Glass vials for individual BP charges

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Easyrider

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Southwestern Manitoba
Hi.
Does anyone have suggestions where to buy glass vials/test tubes for containing pre-weighed charges of black powder? There are lots of places on the net for this, but prices are all over the place, except for cheap. There is one place in London, ON, that sells them for 45cents, but they won't ship them. Grrrrr...
The reason I am thinking glass as opposed to plastic, is not for fear of static electricity blowing me up, but rather the possibility of static electricity causing the powder to cling to the container. I am trying to assemble a kit for competitive ML shooting, and pre-weighed charges are a necessity. I need a couple of hundred, and they need to hold 100 grains, or so.
Thanks, and Merry Xmas
Glen
 
Hi Glen
Its funny, I was thinking the same thing. The little glass phials you used to get hash oil in back in the 90s came to mind, no idea where they come from. Here is a link for a Canadian supplier that may be useful.
http://hemkund.com/product_info.php?cPath=4_12&products_id=95.
What I came up with is using a fat McDonalds straw, thebottom folded over and taped, the measured charge in, then fold over the top and tape, with a score in the tape to allow you to quickly open the top, then pour away. This was for use in the field, not competition though. If you do get some phials, post some on the EE, perhaps you could recover some of the cost by sharing with CGNers.
PS why do you need a couple of hundred??
Tim
 
I use blank newsprint. It's cheap as borscht the shape it sort of odd. I get a dowel sized to the ball with a concave end in one side.

Place the ball on it room the paper around the fold then ends in and dip in hot wax. Press that down on the table until it is hardened.

Then remove from dowel tie a string around the paper just above the ball.

Next fill powder charge tie with another string and fold top over

works really well for me.
 
get the plastic ones and run a fabric softener sheet in it before you place the powder in it and the static isn't a problem for awhile.
just my 2cents
 
Why do I need 200? I hope to do some competitive shooting. An example would be the Maple Leaf International Muzzle Loader Association shoots in Barrie, ON. An event would include 3 positions, standing, sitting, and prone, two ranges, 50 and 100 yards, 13 shots each. That comes to 78 shots, and I hope to take 2 rifles, a replica, and an original, so I need a minimum of 156 shots. Some day, I would really like to try my hand at the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association long range shoot at the Connaught Range in Nepean, ON. That is a ways down the road, though, I have a lot of work to do on my long range shooting skills.
 
http://www.uline.ca/BL_8199/Straight-Sided-Glass-Jars?keywords=glass%20bottles
Not cheap. Maybe too big. Something though.
I've used something else for this. Plastic centrifuge vials. I cannot say if there would be a static problem though. Once I put BP in the vial, it doesn't get poured out. A search for that will show you what I mean.
 
No issue with plastic, not enough heat to set off the BP. Get the plastic 35mm film canisters. Try a picture processing place for them. May be had for free if you are nice to them.
 
I just gave a fellow CGN'r some spare .30-06 and .45 ACP and Colt brass for this reason. The .45 ACP/.45 Colt both slide snugly over the body of the .30-06 & .308 family giving you a nice weather tight seal. Figure out your volume and cut them down as needed, or just use the whole case and it gives you a nice funnel (depending on the charge you want). Free if you have a bunch lying around but I guess if you don't have access to a bunch of brass then it's 6 of one, half dozen of the other.
 
Umm, I just use a Zigzag white rolling paper that was spun around a 458 win mag cartridge...give the end that is hanging off the bullet side a twist and slide it off. Fill it up with your charge and give the open end a twist. Ta-da!
The papers come in about 4 different thickness's and burn rates.
We used to call the 'Blue' ones horse blankets, lol. Tough obviously.
Carry the charges in an old '90's era tin Players cigarette tin. Pinch the end, tip it into the muzzle and stuff the whole shebang down under your minie or patch and ball.
I can't be the only one who thought of this can I? The '80's experience is paying off, lol...
 
Easyrider said:
Why do I need 200? I hope to do some competitive shooting. An example would be the Maple Leaf International Muzzle Loader Association shoots in Barrie, ON. An event would include 3 positions, standing, sitting, and prone, two ranges, 50 and 100 yards, 13 shots each. That comes to 78 shots, and I hope to take 2 rifles, a replica, and an original, so I need a minimum of 156 shots. Some day, I would really like to try my hand at the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association long range shoot at the Connaught Range in Nepean, ON. That is a ways down the road, though, I have a lot of work to do on my long range shooting skills.
Click to expand...

I would like to attend the Barrie shoot as well. So its 3 positions at 50 /100 yrds ? What powder or mixture is everyone using ? What about pellets ?
 
The Dollar store has glass phials at 5 for $1 (or $1.50,now)
Don't think they're big enough for 100g charges, though.
 
For my revolver, I put 27 gr in a 7.62x39 case or a 308 case. I have lots of garbage steel cases that are otherwise useless. I take them to the range in a a plastic 50 round ammo box. Just have to make sure it stays upright in my range bag.

When I used to shoot muzzleloader, I had pieces of 3/4" PVC pipe, about 6" long, with plastic caps at each end. One cap was glued in place.

I also used what was called "coin envelopes". Small envelopes with a flap at one end. I never glued the flap down, but I could have. It was easy to lift the flap and then crease the envelope so it would easily pour the powder into the gun. An old telescopic sight box was long and skinny, and would hold 100 filled envelopes.
 
No need to worry about static electricity setting off black powder, there is not one confirmed case of this happening anywhere, ever.
 
Well, I use a small sampler bottle of Jack Daniels to hold solvent while I'm working. Might be a bit large for 100grains of powder, but it'll certainly hold it.

You can probably get those sampler bottles for free if you ask around for guys who buy whatever big bottles they come with.
 
tokguy said:
Umm, I just use a Zigzag white rolling paper that was spun around a 458 win mag cartridge...give the end that is hanging off the bullet side a twist and slide it off. Fill it up with your charge and give the open end a twist. Ta-da!
The papers come in about 4 different thickness's and burn rates.
We used to call the 'Blue' ones horse blankets, lol. Tough obviously.
Carry the charges in an old '90's era tin Players cigarette tin. Pinch the end, tip it into the muzzle and stuff the whole shebang down under your minie or patch and ball.
I can't be the only one who thought of this can I? The '80's experience is paying off, lol...
Click to expand...

^ this is the fix. Tokguy is basically making his own paper cartridges, which was the British military's answer to a similar question. {How can several rounds be made to load and fire quickly?} I believe the Brown Bess was the first military weapon that "Regular" Troops fed a paper pre-made cartridge into. (Ask me why it was mandatory for British Regulars to have at least two opposing teeth?)
 
How much powder are you putting per load. Maybe the glass vials for taking blood will be big enough depending on the load. For cheap plastic ones Lee Valley tools has them for a good price.
 
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