I need some expert help in blackpowder reloading

sask_flatlander

sask_flatlander

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I am looking for some help in reloading for two black powder cartridge firearms. The first is an snider 577 and the other is a martini henry enfield 577/450. I have dies for the martini but no reloader big enough to handle the dies. I have brass to reload with, it is 24 gauge brass shells and they are suppose to work. I have no sizing data or load data. If I load the brass do I need to put a filler in the cartridge as well as the powder to top it up or will it take a full powder charge.
I will admitt that I know nothing about reloading black powder cartridges.:confused:
 
Don't know if I qualify as an expert, but i sure have loaded a mess of Bp in almost 50 years of loading, so here goes......First step, slug bore to determine dia. of bullet required, step two, determine OAL of loaded round, by chambering dummy rounds of various lengths, bullet should be seated into the rifling as far as possible. Step 3, by trial and error, drop tube various charges of black powder, until you figure out the exact amount, that will leave you absolutely no air space, yup, fill 'er up....you're good to go!
 
577/450 38.5 gr IMR 3031 and fill the rest up with MEC filler that is what I used with my martinis Lee 457 500 gr mould bullet paper patched up to the size you need. I Think that Ben Hunchak has all the bullets you will need.

But I do not load smokeless anymore and go full black powder
 
I reload for both of these. You will need to buy a press to take the large sized dies. The Lee Precision "Classic Cast" press is the ticket and is relatively inexpensive. The cases you have must be cut to the proper length before reloading for the Snider. Once that is done then I recommend .590" ball as the easiest to load and the most consistently accurate. No fillers are needed to load the round ball as you just measure out your black powder load, seat the ball on top and add some lube over top. The ball will sit down in the case but no matter, it will get you started without all of the fussing over wads...fillers...etc. Forget about seating a bullet out far enough to touch the rifling as both these old girls have overly generous throats making it an impossibilty. For bullets buy a Lee mould for a .590" conical for the Snider and a .470" conical for the Martini Henry. Grease groove bullets are easier for a beginner and are more forgiving for a novice as well. Now, Ben Hunchak is close to you and has a lovely selection of first class bullets....and he will custom tailor bullets to your need. E-mail me if I can answer any more questions. Don't try to resize the 24 guage brass into 577-450 unless you are VERY proficient and like pain. Buy some 577-450 brass....try the "British Militaria" forums for great info pointed directly at the Snider and the Martini. Good luck , Dave
 
It is my impression that there is a threaded bushing in the top of a Rockchucker that unscrews which allows you to screw the larger dies into the press. having said that, I have tried it with my press and the bushing is too tight to unscrew

cheers Doug
 
You very seldom really need dies for most black powder reloading. Prime and deprime with hand tools and bullets are generally easy to seat in once fired shells.

If you do have dies there are presses like the Lee that will take the big ones. I would still only size far enough to make the bullets a tight fit. Sort of 3/4 sizing.

Slugging the bore is important. If the bullets (or round balls) aren't about 1 or 2 thousandths over groove dia. It will never shoot well.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Black Magic!
 
buffalo arms sells Jamison brass or the 577snider and 577/450 and it is a lot stronger and lasts longer than the 24ga.brass-they ship the brass with no problems-That is where I get all my antique cartridge brass now-great people to deal with and they usually have their products in stock-good luck
 
Kerry Jenkinson has all the stuff, or can get it. He is a great source of info for loading for these calibers. His contact info can be found here on CGN usind a search, or PM me for his ph#.
You can load the cartridges simply by hand for fun shooting, or you can get very involved in the loading process and get good, accurate loads.
There is a bunch of info on websites too. Use 'BPCR' as a serach.
 
Rifling twist

Check the rifling on your Snider. Mine has a very slow twist so it prefers roundball instead of conicals. I managed to produce a very acceptable group of 2 1/2 at 100 yards by loading 55g 2F powder, a fairly heavy cardboard wad, then topping it up with 45 grains of filler. I then out a thin carboard wad on top of the filler and then a small dab of lube. I push a .575 roundball in the case. I know it should not be accurate as the ball is undersize. It is pure lead so it probably "bumps" into the rifling. I have been using cornmeal for a filler and it does a great job of cleaning out the fouling. I never wipe the bore and clean up is a breeze.

Cheers. Steve
 
This is great. If I do the paper patch thing (one is it nessasary) do I glue it on the bullet to hold it and is it just to make the bullet fit tight in the brass. What is the purpose of the paper.
 
Unless you find GG bullets that fit your bore perfectly(I'm always working on that) paper patching is necessary, to provide the proper fit of bullet in the bore and case. Use proper thickness of paper so that 2 complete wraps of paper make up the size you want. There are sites, mags, etc. that show how to make patches, (60 degree) and the use of a template, when i sell bullets that require patching I include a template for cutting patches. Patches are made of paper, paper containing cotton fibre is best, they are put on wet and shrink on when they dry overnight. The Lyman cast bullet handbook(a book everyone should have) has a whole page devoted to Paper Patching.
 
BUSHMAN79 said:
I bought tons of stuff from him, great guy to deal with. It always astounds me when someone asks where to buy this stuff, and the replies are "Buffalo Arms, Old Scrounger, Gun Parts.....etc. etc." Most of the stuff is obtainable locally. Why not support Canadian businesses?
Click to expand...

Maybe someone should make a list;)
While were at it who is making double set triggers for Rolling Blocks? anyone know?
 
cdnrokon...you must check with Lonestar Rifles in Texas, all manner of newly, US manufactured parts for Rolling Blocks including beautiful, 1 of a kind custom rifles, including, side levers to convert and Carlos Gove conversion(to lever action), just like the 1870s......Ben
 
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