A reloading question dealing with black powder safety

[cjwils]

I know that black powder is less stable than smokeless powder, but can black powder withstand sharp shocks without igniting?

Here is where this question comes from: I have acquired some recently made ammo loaded with black powder. (It is revolver cowboy ammo.) I don’t want to shoot it because I don’t want to deal with cleaning up my guns after using black powder, nor deal with the risk of corrosion. Can I safely use an inertia bullet puller with cartridges loaded with black powder ammo? If so, I could easily reload the cases with smokeless powder, and probably even use the same bullets.

I have previously used an inertia bullet puller with cartridges loaded with smokeless powder. No problem, except it is a lot of work.

 

[Electrod47]

How many rounds? But, anyway, the clean up could be a good lesson. I'd shot them off. Though, your question is interesting. I'm waiting to hear some thoughts also.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have pulled BPCR bullets without blowing anything up.
Be advised that if the rounds were well loaded with the powder charge settled and compressed, it will be caked solid and you will have to dig it out. But most revolver ammo is not loaded with any more compression than seating the bullet, and the powder may come out easier. Whack one and see.

 

[EricBu]

I know that black powder is less stable than smokeless powder, but can black powder withstand sharp shocks without igniting?

Here is where this question comes from: I have acquired some recently made ammo loaded with black powder. (It is revolver cowboy ammo.) I don’t want to shoot it because I don’t want to deal with cleaning up my guns after using black powder, nor deal with the risk of corrosion. Can I safely use an inertia bullet puller with cartridges loaded with black powder ammo? If so, I could easily reload the cases with smokeless powder, and probably even use the same bullets.

I have previously used an inertia bullet puller with cartridges loaded with smokeless powder. No problem, except it is a lot of work.

If you know the provenance of those rounds, and you trust them....cleaning your guns is far far less work than breaking them down. Simple Green, or warm soapy water is all you need to clean it. Dry it out with a little compressed air, and when it's completely dry, oil it as you normally would.

 

[Mosin77]

Black powder is quite safe. Especially one cartridge worth. Where you need to be concerned is any kind of spark (electrical motor, static electricity, lit cigarette, etc) when you’re in close proximity to a sizeable amount of the stuff. This is where making it can get dicey. But loading or unloading you shouldn’t have any issues unless you’re exceedingly careless.

 

[J-Bar]

I have used an inertia hammer to pull bullets from .38, .357, and .45 Colt cartridges. No problem other than BP cartridges are usually firmly crimped so you may have to whack them a couple dozen times to get the job done. If you don’t have a single action revolver, find a buddy who does and enjoy the smoke!! Cowboy guns are easier to clean than double action revolvers.

 

[reddog81]

If they can withstand the recoil of a gun being fired I’d have to assume the bullet puller would be OK.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, cleaning guns after firing Black Powder loads is much easier than you may think. Jim in post #3 explained it very well so I won't repeat it. Seriously, just shoot them and have some fun. Have some fun...

 

[cjwils]

Here is the OP again. I tried two cartridges with my inertia bullet puller, just to see what would happen. They must have had a very minimal crimp, because each bullet came out with only two smacks on my concrete garage floor. Most of the powder came out with the bullet. Remaining powder came out with one circular swipe with a toothpick. Someday I will proceed to do the rest of the box so I can reload them.

For those of you who suggested that I go ahead and shoot them, I am sorry guys, but I don't want the possibility that some remaining powder residue might corrode my 100 year old Colt.

 

[higgite]

I know that black powder is less stable than smokeless powder, but can black powder withstand sharp shocks without igniting?

Here is where this question comes from: I have acquired some recently made ammo loaded with black powder. (It is revolver cowboy ammo.) I don’t want to shoot it because I don’t want to deal with cleaning up my guns after using black powder, nor deal with the risk of corrosion. Can I safely use an inertia bullet puller with cartridges loaded with black powder ammo? If so, I could easily reload the cases with smokeless powder, and probably even use the same bullets.

I have previously used an inertia bullet puller with cartridges loaded with smokeless powder. No problem, except it is a lot of work.

You might want to also post this on the Blackpowder Forum. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/blackpowder.12/

 

[Mark_Mark]

You might want to also post this on the Blackpowder Forum. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/blackpowder.12/

Yes! BP section is my new home. Post this question there and the experts will convince you to shoot BP out your 100yo Colt, because they do it on the daily

let ask @hawg

 

[Rule3]

Amazing that folks suggest shooting someone else's black powder loads, but heaven forbid it was smokeless powder loads??

 

[Rule3]

Yes! BP section is my new home. Post this question there and the experts will convince you to shoot BP out your 100yo Colt, because they do it on the daily

let ask @hawg

Do you fish? If not you should take up fishing great way to spend time.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Do you fish? If not you should take up fishing great way to spend time.

I do! I carry a full setup with 3 travel rods, 4 reels, in my Prius. I offend pull over in Seattle and fish off the road for 10-20-30 minutes. Good times!

 

[EricBu]

Amazing that folks suggest shooting someone else's black powder loads, but heaven forbid it was smokeless powder loads??

Well, honestly, it's a bit safer. Would be really hard to load enough BP in a Colt Case to damage the gun, lol. The biggest risk would probably be a dud that stuck the bullet in the barrel, so bring a brass rod with you to the range!

 

[EricBu]

I do! I carry a full setup with 3 travel rods, 4 reels, in my Prius. I offend pull over in Seattle and fish off the road for 10-20-30 minutes. Good times!

You offend here too, not just in Seattle.

 

[Mark_Mark]

You offend here too, not just in Seattle.

I’m hanging a huge American flag on my house today! Seen every flag here except our own! that should offend someone

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Well, honestly, it's a bit safer. Would be really hard to load enough BP in a Colt Case to damage the gun, lol. The biggest risk would probably be a dud that stuck the bullet in the barrel, so bring a brass rod with you to the range!

The biggest risk is that the person loading them didn't know to fill all air gaps and left a 1/8" of air on top of an unpacked BP charge. That's called a pipe bomb. Bad juju.

 

[Mark_Mark]

The biggest risk is that the person loading them didn't know to fill all air gaps and left a 1/8" of air on top of an unpacked BP charge. That's called a pipe bomb. Bad juju.

Not according to the BP guys: Black Powder Air Gap Myth

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...dangerous-for-black-powder-cartridges.909536/

 

[EricBu]

The biggest risk is that the person loading them didn't know to fill all air gaps and left a 1/8" of air on top of an unpacked BP charge. That's called a pipe bomb. Bad juju.

Whenever I hear stories about how dangerous BP is, I always think about when I was 12 or 13, and my grandfather telling me the same thing, while he poured BP out of a tobacco pouch into a Colt case until it looked right, next to a campfire, with a marlboro hanging out of his mouth.

 

[gwpercle]

I know that black powder is less stable than smokeless powder, but can black powder withstand sharp shocks without igniting?

Here is where this question comes from: I have acquired some recently made ammo loaded with black powder. (It is revolver cowboy ammo.) I don’t want to shoot it because I don’t want to deal with cleaning up my guns after using black powder, nor deal with the risk of corrosion. Can I safely use an inertia bullet puller with cartridges loaded with black powder ammo? If so, I could easily reload the cases with smokeless powder, and probably even use the same bullets.

I have previously used an inertia bullet puller with cartridges loaded with smokeless powder. No problem, except it is a lot of work.

Pulling with inertia puller will be safe ... impact will not cause detonation .
If the case isn't full of black powder you can seat the bullet just a little deeper , breaking the crimp and loosening the cases grasp on the bullet ,,, makes them easier to pull .
If full of powder , rolling the neck / crimp area between two narrow steel bars is supposed to loosen the crimp also . Use firm whacks on a solid surface , don't go all Magilla Gorilla on the puller ...3-5 medium whacks beats 2 heavy slammers ... watch where the bullet is while pulling and go easy on the last one ... if not , powder flies everywhere on the last hit when it's a heavy blow !
Gary

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Not according to the BP guys: Black Powder Air Gap Myth

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...dangerous-for-black-powder-cartridges.909536/

You know what that means: you have to try it.

 

[Mark_Mark]

You know what that means: you have to try it.

Ooooh heck no!!!!

nothing scares me more than Holly Black

 

[higgite]

The biggest risk is that the person loading them didn't know to fill all air gaps and left a 1/8" of air on top of an unpacked BP charge. That's called a pipe bomb. Bad juju.

Not according to the BP guys: Black Powder Air Gap Myth

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...dangerous-for-black-powder-cartridges.909536/

And I repeat...

You might want to also post this on the Blackpowder Forum. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/blackpowder.12/

 

[Mosin77]

Amazing that folks suggest shooting someone else's black powder loads, but heaven forbid it was smokeless powder loads??

It’s hard to mess up BP. Just fill the case full and set the bullet on top of it. The biggest real risk is that your lead bullet isn’t lubed, is lubed incorrectly, is sized incorrectly or too hard, or the lube is just dried up after years, and you end up with leading in the barrel to clean out.

You couldn’t fit enough black in the case to cause an “unsafe” load.