Learning to Reload Blackpowder

[skwerl]

I have one centre fire blackpowder rifle which came with
a factory unfired box (20) cartridges and a box of fired brass cartirdges.

The first 3 rounds of the factory were no-fire duds , the 4th fired with a blast
of fire and cloud of smoke , scared the SHT out of me .

Next 8 rounds were duds so we quit with the idea of pulling the bullets
repriming and reloading , only I have never reloaded any thing and these
cartridges are obsolete UMC .22-15-60 cf from around 1900.

Got myself a bullet removing hammer and after figuring it out removed
10 bullets .

Fortunately the fired brass had been deprimed (I'll figure out how to later)
after tracking down some primers which fit (CCI 400) I went to work.

Regular charge was 15 grains of Blkpwdr , not wanting to stress anythying
I charger about 1/2 maybe less with the old powder removed , then compacted
the rest with cotton string .

Pictures speak volumes therefore check them out.

First round , scared the SHT out of me (again) wow they work .

...skwerl

 

[cdnrokon]

It is lots of fun getting a old rifle up and shooting again.
RockyMountain Cartridge Co lists new brass on line.
And if you search hard you might be able to find a reloading hand tool
ASSRA forum might be a good spot to try

 

[legi0n]

you can find a cheap press on the EE
just saying

 

[gunlaker]

Wow that's some seriously rare brass. Hopefully you can use a slip fit bullet and skip resizing and seating with a press. That should make your brass last a long time.

I'm not sure what powder you used, but if you want to keep the pressures nice and low Goex Fg might be worth looking into. Lots of people think Goex Fg is for cannons, but I've had it work quite well in smaller black powder cartridges like 32-40, and 25-20 SS.

Chris.

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

That's one of those super cool cartridges that were prolific in the late 1800s as manufacturers were getting their feet wet in what was then the fairly recent development of self contained metallic cartridges (only 40 years or so when they reportedly introduced it - give or take). Nice find, nice rifle, very neat chambering. It looks very similar to the .25 Halstead (the CF aftermarket version of the .25 Rimfire).

 

[skwerl]

That's one of those super cool cartridges that were prolific in the late 1800s as manufacturers were getting their feet wet in what was then the fairly recent development of self contained metallic cartridges (only 40 years or so when they reportedly introduced it - give or take). Nice find, nice rifle, very neat chambering. It looks very similar to the .25 Halstead (the CF aftermarket version of the .25 Rimfire).

Yea , there were a plethora of ''New '' cartridges , lots of them required volume as
BLK PWDR was more of a push than a fire.
I came across another , .22 Extra Long CF .
... skwerl

 

[wr.sainsbury]

I find my drill press works better than a vise for pressing the bullet in - easier to see if off line.

 

[bearhunter]

Skwerl, I may be wrong on this but I believe that cartridge was loaded with a heeled bullet for the most part.

Likely the factory loads all have slight crimps to hold the bullet in place during shipping etc.

This was a common practice with this type of cartridge back in the day and other similar types of Scheutzen cartridges

They were intended to be loaded in the field or at a match as needed.

The bullets, were seated by hand until they came up against the heel. 7

One other thing, black powder does not like air spaces between the powder column and the bullet. It likes to be compressed for best results.

I have a Martini that was purpose built for a different cartridge that was intended for the same type of loading for Scheutzen matches. I don't shoot it enough.

Good on you for getting the old girl fuming again.