BP cartridge reloading and powder cards

Doc Hoy

New member
Guys,

As you may recall, I openned the BP cartridge reloading door some time ago.

I initially loaded 35 grains of 777 into the .45 LC rounds I was reloading, only to find that the round made the shooting experience a little too emotional.

So I backed off to 28 meaning that I needed filler and an overpowder card.

You also know that I will squeeze a nickel until the buffalo s - - ts.

So I made a cutter to cut my own over powder cards. It is just like Dixie's wad punch, but I use it in a drill press and it did not cost me 14.00 plus shipping.

I was concerned that the card might be remaining with the projectile long enough to effect the bullet's path to the target. I wanted to know when the cards were separating from the cornmeal. I figured I could tell this by knowing how far the cards went downrange. I shoot in a mowed field and things are hard to find.

So I make my cards from irridescent poster board. They show up like a ruby in a goats a -- --.

After about two hundred rounds, I did not find any cards more than ten feet downrange.
 
After lubing I wipe the base of the bullet. With the same punch I use for the wad card I also punch out news paper. Paper between bullet & wad. But I don't think you should worry about the wad sticking to the base unless you are shooting longer ranges.
 
So I make my cards from irridescent poster board. They show up like a ruby in a goats a -- --.
I love it. I absolutely love it.:cool:

Doc, you are da man.

I'm heading off to the dry goods store to buy some red flannel for patch material right now.
 
Black Spot

I am going to have to defer to the ones who have more experience.

For me a wad would not likely work because when I make wads I make them from old hats and the felt is not as thick as others on the forum use. So I'd have to use two or three of them to take up the space in the cardtridge.
 
I'd be afraid....

...That the filler, whatever it is would make its way back through the powder, and reduce the effectiveness of the powder charge. My rounds stay loaded for as much as three weeks before the get into to revolver.

I just figure the card as a way of keeping the filler and powder separate.
 
The problem with a lubed wad in cartridges is the chance of fouling the powder with the lube. If the bullets that you're loading have a lube groove and the proper lube in the groove, then a lubed wad would simply be an added expense.
 
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