I have shot BP for 50 years but never in cartridges. Due to the excellent help I’ve received here in answer to my many questions, I recently took the “dive” and loaded up some in my favorite cartridge – the 38 Special. It just seemed “appropriate” since this cartridge, when it was first introduced, was a black powder cartridge (at least according to Wikipedia!).
Today, I finally had the time to rry out my first BP cartridges. I thought I would post this – nothing new as far as information to those of you who have loaded BP cartridges for years – but maybe it will help those thinking about it to make the “plunge”.
Starting out . . . .
The pistol I chose to shoot these BP cartridges out of is my Ruger .357 New Vaquero with a 5 ½” barrel. I have put up a picture of it along with some other items.
I sorted out 100 casings – all nickel from my supply of brass. All were the same head stamp and had an overall case length of 1.145 to keep things as consistent as I could as far as “case fill” for the compressed load.
Casings were sized and hand primed with CCI small pistol primers. I have a supply of BP since I have shot it for years. I dug out an older can of Goex FFFG. In case you are wondering how I knew it was “older”, let’s just say that the price of the pound of FFFG is written on the can with grease pencil. The price marked on it is $2.25! Nope! Powder doesn’t spoil if kept dry.
I shoot 38 special in vintage revolvers and have a number of different barrel lengths. I have cast for years and have a number of different styles of bullets for 38/357. A year or so ago, I picked up an old Winchester mold for the 160 grain round nose. The mold casts a “usable” bullet but for this first time with the BP, I used a very similar configuration out of a Lyman 358-311. In the photos, the Winchester mold bullets/bullet is/are on the left and the bullet from the Lyman 358-311 is/are on the right. I cast out of “range lead” and these drop from the mold at about 163 grains. I size them to .358 through a Lee push through sizer.
On my smokeless loads, I usually tumble lube warm bullets in Paste Wax and Alox. I prepared the bullets for these in the same manner but then “finger lubed” the lube groove using my usual BP lube. I make that by melting a 1 pound can of Crisco and combining it with the soft beeswax from a “toilet ring”. (I’m using “old” toilet rings that I have on hand when they used to actually be made from beeswax. The “finger lubing” was not “ideal”, a little messy but it worked but it worked fine for my first "batch" of BP loads. I will be making a different lube that is a little “stiffer” and will probably “pan lube” them for the next BP cartridges I load.
Determing the seating depth of the 160 grain 358-311 bullet, I then marked a ¼ dowel to use as a “gauge” for determining what the powder level should be in the casing in order to give me an extra 1/16 inch for a “compressed” load. Through a little “trial and error”, I was able to adjust my adjustable brass BP measure so that I could get a consistent “volume” each time that would allow the 1/16 inch extra in the casing for the compressed load. For the casings I was using, I found that a load of 17.8 grains (by weight on a digital scale) afforded me a level of powder in the casing that was perhaps a tad more than 1/16 inch so the load would be compressed. Each charge was measured out and poured into a powder funnel placed over the cartridge casing mouth. Since this was my first time loading BP cartridges, I used my marked dowel to double check that each casing had the correct level in it for a compressed charge. Once I had my adjustable BP measure set, I was able to throw very consistent charges. When loading the next time, I probably would double check every five cartridges or so but you soon learn to be able to tell just by sight if the correct powder height in the casing is there or not. Too much powder, and you could buckle a casing when seating the bullet and compressing the load. Not enough powder and you could end up with a “air space” which you do not want with BP.
After loading the casings, I proceeded to seat and crump the bullets in the casings. I seat and crimp in two separate operations on my Lee Classic 4 hole Turret Press. Before seating any cartridges that have powder and primer, I use a “spent” casing and seat the bullet. This allows me to adjust the seating depth and then go to my Lee FCD to crimp. This “dummy cartridge” can then be marked and used the next time to adjust the seating die if necessary. Using the FCD, I put a “moderate” roll crimp on these cartridges.
I loaded up a total of 25 cartridges to try the first time. While the initial loading was more time consuming than what it takes to load my smokeless rounds of 38 Special, I found it very relaxing. I’m sure that the more times a person loads them with BP, the process will speed up some. However, like any reloading, be careful! Carefully check your powder levels in the casings and make sure there is enough to give you a “compressed load”.
My first BP cartridges were now done!
The specs were:
Casing – Nickel (I figured it would be easier to clean up after shooting than brass casings) with a casing overall length of 1.145
Loaded Cartridge Overall Length – 1.489
Primer – CCI Small Pistol
Powder – 17.8 grains (by weight on digital scale) of FFFG Goex Black Powder. In the casings used, this gave a level to allow for 1/16 inch + for a “compressed load”
Bullet – Lyman Mold – 358-311 160 grain round nose – cast from “range lead” and dropping at about 163 grains. Sized to .358
Lube – Tumble lubed in paste wax/alox then “finger lubed” in lube groove with Crisco/Beeswax BP lube
Range Results
I am fortunate in that I have a 50 yard range in my back yard. We live in a rural area and are on the “back side” of the farm.
I put up two targets. One a “bunny” and the other a “skunk”. I initially started at 25 yards. With a smokeless load and a lead SWC, my New Vaquero shoots very well. With these BP cartridges, I found that it was shooting low. I fired 10 at this distance and then moved to about 20 yards. I was still hitting low. These low hits were using the “sight picture” that I normally use with my smokeless loads. The sights on my New Vaquero are “factory” with no alterations to the front blade. I finallay found a half-way decent “sight picture” to use but by then, I was down to my last five rounds. I have put a photo of the “bunny” showing my hits. Not very impressive but at least I hit it twice. The other three were close enough that it would have at least scared the “bejeebers” out of the bunny! You can see some of my "low hits" on the backer board below the bunny target close-up.
Was I disappointed in my results? Not really. This was the first time with BP cartridges and I had no expectations of what to expect in terms of how they would shoot out of the New Vaquero.
Summary
I shoot a 1851 Navy and have no problems with it at 25 yards in spite of my vision problems (due to diabetes). I am right hand dominant and right eye dominant, but the central vision in my right eye is not good, thus I have had to work at making my left eye dominant.
Every cartridge that I loaded went “bang”. No misfires and no hang fires. All the cartridges seemed to be consistent in terms of recoil, etc. so I am confident that they were all consistent loads.
I do not have a chronograph so I have no idea of the velocity of these rounds. Part of the problem in hitting the target may have been a combination of a number of things. Having not shot BP cartridges before and the anticipation of it. Figuring the POA in regards to POI. Perhaps just a “bad day”. Or the "flinch factor" or maybe “smelling too much of the smoke”! Like anything worthwhile though, it was a good “learning experience” and now I look forward to doing more of it. Regardless of the poor results, it has just made me more excited about loading more BP and working at getting better!
At least now, I have had the experience of loading and shooting BP cartridges. My reluctance or worrying about it are gone! I look forward to loading more up, only next time, there will be a larger quantity! Twenty-five cartridges was just enough to “whet” a person’s appetite!
Like any new load, you have to learn how it shoots out of you pistol. Now that I have my feet wet, I can get down to business and work on my sight picture and how the cartridge is going to shoot out of the New Vaquero. I have no doubt that after a few hundred rounds, I will be more acquainted with the POA and the POI and be able to at least hit an area equal to “central mass” at 25 yards or so. Others could probably do much better but at my age and with my vision, I’ll be happy if I can become consistent and tighten the groups up. Plus, I have other bullet designs that I can play with - WC, SWC, different bullet weights, etc.
A few things I will mention . . . .
I found the “nickel” casings to work out well. After shooting, I de-primed them and tossed them into a container of hot soapy water. I washed and rinsed them well and put them on a towel to dry. I don’t have a tumbler but I can see one in the future as I think it would help to clean the casings better.
My cylinder pin was lubricated with the BP lube that I use. After twenty-five cartridges being fired, there was no “binding” and it turned just as good as it did before starting to shoot. I was concerned about the fouling effect on it but I believe it would have been good for another 100 rounds or more.
When I cleaned the pistol, I found no evidence of “leading” so the paste wax/alox and the BP lube must have done their jobs. I have a feeling these bullets were traveling slow enough that it wouldn't be much of an issue anyway.
Clean up of the New Vaquero was very easy and no harder than cleaning up a Cap and Ball revolver.
If you are reading this and have never loaded BP cartridges but have thought about, try it! It’s no harder than loading smokeless loads and you will be amazed at the fun you will have. Follow the “rules” for loading BP cartridges and make sure they are “compressed loads”. You’ll be surprised at the smile you will have on your face when you shoot them, see and smell the smoke and realize the sense of accomplishment.
There are lots of experienced folks on here who can help you out. I greatly appreciate all of the help I was given when I asked "dumb questions"! LOL Sometimes a person just needs a “friendly nudge” to give something new a try. You won’t regret it and you’ll find a whole new aspect of the shooting hobby that is enjoying and fulfilling!
As I said in my thread title . . . . shooting these is just way too much fun!
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