CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond or not covered by currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assumes any liability for any damage or injury resulting from the use of this information.
I spent months researching black powder loads for old H&R-style revolvers. I had a box of S&W smokeless powder shells that I couldn’t shoot. When I pulled the bullets, I found that the “preferred” load, 8 or 9 grains of Fffg almost completely filled the case, leaving only enough room to barely seat the .310 ball I replaced the bullets with. I didn’t have a set of dies and didn’t feel like spending the money so I didn’t reuse the pulled bullets. Not only that, some of the graybeards said that you should use a felt wad under a ball plus a dab of bore butter or similar. But, no room. What I did was buy new brass for S&W Long. This took the powder, wad, and ball and left room for the lubricant. I got the idea from the 7.62x38 Nagant cartridge, where the bullet is recessed in the case. I haven’t fired these yet, but I think the net effect will be less cleaning since the longer case will cover more of the inside of the cylinder. Balls were seated with a 1/4 inch dowel and a rawhide hammer. These are not for distance, but for short-range plinking.
I spent months researching black powder loads for old H&R-style revolvers. I had a box of S&W smokeless powder shells that I couldn’t shoot. When I pulled the bullets, I found that the “preferred” load, 8 or 9 grains of Fffg almost completely filled the case, leaving only enough room to barely seat the .310 ball I replaced the bullets with. I didn’t have a set of dies and didn’t feel like spending the money so I didn’t reuse the pulled bullets. Not only that, some of the graybeards said that you should use a felt wad under a ball plus a dab of bore butter or similar. But, no room. What I did was buy new brass for S&W Long. This took the powder, wad, and ball and left room for the lubricant. I got the idea from the 7.62x38 Nagant cartridge, where the bullet is recessed in the case. I haven’t fired these yet, but I think the net effect will be less cleaning since the longer case will cover more of the inside of the cylinder. Balls were seated with a 1/4 inch dowel and a rawhide hammer. These are not for distance, but for short-range plinking.