How to load a terrible twister

[tank mechanic]

I bought a black powder pistol kit awhile back and finally put it together the other day. There are no instructions on how to load it in the kit.

It is a double barrel .36 caliber Terrible Twister. I bought some .36 caliber lead balls, some #10 percussion caps, a jug of Pyrodex and some .015 wadding. I also bought a little measuring device that measures the grains of powder.

I have only shot a bp firearm once before and it was loaded for me. Can I get some advice on how to load it?

Also is newspaper a sufficient wadding or should I stick with the patches I bought?

 

[Donny]

Twister kit

Not a 100% sure but I have the same pistol. Over under twist barrel derringer in .36, right? Anyway, I worked my way up to 17 grains of 777 under a patched .350 diameter lead ball. I can easily penitrate a 1 inch thick pine board with that load. Chronied ballistics not very impressive but I'm not going to carry it as a self defense weapon. With Pyrodex or real black powder I'd start with 15 grains and move up to 20 grains max. Don't expect much in the way of accuracy as it is a very close quarters kind of deal. Be safe and good luck.

Don

 

[BlackNet]

Sounds like you are in for a treat here, possibly a nightmare as well.

First flag is the caliber. If the bore is .36 and your ammo is .36 and patches is .015 then .36 + .015 = .375 which is larger than the bore is, that's not going to fit, not easily anyway. A trick here is measure the bore then fit the ball and patch to match.

 

[tank mechanic]

I just tried the patches with the .36 cal lead ball and like Blacknet said, it won't fit. I will go out and buy some .35 cal lead balls.

Yes it is the over under pistol. I am not expecting much either out of this excursion into the world of black powder. I will be surprised if I shoot it more than a couple times.

I just thought I should shoot it after going through the effort of putting it together.

 

[BlackNet]

nono

Easier way. go get you some cigarette papers.

This is cigarette paper with 30 grains of powder and a .490 round ball inside.

All you need to do is tear the end off and dump it down the barrel. the paper is way thin plus provides wadding and the like. it's also super funny to watch it go flying out the end of the barrel and flaming at times.

You can also not put the ball in it and break open the pouch, drop it down the bore and toss in the bare lead balls you have and just tamp that in place. the paper will help seat it and it does work wonderfully as well.

few other cavets to watch for. mark the ramrod you are using on an EMPTY barrel. Then load one charge and mark it again. This is your safety marks and if you are ever loading and they dont line up then you have something wrong and it could pose a safety hazard. Things like fouling, bore damage, ball/patch size problems, obstructions and who knows what else can cause that.

I also use a bore inspection light quite often. You drop it down the bore and can see everything including the rifling.

 

[BHP FAN]

I've had the Classic Arms over and under twister before...no way do you want over twenty grains in that gun,especially 3F Triple Seven,which is noticably hotter than 3F Goex.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Muzzle is pointed in a safe direction at all times. Gun is not capped.

Make sure the barrel is clean and dry.

Pour in a measured charge of powder. Never pour directly from the flask or horn. Rather, pour into a powder measure and from the powder measure into the barrel.

Insert filler or wad.

Insert ball. If the ball is undersized, you can use a patch to compensate. You can also use the nitrated paper cartridge too.

After both barrels are loaded, cap the gun.

 

[Donny]

twister

The twister is not a revolver and it doesn't take revolver balls,wads or fillers or paper cartridges. A .350 diameter ball,.010 or .015 patch and 15 to 20 grains of 3f black powder or Pyrodex P and a cap and your good to go. I don't shoot mine often but enjoy it when I do.

Don

 

[BHP FAN]

Donny's right,and got the powder charge right as well.

 

[Macmac]

maybe silk from a Salvation Army store in the form of a shirt for 50 cents will make patching?

I run a long gun and use silk so i can run .395 round ball on a 40 cal gun. I am looking for all the grain weight in a round ball I can get for hunting, and the weight difference is a lot stepping down to a .390 rb.