will just go ahead and order some DGL or other style factory libe on pay day and see how this goes. I don't want to give up on this idea too quickly.

[Chill Wills]

Yeah, sorry, I have what I have, can't afford a new machine right now, my bad. I apologize.


Apologize? Right, no need.

The responses are given in the spirit to provide help and give options.

[armoredman]

Of course, and thank you

[Wayne Smith]

I have a Lyman vibrating tumbler, got a separate top and some ceramic media and use that with water and dish soap to clean by PB brass.

[armoredman]

Well, my SPG lube was delivered today, when I get some time off work I'll get started!

[missionary5155]

Howdy Armor
We are in SE AZ ! Freedom !!!
When we ignite BP we always take a gallon plastic jug with 3 quarts water and a teaspoon of Dawn. Fire the rounds and drop them in the jug. Get home, deprime, brush the inside of the case and rinse in clean water.
Make yourself a drying "tree". Scrap 2x4 with rows of nails driven into it at a downward angle to air dry the brass. make a hook on the top to hang on a limb, clothes line.... whatever outside. The brass dry fast in the sun.
We do not polish. Does polished brass shoot better ? We always know what is our dedicated BP brass.
Find out what diameter sized cast will enter the case before resizing. Cast with range scrap or 40-1. for fun shooting. Competition is another story.
We use a cereal box wad (printed side on the cast base) and compress the powder about 1/16th" with 2F Goex. You can play with compression to find out what shoots the best.
SPG is good stuff. 45% Olive oil and 55% bees wax ( not exact but close) is good stuff also and I can make a pound for what one stick of that SPG costs. Again competition is another story. Cans, rocks and stuff at 25-50 yards never know the difference.
You sure are diving into a new world of happy trails !!!
Mike in AZ

[indian joe]

I bought a little ultrasonic cleaner off ebay ($30 or so at the time) had a bag of citric acid on hand
so citric acid and a small dab of dishwash - takes about 15 minutes to clean reasonably fresh brass - it comes out CLEAN !, primer pockets, right down inside the case, clean but not shiny - really grungy stuff might take a couple of cycles with a soak n between.
Wash in fresh water then let it dry.
The small unit doesnt hold a lot but I dont shoot bags full at the one time - just set it going and poke about doing some loading - always deprime before cleaning. I bought a LEE depriming die - one of my best purchases - dont have to worry about good loading dies getting corroded anf that LEE does everything from 25/20 on up to 45/75 - has never missed a beat - no broken decapping pins - no squished cases

[almar]

I'll be looking at everything I can find here for 45 Colt black powder. I got into 45 Colt by accident, (bought a Taurus Judge, and I can't own something I cannot reload, of course), but when I realized that A), I am now casting for 45 Colt and B), there is a Howell conversion cylinder for my Uberti New Model Army, and C) well, why not? So, the Howell will be here next week, and I will step into the wonderful world of black powder cartridge - Da Boy is ALL excited about shooting BP cartridge in the big stainless NMA...this should be very interesting.
That's all, just wanted to note that I am officially broadening my horizons again. :p

BP 45 colt rounds in my SAA clone are my favorite rounds to shoot in a handgun. I started with the 45 colt in a NMA with the Howell conversion too, get ready to add to your collection. i got the SAA soon after, then a 1873 winchester then a ruger blackhawk for testing the 45 hot loads...then a 45-90 sharps by pedersoli, 1886 winchester in 45-90 then a 45-110 shiloh sharps...im looking for the next cartridge now.

[Bowdrie]

When I was using both BP and the substitutes for CAS in .45Colt and .44Spl/Mag, I used an old time "magic solution" to put the cases in immediately after firing.
A mixture of 1/3rd water, 1/3 Murphys Oil Soap, and 1/3 of 99% Isopropyl Alcohol.
Since the soap and alcohol both come in 1/2 Qt. sizes adding the water made 1-1/2 Ots.
One Qt. went in a container for the brass, the 1/2 Qt. went in a spray bottle to give the cylinders/cylinder gap a spritz between stages.
The small cylinder gaps on the Ruger's didn't like any build-up of fouling or they would start dragging, (not so good when you're trying to shoot as fast as you can).

[armoredman]

Anyone have any suggested loads with the 200 gr SWC? I can find data for the 250 and 255s all over the place, but my bigger lube groove boolit right now is the 200 gr ones I posted earlier. This load will be fired through a Howell conversion cylinder in an Uberti New Model Army, and I don't know what an overload for this baby would be right now. I am thinking of maybe some of the felt wads I have for the loose cap and ball loads might work inside the case to make up room of need be - I won't be leaving BP cartridges loaded long!

[Wayne Smith]

If you are using ffg or fffg BP you will not overload the Howell conversion cylinder! Forget a wad in a case, just fill the case with BP, add a booit, and enjoy shooting the gun.

[armoredman]

Well I have to say the "fill it until it crunch's" went SO hard against very long term standards of weighing charges...I tried, I did, but I went back and weighed everything to make sure it was all 30 grains, but I am getting ahead of myself.

First. The SPG lube. Yes, that's a cat food can, it's what I had available, don't judge me for recycling. I doubt the fired boolits will smell like cat food. :D

https://i.imgur.com/sWxsBcN.jpg

The lube directions, (SPG Tropical), say wait 45 minutes...really? The stuff was solid in a few, but I waited. Do note - I put WAY too much in...this will cause trouble later.

https://i.imgur.com/pczxifW.jpg

The 45 caliber cookie cutter tool LAGS made for me, what an awesome guy!

https://i.imgur.com/q3AUtP5.jpg

As cut. See all that excess above the lube groove?

https://i.imgur.com/deY77RQ.jpg

Now this is where a lot of time was wasted - cleaning the excess off. However, note that large lube groove is full of nice back powder lube, unlike the last ones...

https://i.imgur.com/OJznU2x.jpg

Here we go, hours of work, trial and error for this. And cleaning.

https://i.imgur.com/C9jWZzz.jpg

So, lets get started, shall we? And we start with something different - homemade powder.

https://i.imgur.com/16uzDwi.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/zjM65Cr.jpg

And the final product - I made others with the other powder, of course.

https://i.imgur.com/E6WBBcU.jpg

I only made 5 of each, just to get an idea how they group, worth exploring or no. I tried like HECK to use the "load it until it crunches", by my scale kept wincing...so fine, I measured every load to 30 grains. With home made powder I doubt I could overload it, at all, BUT, I would like to be able to do repeatable accuracy, and knowing the powder charge might help.
I won't get back out to the line for a bit, but we'll see.

[Wayne Smith]

I understand the fear of the 'crunch', but I must say, after filling some 45-70 cases the same way the 44-40 ones didn't bother me so much!

[armoredman]

So, we went today. The wind was so insanely strong that I had to tie four bags full of rocks to the target stand to keep it from tipping over. The hearing protection kept my hat on! But make it we did, with just 10 rounds to try, to see if I had wasted my time or am on to something. I also need to point out all the powder used here is homemade, not by me, but someone who really knows guns.

https://i.imgur.com/FMJllEt.jpg

I soon found out that Bore Butter was more like soup - it was apparently past it's shelf life. Oh well, I still smeared a little on the cylinder pin.
First up - what I nice shiny revolver...like that's gonna last.

https://i.imgur.com/pGvTVem.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1EvBcyj.jpg

Meh. I do have to claim some slop due to wind action.

https://i.imgur.com/rpzXobH.jpg

Next set. Remember that nice shiny wheel gun?

https://i.imgur.com/iIK7nRS.jpg

Now this is where it gets interesting. I saw shot 1 impact, then shot 2, while holding a mid target hold. So I moved to my usual with everything else 6 o'clock hold, and look at 3-5.

https://i.imgur.com/hjhU7C0.jpg

To say I am interested in exploring this some more might be a wee bit of an understatement. That's pretty darn good once you see what I did. I asked my son to verify that was two in one hole - he did. The wind flapped the edges back and forth.

It was so windy out, though, after I fired that last five, we packed up and beat feet.
Now, I forgot the bowl of dish soap and water, BUT, as soon as we got home, (we live quite close), I dumped them into a small container and shook them with dish soap and hot water. When I get over to the reloading room tonight, I will tumble them and compare. New Starline nickel brass, BGTW.
Thanks for coming along!

[Nobade]

You are getting the hang of this stuff. Pretty soon the addiction will be strong and you will be fully immersed!