Swiss Powder compression

[jednorris]

I have read personal data and been told of very large charges of Black Powder being heavily compressed. By heavy, I mean what I estimate to be close to 3/4". I load Swiss 1-1/2 and been told that Swiss does NOT like compression, and do not compress it more than 1/4". What is reasonable compression?

[country gent]

In most of my rifles Swiss usually does best on fouling and accuracy with lighter compression around .030-.060. Olde Ensforde is next with liking .090-.120. And Goex is last liking up to 1/4" of compression.
Im currently shooting rifle in 38-55. 40-65, 45-70 and 45-90

[steveu]

What are you loading?

[jednorris]

I am loading a .38/55 C-Sharps "Ole Reliable" with a 335 Gr. Lyman bullet 1.13" long. Compressing it 1.00 plus a .30 wad, I can only get 39 Gr. of powder in the case. A buddy is shooting 49.0 Gr. with a similar length bullet and a load I read about with that bullet had 56.0 Gr. I do not know how they got there.

[indian joe]

I am loading a .38/55 C-Sharps "Ole Reliable" with a 335 Gr. Lyman bullet 1.13" long. Compressing it 1.00 plus a .30 wad, I can only get 39 Gr. of powder in the case. A buddy is shooting 49.0 Gr. with a similar length bullet and a load I read about with that bullet had 56.0 Gr. I do not know how they got there.

just checked my notes (I write loads on the wall above my presses) 41 grains FFF, juice box wad, 250 grain LEE -----its a magazine gun load .........
how they got 56 grains in is beyond me ?????

[steveu]

Are you using a drop tube or vibrating the case to settle the powder?

[Nobade]

55 gr. Fits if you drop tube it and use paper patched bullets that only seat .100 deep. That's how I run my H&R single shot.

[greyhawk]

55 gr. Fits if you drop tube it and use paper patched bullets that only seat .100 deep. That's how I run my H&R single shot.

full to the top huh

[Gunlaker]

You will just need to try it in your own rifle. Swiss 1.5 works well compressed for me. I never shoot for a particular compression value, but with many of the more recent lots, my loads end up in the 0.15 to 0.2 compressed. I have used more in some rifles if that's what it wanted.

Chris.

[Lead pot]

The amount of powder you get into the case depends on how fast you dump it through the drop tube. If you just dump it into the funnel you will get less than you would get if you trickle. I have drop tubs from 12" to 32" and I just use the 12" and get just as much into the case as using the 32".
I also taped an old beard trimmer on the tube for vibration and this gets another maybe a couple 1/10's gr more. I shoot nothing but PP and seat the bullet on a .06 wad .120" into the case onto of .128" compression with 65 grains of 2F Swiss for my .38-50 Hepburn. That case is 2.250" long just a little more then your .38-55. Also the brass your using will vary between different manufactures on how much you can get into it.
Slow your pour into the drop tube and see what you get.
Kurt

Attachment 340518

[jednorris]

After I put the load in the case then I lightly put my wad just inside the case mouth. I then put my loading block on top of my brass tumbler and let it run 3 - 4 minutes. I then finally seat my wad all the way down. I have always felt that was as good as I could get.

[Lead pot]

I would think with that much time vibrating on a tumbler it would turn the powder to dust.
But I never checked that so I cant say that happens.