How much seating pressure do you use?
- Thread starter tpcollins
- Start date
I'm not sure but I don't think that a high amount of compression would hurt ignition or performance at all.
I thought that the important factor to be aware of with BH 209 was that it required a very tight seal which means using a sabot that fits tight in the bore.
With respect to that I would think that extra compression would help.
But performance would provide an indication as to whether extra compression is problematic at all.
I thought that the important factor to be aware of with BH 209 was that it required a very tight seal which means using a sabot that fits tight in the bore.
With respect to that I would think that extra compression would help.
But performance would provide an indication as to whether extra compression is problematic at all.
Well, well, finally I'm first at something. I hear all the advice about doing everything the same for muzzleloaders to ensure accuracy - including seating pressure.
But if you don't have a means to measure the actual force being used, how do you know if you're being consistent from load to load?
I have handles that screw into the sides that makes it easy to use.
A ramrod can also have a stop in place for the chosen compression depth which would seat the projectile at a fixed depth in the bore when rammed.
Another method is to simply mark the ramrod for the desired ramming depth.
These methods can promote a consistent ramming depth for a particular load,
but may not be quite as exact as when using a force gauge.
Another method is to simply mark the ramrod for the desired ramming depth.
These methods can promote a consistent ramming depth for a particular load,
but may not be quite as exact as when using a force gauge.
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I like the way you think !!
These days I mostly shoot for fun and hunting and not a big concern. ....
Be Safe !!!
Well, I'll give you credit for being first, "Lately" and for doing your best to be consistant. I recall, back in the 80's, some folks at Frienship, using a loading tool called a Kadooty, that was used for this purpose. I mark my range-rod but only refer to it as a confirmation. I mostly go by feel and technique and feel I am failry consistant. Some folks like to bounce their rods which reaslly doesn't tell you much. ....
These days I mostly shoot for fun and hunting and not a big concern. ....
Be Safe !!!
I use an external loader for my cylinders and when I lever down the ball/bullet into the chamber, I just press enough so that I know I am putting pressure on the lever, but not straining my arm muscles.
There is a region of pressure where you know you are exerting force, but your arm muscles are not shaking/tightening, a sign that you are REALLY exerting pressure.
I always load the bullet in that region. Never more. Compression does not really help in power and accuracy, and the only time I compress the ball a little more than extra is if I am using a full power charge in a .31 pistol.
There is a region of pressure where you know you are exerting force, but your arm muscles are not shaking/tightening, a sign that you are REALLY exerting pressure.
I always load the bullet in that region. Never more. Compression does not really help in power and accuracy, and the only time I compress the ball a little more than extra is if I am using a full power charge in a .31 pistol.
Years ago I built a spring loaded device out of PVC pipe that fit over my
ramrod and had a 35 lb. mark on it so I would know when I had excatcly
35 lbs of pressure on the powder. After a few years of use, I could tell by
feel when I reached that mark. So, didn't need it anymore. That was the era
when I was shooting rifle in National competition.
ramrod and had a 35 lb. mark on it so I would know when I had excatcly
35 lbs of pressure on the powder. After a few years of use, I could tell by
feel when I reached that mark. So, didn't need it anymore. That was the era
when I was shooting rifle in National competition.
It's a Chatillon force gauge that I bought it on Ebay a few years ago for about $25. It's threaded on both ends and I can push or pull on either end. It came in a nice wooded box with numerous attachments and 2 handles that screw into the sides. I think it would cost about $200 now days. I had an old bow stabilizer made out of nylon that I tapped and that end screws onto the gauge. And that is epoxied onto a T/C ramrod that I bought at Walmart after the season for $11 and I put a Spinjag on the bottom of it.
I convert BH209 volume to weight in grains which runs about 68 gr on my beam scale for 100 grains by volume and I weight every charge then. So I try to be repetitive in everything with my ML and a consistent seating pressure is just one. I wish I could acquire "the feel" to enable me to seat the sabot the exactly the same amount that you guys do but I'm not that good. So I cheat - I use a gauge.
bedbugbilly
New member
LOL - I also don't think I've ever heard of anyone going to this degree. Now it's got me wondering . . . . what's next? Perhaps the pressure used to place a cap on a nipple. . . .how many of you use "thumb pressure" as opposed to seating the cap with a claw hammer? The important thing is to make sure your ball/sabot/minie is seated on the powder charge . . . that' why I have my ramrod marked as a double check.
If I gave my gauge and ramrod setup to anyone to keep, do you think they'd use it or just let it collect dust in the closet?
If some of you have such a great touch, do you measure out your powder charges or just pour the correct amount needed into the palm of your hand? After all, I would think if you do it long enough, you would know the exact amount every time.
If some of you have such a great touch, do you measure out your powder charges or just pour the correct amount needed into the palm of your hand? After all, I would think if you do it long enough, you would know the exact amount every time.
Attitude and Effort
It's been said that an idea, is only as good as the time it takes for someone to tell you otherwize. If you feel comfortable with it and like it, ignore those that would not use it. ...
Give yourself some credit and;
Be Safe !!!
There is nothing wrong with your set up and there would be more uses for it. I can't tell what the range is but I have a simular instrument that I use, for checking trigger pulls on SA and DA firearms. ..
It's been said that an idea, is only as good as the time it takes for someone to tell you otherwize. If you feel comfortable with it and like it, ignore those that would not use it. ...
Far from perfect or great but pretty darn close and comes from experience and perhaps, you are not very confident in your technique. As far as responding to the rest, you already know the answer. ....
Give yourself some credit and;
Be Safe !!!