Measuring black powder

Shooter55

Shooter55

Member
Rating - 100%
21   0   0
Location
Carstairs
Hi all..forgive me but I am brand new to traditional blackpowder. I purchased 2 Lyman 50 Cal rifles (percussion&flintlock) and the whole kit from a member....I have been reading and checking online for instructions etc...however I cannot seem to grasp how you actually measure the powder...the manual says 90 grains FFFg powder for a load ( I have hodgsons 777 so decrease by 15 pc)
I have a horn and brass single measure....how the heck do I measure 90 or 76.5 grains of powder? The single brass measure has no markings so is confusing...maybe I am missing obvious? Help...
Thanks all
 
I have an adjustable volumetric measure that I set to what I want and fill from the horn. Yours isn't graduated at all?

If you have a scale, you can weigh the charge that comes out of it, since grains volume is based on grains weight.

I don't have a flinter myself, but from what I understand those are best served with black powder only, with FFFFG for priming the pan.

Actually, real black powder is the best thing to feed any BP gun, I've found. You have to clean it anyway, and it's just the most reliable and consistent.
 
do not weigh 777 on a scale only by volume as its a volume sub for blackpwder same with pyrodex on use the volume measure for these

yes a flinter is not going to work with any sub only real blackpowder that means goex you can use 4f for priming but if its a good lock its not needed
 
Is the brass measure adjustable? I have a basic one that is adjustable, no markings but starts at 50gr and goes up in 10gr increments with every click.

Blackpowder will be the best in the pan for the flinter, using FFFg works fine if you can find it. The fake stuff isn't as great in the pan.
 
Weigh your initial BP charges on a powder scale and if you don't have an adjustable measure then make some scoops of the desired volume from empty cartridge cases. "Grains" (7000 grains Avoirdupois scale = 1.0 pound) are only a measure of weight - never volume. Grains can be used to express a "volume equivalent" such as when measuring X grains of Pyrodex or 777: that is a "75 grain" load of Pyrodex is actually a volume of Pyrodex equal to the volume of 75 gr of BP. The Pyrodex label instructs us to measure by volume, for that reason. If measured on a powder scale, 75 grains of Pyrodex would actually equate to the same volume as about 85 grains of BP IIRC. Hope that explains it...
 
Black powder is measured by volume click on this link and scroll down to chart #2 there you will see Grains=C.C.'s
Any drug-store will have small containers for 1cc 5cc etc
One Cubic Centimeter is the same as One Millilitre.

http://www.curtrich.com/BPConversionSheet.htm

Here are some common cartridge cases and the amount of BP they hold:

Cartridge Grains
.22 LR = 5
.320 ACP = 7
.380 ACP = 10
9mm = 13.3
.40 S&W = 19.3
.30 cal Carbine = 20
.38 Special = 23
.45 Auto = 26
.357 Mag = 27
.44 Spl = 34
.44 Rem Mag = 39
.45 Colt = 41.6
 
Last edited:
Black powder charges (and BP substitutes such as Pyrodex) are measured by volume, not weight. If you to weigh 100 gains of FFG Black Powder and 100 grains of Pyrodex RS, the pile of Pyrodex RS will be bigger because Pyrodex is lighter.
 
StoneHorse is correct regarding the BP substitutes.
Here is a specific example from empirical measurements I took today. I set my BP measure for 100 grains of BP.
Three measures of GOEX FFFg weighed 301 grains
Three measures of Pyrodex RS weighed 218 grains
Three measures of Triple 7 weighed 227 grains.

Thus, if you were to weigh out 300 grains of Triple 7 or Pyrodex RS thinking it was equivalent in power to the same weight of BP, you would actually be putting a 33% overload in the gun, in terms of powder volume and more importantly POWER (225 X 1.33 = 300).
Morale: we weigh actual BP charges but measure BP substitutes by volume equivalent. I hope this example helps...
 
Last edited:
I have a spare brand new powder measure with your name on it...its graduated and all and will help you get up and running, Its yours for free and I will even pay the shipping on it.PM me your actual name and such and I will drop it in the mail for you...
 
Something I didn't notice in the advice is don't pour powder directly into your barrel from the horn even if it does have a measuring spout on it. There is always a slight chance of a spark in the breach of the gun and then your powder horn or flask becomes a grenade

cheers mooncoon
 
mooncoon said:
Something I didn't notice in the advice is don't pour powder directly into your barrel from the horn even if it does have a measuring spout on it. There is always a slight chance of a spark in the breach of the gun and then your powder horn or flask becomes a grenade

cheers mooncoon
Click to expand...

This would be horribly nasty. No more hair, burnt skin and bits of filthy horn shards stuck in from stem to stern just waiting to infect. Has this ever been documented as having happened before? I mean it make common sense, but has it ever happened that anyone is aware of?
 
plinker 777 said:
This would be horribly nasty. No more hair, burnt skin and bits of filthy horn shards stuck in from stem to stern just waiting to infect. Has this ever been documented as having happened before? I mean it make common sense, but has it ever happened that anyone is aware of?
Click to expand...
You could try a Google search. Why take unnecessary chances when it comes to black powder?
 
I don't use substitues, but when loading real black powder I will use volumetric measure or scale. I usually use the scale for cartridge.
 
There was an old rule of thumb , that you put the ball in your palm , and gently pour black powder directly over it. Once JUST covered , you had a reasonable charge for that calibre.
I never tried it ; it would be interesting to see what the volumes turned out to be......
 
Last edited:
tonyg said:
There was an old rule of thumb , that you put the ball in your palm , and gently pour powder directly over it. Once JUST covered , you had a reasonable charge for that calibre.
I never tried it ; it would be interesting to see what the volumes turned out to be......
Click to expand...

that could end badly when using subs real BP will tend to blow extra powder out the barrel subs will tend to blow the barrel up
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom