|
Post by shootist---Gary on Nov 26, 2020 14:53:02 GMT -7
I finally loaded 2 rounds of smokeless powder to test, for my 1884 .45-70 Trapdoor that was made in 1887, using 29 gr. of IMR 4198 behind Bullshop's 500 gr. Government cast bullet, with a 2" x 2" piece of single ply toilet tissue pressed inside the case with a pencil eraser, to hold the powder near the primer, behind the bullet. I recently bought an old Ideal hand loading tool chambered for the 500 gr. round nosed bullet, so, I tried it out. It worked perfectly. I only have a very limited area to shoot, as the high water levels in Lake Erie have pushed the creek behind my home. half way up into my back yard. I set my target against a tree at the edge of the yard, that my rangefinder said was 41 yds. I stood in my garage doorway, using a stepladder for a rest. Aiming for the center of the bull, my first shot hit 5 1/2" H, & 3 1/2" left of POA. The 2nd shot, POA was at bottom center of the target, & it hit 7 1/2" H, 1" above center of bullseye. The recoil was approximately about the same as shooting 68 weighed gr. of 2F Goex with the same bullet. As for cleaning, after firing 2 shots in 49 degree temp., the first patch came out black, slightly tacky & moist. The second patch was not very bad at all, & the 3rd was almost clean. I think Daniel lubed them with Lotak, for BP. Now, I'll load about 25 rounds for deer season, hoping to only need 2 or 3. We are allowes up to 6 deer, only 1 antlered, & no more than 3 deer in any 1 county. If I get 1, that will be great, & 2 would be a bonus, that I can share with friends that aren't able to hunt anymore. I hit & ran over a doe last Saturday night, but I couldn't find her until the next morning in a ditch with bad water covering most of her, so I left it for the animals. I tried to add pictures, but it said that the file is too big.
|
|
|
Post by Bullshop on Nov 26, 2020 20:56:18 GMT -7
Gary please be very careful using tissue as a case filler. Be certain not to tamp it down on the powder leaving any air space between the tissue and the bullet. I learned the hard way by ringing the chamber on an original trap door carbine. I used a card wad pressed down on the powder with a 200gn SWC bullet intended for 45 acp. The load shot great and I hunted grouse with it for a short while until I noticed extraction becoming difficult. At that point there was a ring in the chamber precisely at the point where the bullet base was in a loaded and chambered round. I would not want to hear of any such bad news from you. When needed I now use only Styrofoam packing popcorn and fill the case so that when the bullet is seated the Styrofoam is slightly compressed. This makes a compressible filler working just as a shotgun shot cup wad does on ignition cushioning the blow the the bullet base eliminating the possibility of a ringed chamber. Maybe this warning is not needed but if I hadn't and heard bad news from you I would feel just terrible so you see it just of selfishness so I wont feel bad. Luv ya Brother !
|
|
|
Post by shootist---Gary on Nov 27, 2020 0:36:51 GMT -7
Thank you for the information. There was no sign of any case expansion, or gas blow by with the 2 rounds that I fired. I only put enough pressure on the pencil, while twisting it to put 1 ply against the powder, then let the bullet push the rest in until the tool crimped the end of the case. Some of the bullets will turn in the case, but will not move in or out with my fingers. The over all length is the same for all 20 that I assembled tonight. How do I post pictures? When I was going to do an attachment, it said that my file was too large. I was going to do 1 at a time, but that didn't work either.
|
|
|
Post by Bullshop on Nov 27, 2020 8:41:29 GMT -7
This is BS Mom - i don't really know how to explain how to post a picture - it is a pain! for me I have to go to my picture on the computer first - then to a screenshot with the program - the post the screenshot - i hope it is easier with a phone - because of the screenshot ability, but I do not know, as I do not have a phone -- maybe you can send me a pciture on FB or email and I can then post it here,... i don't know! sorry to not be of more help.
|
|
|
Post by missionary on Nov 27, 2020 15:20:37 GMT -7
I do agree .... first the filler. Only filler I have good confidence with a solid mass type and only in straight wall cases. Cream of Wheat (COW) or a wad stack are my first choice. Although Dan kindly mentioned the packing peanuts twisted into the case which sounds like a good one. I have used a double caliber tissue (TP) which I believe gets consumed on Ignition over fast powders like Red Dot.
Pictures I an do the but every time I just fuddle around until something works. My photos are in my putter so maybe that makes it easier...
|
|