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Blackpowder Shotgun Loads

Donld
I've acquired a couple of older European shotguns, a twelve and a sixteen gauge, both in very good condition and both apparently with Damascus barrels, and I need some load data for blackpowder or Pyrodex. I'll be using the Magtech brass shotgun hulls. I know that these are for use with felt wads, but is there any reason I can't use modern shot cups instead?
Thanks
Donld
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • Blckhrn
    Black powder is hotter than smokeless and will coat your bores with plastic. Some guys I talk w/ on a BP forum make shot cups out of dime rolls for the 12 ga. (I think), not sure how but I think they glue the hard cardboard wads at one end.

    Rule of thumb is equal volumes (approx) of powder to shot, assuming you're not trying to throw two ounces of lead. You should be able to find an old powder/shot measure on ebay, here or AA for about $10. They are a wooden handle with an adjustable cup on the end that will open to about an inch and a half. On either side of the adjustment there are scales for powder and shot. I'd be sure to start out low and work up gradually.

    york.bmp"You can build a man a fire and keep him warm for a couple hours or douse him with fuel oil and keep him warm the rest of his life"
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  • Donld
    Thanks for the reply, Blackhorn. I did find a site (Googling works!)that mentioned that blackpowder would melt plastic hulls, but hadn't thought about the same thing happening with plastic shot cups. Would Pyrodex do the same thing? I would really like to use the shot cups if at all possible as they are very convenient--and I have about 500 of them on hand. The dime rolls for the twelve sound intriguing and I'll give them a try.
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  • Blckhrn
    I've never used anything but BP. These guys are traditional shooters, they wouldn't know much about Pyrodex either but some good tips on BP. Looks like the other BP forum I awas in is gone, those guys knew the substitutes pretty well. I also was looking at some paper shotshells on Cheaperthandirt.com to shoot in modern shotguns and reload w/ BP. I do know that the shotgunners don't use anything plastic w/ BP

    http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/ubbthreads/myhome.php?Cat=

    york.bmp"You can build a man a fire and keep him warm for a couple hours or douse him with fuel oil and keep him warm the rest of his life"
    0
  • Blckhrn
    In the second item picture there is the type of measure I was referring to earlier. The first is tools to set primers, 12 and 16 ga.

    york.bmp"You can build a man a fire and keep him warm for a couple hours or douse him with fuel oil and keep him warm the rest of his life"
    0
  • Blckhrn
    Sorry, I forgot to paste the links

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7308&item=7143232507&rd=1

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=71120&item=7143664371&rd=1

    york.bmp"You can build a man a fire and keep him warm for a couple hours or douse him with fuel oil and keep him warm the rest of his life"
    0
  • Blckhrn
    Just found this. Scanned over it and it is for muzzle loaders but I don't think there is much difference between loads for them and the break action dbls.

    http://members.aye.net/~bspen/shotgun.html

    york.bmp"You can build a man a fire and keep him warm for a couple hours or douse him with fuel oil and keep him warm the rest of his life"
    0

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