Want to buy a powder measure, powder flask and a capper.

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Kynoch

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I would like to buy my first powder measure, powder flask and capper and would like some advice.

* I want a measure that has a built-in funnel (that much I do know.) Would you recommend a Traditions (also sold by Cabela's as their house brand), Cash, TVA or other brand?

* I shoot single-shot muzzleloading rifles and pistols. Which capper would you suggest? A "snail", "in-line"/"straint-line", "famous rifle", "star 7" or other cappers?

* I have absolutely no idea what sort of flask, other than I want it to work well.

Any input will be appreciated. Thanks.
 
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I don't think you can go wrong with the Cash products. I have used their cappers for years and they work great and have enough capacity you don't have to fill them often. Their powder measures are well made too.
 
The Cash products are excellent, I've heavily used some of his stuff for years now and never a problem. If anything they're over built.
 
One detail that some take a moment to learn: The "measure" on a "flask" is the length of the tube that screws into the actual container of powder. These interchange and you select the length of tube that gives you the correct powder-drop.

To make it clear for those not understanding how this works, you turn the flask so the tube is down, put your finger over the end of the tube, trigger the thumb-lever that opens the valve in the flask, and shake. The powder fills the tube and is stopped by your finger. The close the valve, turn it so the tube is up and remove your finger. Then pour that into your chamber.

So... do you need a "Measure" and a "Flask"? Probably not. You just need a flask that has interchangable tubes, as our esteemed Pard-Elhombreconnonombre states above.

Cappers? Diffrent ones work better or worse on different arms. The single shot stuff is the easist to cap, so pick one and enjoy. When you get into revolvers things get a bit tighter.



Willie

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Willie Sutton said:
One detail that some take a moment to learn: The "measure" on a "flask" is the length of the tube that screws into the actual container of powder. These interchange and you select the length of tube that gives you the correct powder-drop.

To make it clear for those not understanding how this works, you turn the flask so the tube is down, put your finger over the end of the tube, trigger the thumb-lever that opens the valve in the flask, and shake. The powder fills the tube and is stopped by your finger. The close the valve, turn it so the tube is up and remove your finger. Then pour that into your chamber.

So... do you need a "Measure" and a "Flask"? Probably not. You just need a flask that has interchangable tubes, as our esteemed Pard-Elhombreconnonombre states above.

Cappers? Diffrent ones work better or worse on different arms. The single shot stuff is the easist to cap, so pick one and enjoy. When you get into revolvers things get a bit tighter.

Willie

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Click to expand...

:rolleyes:
 
I think you need a measure to check the spouts on the flask..

I to am a Ted Cash fan. I shoot cowboy and have used the same snail capper for several years. I think I would go for an inline rather than the snail for a single shot.
 
I think you need a measure to check the spouts on the flask..


Uh.... <sigh>... no.


The "Measure" is "Just another spout". Checking one volume against another is really meaningless when neither is particularly tracable to some standard.

IF you wanted to measure with a micrometer and cut with a chainsaw, you "could" use a scale to check your spout OR measure, but why bother? This is all pretty rough math to start with. And that 40 grain spout will toss different *weights* based on the powder but will toss the *40 grain volume* pretty accurately. That's all that counts.

Trick for those interested: Buy long spouts and file them shorter as needed to fine tune your loads "if desired". Frankly, they come just right if you buy a few assorted and just change them out as needed.


Willie

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^^ From the above, the Pedersoli 6 pack of spouts and a flask of your choice is a good bet. I use the Pedersoli tubular brass one with complete satisfaction.


Willie

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Well like many of us, been there done that. Have three powder flasks, the entire range of spouts that fit them, plus funnel and two different cappers and numerous styles of powder measures. Now days I pre load 100 or so tubes sold by Winchester Sutler, with one of the dippers from my 15 dipper set, by Lee precision, topped with a ball. Caps are placed with my fingers.

Still carry one of the flasks and one of the measures, in the range kit, plus spare balls just in case the 100 or so preloads are not enough.

Got a drawer full of "accouterments" I never use.:rolleyes:

Seems like half the fun of shooting is acquiring the "junk that goes with it.
 
whughett said:
Well like many of us, been there done that. Have three powder flasks, the entire range of spouts that fit them, plus funnel and two different cappers and numerous styles of powder measures. Now days I pre load 100 or so tubes sold by Winchester Sutler, with one of the dippers from my 15 dipper set, by Lee precision, topped with a ball. Caps are placed with my fingers.

Still carry one of the flasks and one of the measures, in the range kit, plus spare balls just in case the 100 or so preloads are not enough.

Got a drawer full of "accouterments" I never use.:rolleyes:

Seems like half the fun of shooting is acquiring the "junk that goes with it.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about that. Amazon has very inexpensive plastic test tubes with stoppers. Once I work up a load, it would be cool to pre-load one weekday evening for a weekend of shooting...
 
Check out Winchester Sutler. Their soft plastic tubes are great. No static, non cling and the bullet of your choice is used as a stopper. Comes in two sizes for pistol or rifle. premeasure your charge insert the bullet and either bag or box. At the range squeeze the top, the ball pops out and you pour the powder in directly from the tube.
I also like it as I can keep track of the number of shots.

I made wooden ammo boxes that hold 48 rounds, both 44/45 or 32/36.
 
I was thinking about that. Amazon has very inexpensive plastic test tubes with stoppers. Once I work up a load, it would be cool to pre-load one weekday evening for a weekend of shooting...


That's LOTS more work than simply using a powder measure the way it was designed to be used....


Willie

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I have used the same capper and flask for a variety of guns with good results. I prefer to use a measure but I do know that the spouts work just as well, and the entire reason I use a measure is that I learned to shoot using it. I also have an unexplained nervousness about sweat or oil from my hands screwing up a charge. My capper is an inline. My flask is a brass one shaped like a guitar body kinda, it's a little unusual which is why I like it, and my measure is one of the adjustable brass tubes sold under many names with the pivoting funnel on top. I am in need of a new flask soon to keep shot in and am planning on buying another one similar to what I have now, and another measure to use for measuring shot going into the gun.
 
I'm with Willie on the flask issue.

Nose down, press the lever, release the lever, nose up, and pour. Not much reason to complicate that. I have a few of the reproduction copper flasks and a set of spouts of various capacities. The spouts were Pedersoli brand, not sure about the flasks but thet have the same threads.

As for cappers, I have tried a few and the only style I like are the ones shaped like a finger and thumb. You use them to reach into the round medal tin the caps come in, extract a single cap, transport it to the nipple, orient it, and push the cap onto the nipple. The other styles seem to drop more caps and often they don't even fit where needed.
 
I've also made the purchases: flasks, spouts, measures, speed loaders, etc. These days I preload the speed loaders at home (I use the soft plastic like the ones Winchester Sutler sells - don't recall where I got them). Having done both, I don't agree that it's any more work than carting all the stuff and loading at the range.

I will opine that more than one volume measure is just frustrating because there's no calibration and no traceable standard, so one measure's 30 grains is another measure's 35 grains....

A variable measure is better, in my opinion, than a set of spouts because 1) it's just one piece, not 6 or 7, and 2) you have more choices available.
 
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