Okay, I’m embarassed. It sounds like you have a lot more experience in loading bp into cartridges than I do. I tried loading .44-40 just once and mangled every darned case.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, almost 90% of my blackpowder experience involves muzzleloaders. I certainly should have been more careful about shooting my mouth off. Sorry.
Incidentally, though, you really can set it off by crushing the granules. I discovered the following equation by accident:
(a few loose granules of 3f)+(hard-soled shoes)+(concrete floor)=(required change of underwear)
I’m not the king of soot lords but I think I’ve earned my black sash. I’ve got a lot of experienced shooters to learn from on the SASS message board.
.44-40 is a bit tricky to load and as you’ve seen. The walls are so thin it’s easy to crush or buckle. I load on a progressive press, something else that goes against conventional wisdom. I do have to make sure that cases are seated in the shellplate or I’m guaranteed to crush them in the sizing die. Now that I’ve got my setup dialed in I don’t find .44-40 to be any more difficult than a straight wall caliber with smokeless. I do take the extra step of putting wax cookies over the charge before seating the bullet which gives me a chance to visually check each charge. When I get the automatic powder measure conversion I’ll be loading almost as fast as I do .45 ACP.
I’ll make a note to not compress charges by stomping on concrete
Looking back through my previous posts in this tread has convinced me that I should never again post at 2:00 am after I’ve had a couple of beers.
Padeye - I realize that the above mentoned posts come off as really snarky. The thing is, I was just trying to tell you what I do. It just didn’t come out right.
Yes, I am probably paranoid. Yes, I am extremely careful with blackpowder. I’m also extremely careful with the double-based powders I load in my target shells for skeet.
Having said that, I will tell you that your point about mechanical measures is well taken. I load muzzle-loaders from flasks with measuring spouts (all brass) and don’t think twice about it.
What I was trying to say is that no one should use equipment intended to load modern propellants with BP (without the modifications you described, safety glasses, etc.). I should have realized that you and Johnny L.A. already know what you are doing. I just didn’t want someone new to the game to do something really dangerous.
Really, there was no offense meant, and I bow to your superior knowledge (this is NOT sarcasm). Although, If you want to build a Pennsylvania Rifle…
I promise, this is the last time I bump this thread.
[sub] But if Padeye wants to start a “Cowboy Shooting” thread, I have a couple of questions.[/sub]
