Black powder in 303 & 7.62x54r

desporterizer

desporterizer

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Anybody ever try blackpowder in military guns that were originaly loaded with it? How would you go about loading something like 303 in the original load?
 
The original .303 load was a compressed pellet of black powder inserted in the case prior to final forming - same way cordite was loaded. There is no way that you could load the full original charge using loose black powder. I suspect that fouling would be significant, & regular wiping would be required. There is no reason that a .303 loaded with black powder, and a lead bullet should not shoot as well as a similarly loaded .32-40.
 
What do you do for powder level? Just fill it close to the top , tap & use the bullet to compess it? Much of the stuff on the net is contraditory or is for lead bullet & I want to use jacketed.
 
Lead bullets are almost invariably lubricated, which helps with fouling. I bet that the use of black powder and jacketed bullets would result in world class fouling.
 
I have heard warnings regarding the use of black powder in tapered cases, it has to do with the burning rate of black powder which is extremely fast. I am sure somebody would know more about it than I do.
 
The Martini-Henry 577-450 is a tapered case, and it seems to work fine.
I did something that the long straight cases seem to burn the powder better, but I don't think it is a safety issue, just a performance one.
Also, the 303 has quite a gentle neck, not a modern sharp type shoulder.
Ask in the Blackpowder section. They will know a lot more than I do!
 
Original Enfield load was 70 grs. ffg with a 215 gr. bullet. I find it hard to believe you could get 70 grs. in a .303 case.

Andy
 
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