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Calling all Experts
- Thread starter Doc Hoy
- Start date
Green newbie
Doc Hoy,
the first time I loaded BP cartridge was in 1995. I had been muzzleloading for 3 years and had heard that the 44-40 was originally a BP round, so I bought a Ruger Vaquero, and armed with only the knowledge that the bullet must be against the powder, I loaded a box of 44-40 with BP, surprised that I could not get 40gr of powder in the case. I used a RNFP with standard "blue" smokeless lube on it, with no over-powder card.
When I went to the range, I waited till nobody was there, found a wooden pistol rest that had a half circle cut out, put that over my wrist to shield the gun from the rest of me, figuring that at most, I would lose a hand...
Closed my eyes and pulled the trigger.
Now I can't stop.
I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, and in fact, couldn't figure out why my original Springfield Trapdoor and Pedersoli Sharps 45-70 were leading so bad after several shots. Took me nearly 5 years to realize that BP needs a different lube in cartridge guns.
So if you think you are a newbie, don't worry, you're starting out at a much better place than I did.
Cheers,
Chowmi
Doc Hoy,
the first time I loaded BP cartridge was in 1995. I had been muzzleloading for 3 years and had heard that the 44-40 was originally a BP round, so I bought a Ruger Vaquero, and armed with only the knowledge that the bullet must be against the powder, I loaded a box of 44-40 with BP, surprised that I could not get 40gr of powder in the case. I used a RNFP with standard "blue" smokeless lube on it, with no over-powder card.
When I went to the range, I waited till nobody was there, found a wooden pistol rest that had a half circle cut out, put that over my wrist to shield the gun from the rest of me, figuring that at most, I would lose a hand...
Closed my eyes and pulled the trigger.
Now I can't stop.
I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, and in fact, couldn't figure out why my original Springfield Trapdoor and Pedersoli Sharps 45-70 were leading so bad after several shots. Took me nearly 5 years to realize that BP needs a different lube in cartridge guns.
So if you think you are a newbie, don't worry, you're starting out at a much better place than I did.
Cheers,
Chowmi
F16
I have two hundred rounds to burn off.
(In addition to the hundred I made, I bought two boxes of Cowboy loads.)
I think I am going to try to go Sunday.
I am going to chrony the various bullets to see what I get.
I will probably never use cowboy loads again but I am going to chrony them too.
I remember the suggestion to take along a jug of soap water.
I have two hundred rounds to burn off.
(In addition to the hundred I made, I bought two boxes of Cowboy loads.)
I think I am going to try to go Sunday.
I am going to chrony the various bullets to see what I get.
I will probably never use cowboy loads again but I am going to chrony them too.
I remember the suggestion to take along a jug of soap water.
Results of the melt down of about 60 pounds of wheel weights
As I said the other day, I came up with a bucket of wheel weights which I thought was somewhere around sixty pounds worth.
It was a 5 gallon bucket about 40% full.
I separated out the stick on weights and smelted them separately. Then smelted the clip on weights.
Came up with about 13 pounds from stick on weights which should be relatively pure.
About 40 pounds of clip on weights which shold be somewhere around 95%.
There was about 5 pounds of zinc weights which would not melt in my furnace (Lee production pot)
And there was about ten pounds of junk which included all of the steel clips, valve stems, cigarette buts and muck.
Took me about six hours to ge through the process.
As I said the other day, I came up with a bucket of wheel weights which I thought was somewhere around sixty pounds worth.
It was a 5 gallon bucket about 40% full.
I separated out the stick on weights and smelted them separately. Then smelted the clip on weights.
Came up with about 13 pounds from stick on weights which should be relatively pure.
About 40 pounds of clip on weights which shold be somewhere around 95%.
There was about 5 pounds of zinc weights which would not melt in my furnace (Lee production pot)
And there was about ten pounds of junk which included all of the steel clips, valve stems, cigarette buts and muck.
Took me about six hours to ge through the process.