my Shoulder hurts just looking at that monster
I used to clean my 50 cal BP front stuffer rifle next to the camp fire with hot soapy water, then rinse with boiling water. The barrel was hot and dried almost instantly, then a patch with oil down the bore, and wipe down the outside with an oily rag. NEVER a spec of rust. HOT water is the key.
kje54, the title of this thread, "I've Never Handloaded Before" is a little misleading. If you've loaded BP muzzleloaders, you already know the basics. Loading BP cartridges is not all that different - you just have to at least partially resize the cases (so they'll hold the bullets firmly) and you prime before putting the powder in. The principle of not leaving dead air space between your powder charge and your bullet is the same, as is the principle that the exact amount of black powder used is unimportant.
Maybe I should have said I've never handloaded metallic cartridges before. I've loaded hundreds of paper cartridges where the primer was the percussion cap placed on the nipple last, just before firing. Also being a reenactor probably 90% of those were simply powder cartridges as event organizers and fellow reenactors take a dim view of live rounds being used at said events.......... The other 10% constituted range rounds and fake rounds (filled with sand) for display purposes.kje54, the title of this thread, "I've Never Handloaded Before" is a little misleading. If you've loaded BP muzzleloaders, you already know the basics. Loading BP cartridges is not all that different - you just have to at least partially resize the cases (so they'll hold the bullets firmly) and you prime before putting the powder in. The principle of not leaving dead air space between your powder charge and your bullet is the same, as is the principle that the exact amount of black powder used is unimportant.
Been doing some more research on BP loads and yes, supposedly Pyrodex RS is what is recommended but I have read any Pyrodex (other than large pellets) will work. Supposedly you load the cartridge the same way you would if using real black powder.
Allow me to reiterate: learn the lingo and proper procedures, first.
By your own example. I gave it back to you in "Geekenese" but, my suggestion still gets poo-poo'ed and ignored. So be it.
Stuff it full, clamp on a bullet, seat it until you hear the "crunch" and crimp it hard so it doesn't move, then go to the range and let'er fly.
Sure! Pyrodex will work - at least it works in my .45-110, so I'd bet dollars to donuts it will work in a .45-70.
Mostly I was just thinking of a way to use up the pyrodex since I picked it up when there was no BP to be had and hate to see it go to waste just sitting there... I prefer Black but I'll try out both types... Thanks!Sure! Pyrodex will work - at least it works in my .45-110, so I'd bet dollars to donuts it will work in a .45-70.
It's been a while since I used Pyrodex in my BPCR, but it seems like it compresses more than genuine black powder. Just like with black powder though, make sure there's no dead air space left in your case after your bullet is seated.
I like real black powder in my BPCR. So I do the opposite - I use Pyrodex for my muzzle loader, and save my real black powder for my .45-110. But don't let my personal preference sway you.
New Mexico.
