I have a Ruger #1S in .45-70, and while I'm waiting for my Rolling Block Creedmoor project to be finished, have decided to try some blackpowder loads in the #1. I can get 60 grains of Goex FFG into a magnum rifle primed Remington Nickel-plated case, using a modified aluminum ski pole as a drop tube. I loaded an Ox Yoke Wonder Wad under a Meister cast 405gr bullet, slightly compressing the blackpowder charge.
Range day with the Ruger and the blackpowder loads was rather fun. It's a really gentle push, as opposed to a sharp kick, even my 5'2" girlfriend shot off a dozen rounds. Off the bench at 50 yards, I had no problem keeping the rounds inside an inch, albeit way high of the bullseye. The wind was blowing the clouds of smoke straight back into our faces, we looked like miners after 50 rounds.
The powder fouling stayed soft and really didn't start to crud up the bore until after about 10 rounds. A wet patch with Ed's Red wiped the bore clean enough to resume shooting. After about 30 rounds, I had to use a copper bore brush to clean out the hard fouling that began to accumulate an inch or so from the muzzle. But even then it wasn't really that big a deal, the whole shooting session was literally a blast.
As well-lubed as some of these big cast bullets are, what trouble could I expect if I skipped the over-powder wad in lieu of even more black powder? I experienced zero leading in the Ruger, will this change? Or is the wad actually acting as a gas check/wiper, cleaning the fouling as the bullet goes down the barrel?
Also, using my Lyman cast bullet handbook, I loaded some duplex loads as an attempt at perhaps cleaner burning charges and less cleaning between rounds. I stayed on the conservative side of the load data, even though the Ruger falling block is one of the strongest actions. I get to try these out this coming Sunday, I'll report back and let folks here know how well they worked.
Range day with the Ruger and the blackpowder loads was rather fun. It's a really gentle push, as opposed to a sharp kick, even my 5'2" girlfriend shot off a dozen rounds. Off the bench at 50 yards, I had no problem keeping the rounds inside an inch, albeit way high of the bullseye. The wind was blowing the clouds of smoke straight back into our faces, we looked like miners after 50 rounds.
The powder fouling stayed soft and really didn't start to crud up the bore until after about 10 rounds. A wet patch with Ed's Red wiped the bore clean enough to resume shooting. After about 30 rounds, I had to use a copper bore brush to clean out the hard fouling that began to accumulate an inch or so from the muzzle. But even then it wasn't really that big a deal, the whole shooting session was literally a blast.
As well-lubed as some of these big cast bullets are, what trouble could I expect if I skipped the over-powder wad in lieu of even more black powder? I experienced zero leading in the Ruger, will this change? Or is the wad actually acting as a gas check/wiper, cleaning the fouling as the bullet goes down the barrel?
Also, using my Lyman cast bullet handbook, I loaded some duplex loads as an attempt at perhaps cleaner burning charges and less cleaning between rounds. I stayed on the conservative side of the load data, even though the Ruger falling block is one of the strongest actions. I get to try these out this coming Sunday, I'll report back and let folks here know how well they worked.