Reloading Black Powder Cartridge

[UnionMillsNW]

Hey Folks,

I have an 1873 in 357Mag that I just love...and I think it would be really neat to start shooting black powder cartridges. But where do I start?

I want to be as DIY as possible: cast my own bullets, make my own powder, but where do I start?


When Winchester begain selling the 1873 they offered a reloading kit for $5.... so I guess I'm looking for a similar kit!

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[jj500]

Try here,very knowledgeable about what you are looking for. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?30-Black-Powder-Cartridge

 

[Certaindeaf]

Hey Folks,

I have an 1873 in 357Mag that I just love...and I think it would be really neat to start shooting black powder cartridges. But where do I start?

I want to be as DIY as possible: cast my own bullets, make my own powder, but where do I start?


When Winchester begain selling the 1873 they offered a reloading kit for $5.... so I guess I'm looking for a similar kit!

Make sure to clean it properly afterwards or it'll be destroyed in short order. Also, if you want to shoot it more than, I don't know, 30 rounds, shoot smokeless first and then the black powder.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Having owned a couple of Winchester '73's one original , one "replica"...and having shot black powder cartridges from both of them....

I can say that it was fun and a worthwhile experience...but as Certaindeaf states...make sure to clean all of the rifle....a Winchester '73's inner workings can hide a whole acre of gunk in short order.
Andy

 

[Certaindeaf]

Having owned a couple of Winchester '73's one original , one "replica"...and having shot black powder cartridges from both of them....

I can say that it was fun and a worthwhile experience...but as Certaindeaf states,,,make sure to clean all of the rifle....a Winchester '73's inner workings can hide a whole acre of gunk in short order.
Andy

Yep, it's much more than running a bore snake down the tube and thinking that'll do er.

 

[coop44]

Make your own black powder? First step, put me down as beneficiary on your life insurance. After that, good luck!

 

[Quirt Evans]

Using BP can be a lot of fun. The first rule of loading BP cartridges is NO AIR SPACE can be allowed,, you want ~1/16 in. minimum compression of the powder when you seat the bullets, and use a good crimp.
For initial cleaning, I'll share with you my "secret" solution that I started using about 20 years ago, and everything is easy to get at the market;
1, a 16oz. bottle of 90% or better Isopropyl Alcohol.
2, a 16oz. bottle of Murphy's Oil Soap.
3, a 16oz. bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide.
Mix them all together, now you have a cleaning solution that works great on both "real" BP, and the "synthetic" stuff like Pyrodex and Triple 7.
Keep a container of it handy while you're shooting to put your fired cases in, so later you can just rinse them off and toss into the tumbler.
Don't over-oil the guns, BP residue and gun oil make a real mess.

 

[Spitpatch]

Formula 409 eats blackpowder and pyrodex residue for breakfast.
Venturino swears by Vinegar Windex.

Not sure what the end-game is with loading .357 with black powder, but to each his own. (One more reason I'd have opted for the authenticity of a .44-40).

 

[ma96782]

If you have a "Cowboy Club" (aka: SASS Club) near you.....you could just get yourself down there and ask around. There are normally a good amount of BP shooters to help.

Aloha, Mark

PS....resources for your internet search pleasure.
More info on SASS is available at: SASS Wire Forum
and an overview of the sport can be found here: Captain Baylor's Ranger Camp

 

[ma96782]

When Winchester begain selling the 1873 they offered a reloading kit for $5.... so I guess I'm looking for a similar kit!

A basic Lee Loader kit could do it. WARNING: I don't know if it is OK for use with BP.

But, I wouldn't. Because I want production (a lot of ammo).

Aloha, Mark

PS.....I haven't seen one in .357 Mag but you could just shoot .38s. Hint: You might have to adjust your COAL to insure proper feeding in your .357 Mag rifle.

 

[ma96782]

BUT, But, but......how do I make more BP ammo faster?

Single Stage Press or Index press,

Or......

Aloha, Mark

 

[arakboss]

Hey Folks,

I have an 1873 in 357Mag that I just love...and I think it would be really neat to start shooting black powder cartridges. But where do I start?

I want to be as DIY as possible: cast my own bullets, make my own powder, but where do I start?


When Winchester begain selling the 1873 they offered a reloading kit for $5.... so I guess I'm looking for a similar kit!

Did you ever get together components to try this out? I am thinking about trying out some 38spl BP substitute loads in a junky RIA M200 revolver, I recently bought. This guy had pretty good success with BP substitute in 38spl loads.

View: https://youtu.be/gxBRO0XeypY?feature=shared

 

[P7M13]

While his velocities are in line with 38 Spl max loads, he's shooting them in a RUGER Blackhawk 357, renown for their durability.
I have a M200. A build comparison would be a Lee Challenger Press (M200) to a RCBS Rock Chucker (Blackhawk).
You are not leaving much room for "whoops". It's your hand.

 

[arakboss]

While his velocities are in line with 38 Spl max loads, he's shooting them in a RUGER Blackhawk 357, renown for their durability.
I have a M200. A build comparison would be a Lee Challenger Press (M200) to a RCBS Rock Chucker (Blackhawk).
You are not leaving much room for "whoops". It's your hand.

I won't load them as hot as he was. And I will likely be using Pyrodex instead of 777. I am still hoping to find a local retail source for true black powder but no luck so far.

 

[P7M13]

So you'll only load to 21gr of #FFF instead of his 24gr?

 

[arakboss]

So you'll only load to 21gr of #FFF instead of his 24gr?

Possibly, maybe less.

 

[P7M13]

Remember, no air gap with black powder, it must be compressed

 

[arakboss]

Remember, no air gap with black powder, it must be compressed

Cream of wheat/grits, wads, etc will be my friend.

 

[Spitpatch]

Cream of wheat/grits, wads, etc will be my friend.

While I have utilized "fillers" in the past, a moderate amount of research will provide other and better methods to fill or regulate combustion chambers.

...and completely avoid some reports of danger in the usage of fillers with blackpowder.

 

[arakboss]

I found a source for BP (Salem area) but at $34 per pound. Might be better off waiting for free shipping or free hazmat deal from powder valley?