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CAS TOPICS => The Darksider's Den => Topic started by: Tequila Shooter on July 03, 2020, 07:50:32 PM

Title: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Tequila Shooter on July 03, 2020, 07:50:32 PM
I just started shooting C&B pistols and when I load the powder using a 25 grain spout on the flask it's hard on my index finger.  I thought about getting some inexpensive plastic vials with flip top caps and preloading them and then I could just pour one vial in each chamber.  Thoughts? Ideas?
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Smokey Dave on July 03, 2020, 10:05:17 PM
I make up paper cartridges for mine. I still bring the flask and balls to the range, in case I want to shoot more. But I usually keep a stock of paper cartridges on hand.
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Sir Charles deMouton-Black on July 03, 2020, 10:33:40 PM
I use revolver cases with fired primers still in them to contain percussion revolver charges. I use.357 mag cases for the .36 and .45 Colt for .44 revolvers. I top each load with the appropriate ball pressed on top. The Colt cases need to be outside neck sized or the ball drops through. These pre-charges can be stored in .44 -45 cartridge boxes. For field use 5 or 6 can be packaged in foil and carried in a cap pouch.

When loading, pick off the ball and hold in your first while pouring the charge into the cylinder. Next a lubed wad if you like then position the ball and ram. After all cylinders are loaded and you are ready to fire cap with a capper, for convenience,
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Professor Marvel on July 04, 2020, 12:34:41 AM
Greetings My Good Netizens

generally I really like paper cartridges, especially when packaged in a fake Colt's cartridge box.
When I am too lazy to make those I end up using the flask method...

But I really like Sir Charles's method - it puts ball & powder in one nice water resistant and robust unit!

yhs
prof marvel
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Yeso Bill on July 04, 2020, 01:47:17 PM
I carry my powder in an old tin Prince Albert can with a dipper inside. 

Billy
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Lefty Dude on July 04, 2020, 02:57:06 PM
I use the round flask with the push button, never liked the lever flask.
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Major 2 on July 04, 2020, 03:23:43 PM
Colt style standing arms flask and my thumb... I'm afraid, nothing to fancy it has served me near 50 some years.
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Tequila Shooter on July 04, 2020, 03:44:15 PM
I use the round flask with the push button, never liked the lever flask.

That's what I have, does it bother your index finger holding on the spout?
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Sir Charles deMouton-Black on July 04, 2020, 05:34:48 PM
I carry my powder in an old tin Prince Albert can with a dipper inside. 

Billy

Do you have Prince Albert in a can? Well, you better let him out!   Ha Ha Ha!
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Sir Charles deMouton-Black on July 04, 2020, 05:39:24 PM
Greetings My Good Netizens

generally I really like paper cartridges, especially when packaged in a fake Colt's cartridge box.
When I am too lazy to make those I end up using the flask method...

But I really like Sir Charles's method - it puts ball & powder in one nice water resistant and robust unit!

yhs
prof marvel
I pinched this idea off a fellow that posted on one of the old forums that died off. His handle was Mongoose, and he was active for only a week. I call them MONGOOSE RELOADS. I live on the Wet Coast of Canada and these work when paper ca'tridges turn into a soggy mess.
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Coffinmaker on July 04, 2020, 08:02:28 PM
 :D  Ha!  None of the Above   :D

All my Cap Guns are set up for loading on a Cylinder Loading Stand.  Dick Dastardly shameless plug  8) for the Tower of Power.   Tote my powder to the range in a Plastic Tub (small) and use funnel and dipper to charge the chambers then stuff a ball innim.  It's quick and easy.  I can't actually load "on the gun" as all of my Main Match cap guns are Snubbies.  Do not have a functional loading lever or ram.  Snubbies-R-Funner   ;D

PS:  I ever mention I absolutely HATE auto correct??

PSS:  Had to make another correction where "I" left something out.  Fix'd

PSSS:  Love Hate relationship.  My spelling is bad enough I can't live without Otto Collect.   :o
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Tequila Shooter on July 05, 2020, 01:24:35 AM
:D  Ha!  None of the Above   :D

All my Cap Guns are set up for loading on a Cylinder Loading Stand.  Dick Dastardly shameless plug  8)  Tote my poster to the range in a Plastic Tub (small) and use funnel and dipper to charge the chambers then stuff a ball innim.  It's quick and easy.  I can't actually load "on the gun" as all of my Main Match cap guns are Snubbies.  Do not have a functional loading lever or ram.  Snubbies-R-Funner   ;D

I do have a working loading lever, but since I have a couple of Remmies I use a stand.  It looks like this
(http://)
I can load everything while the cylinder is on the stand.  And as you know Remmies are way cooler  :D
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Professor Marvel on July 05, 2020, 04:04:54 AM
I pinched this idea off a fellow that posted on one of the old forums that died off. His handle was Mongoose, and he was active for only a week. I call them MONGOOSE RELOADS. I live on the Wet Coast of Canada and these work when paper ca'tridges turn into a soggy mess.

One day when health issues get situated we still plan on renting an RV and heading up to Vancouver to experience this reputed "Wet Coast" of yours...
Current relative humidity stands below 30%, average is betwtix 17-40%  lowest ever was below 10% ....

yhs
prof marvel
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Tequila Shooter on July 05, 2020, 04:42:36 AM
One day when health issues get situated we still plan on renting an RV and heading up to Vancouver to experience this reputed "Wet Coast" of yours...
Current relative humidity stands below 30%, average is betwtix 17-40%  lowest ever was below 10% ....

yhs
prof marvel

If'n you want humidity come down here to the MS Gulf Coast, didja ever see 100% humidity and no rain?  Come'on down and see fer yourownself.
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Lucky R. K. on July 05, 2020, 08:23:37 AM

Here is a picture of the loading stand I built a few years ago. It also shows the specimen vials I use to carry measured charges to the range.
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l361/decapper/Loadingjig_zps993663b8.jpg)


Lucky (http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l361/decapper/grin_zpsebe960c5.png)

Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Tequila Shooter on July 05, 2020, 09:31:05 AM

Here is a picture of the loading stand I built a few years ago. It also shows the specimen vials I use to carry measured charges to the range.
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l361/decapper/Loadingjig_zps993663b8.jpg)


Lucky (http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l361/decapper/grin_zpsebe960c5.png)

That looks good!  Reminds me of a Tower of Power.  The vials are similar to what I was thinking of, do you feel it speeds up your loading time?  With all the COVID going on I want to be able to load efficiently so other members on the Posse aren't waiting too long for me   ;D
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Major 2 on July 05, 2020, 09:31:38 AM
I was planning to get a Tower of Power, but Dick was having supplier issue and was backordering his great presses.

I needed a press and hadn't the time to wait so I ordered a Powder Inc. press.

It serves me well enough . 

Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Drydock on July 05, 2020, 09:47:47 PM
I LIKE the Prince Edward can idea.  Man, I used to see those everywhere.  As long as I didn't use it to fill my pipe . . .
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Dick Dastardly on July 06, 2020, 02:29:12 PM
Tower of Power stands are back in stock now.  Also, you might consider either the EPP-UG 150 grain or the DD/ROA 45 210 grain Big Lube bullets.  Both molds are in stock also.  With them you can lube size them and put them in my snap cap vials ahead of time.  At the match, simply charge five chambers and seat the lube sized bullets.  Cap at the loading table and you're good to go.  These bullets have rebated bases  so that they sit straight and proud on the powder.  No wads, cookies or over bullet smear is needed.

DD-MDA
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Tequila Shooter on July 06, 2020, 04:46:26 PM
Tower of Power stands are back in stock now.  Also, you might consider either the EPP-UG 150 grain or the DD/ROA 45 210 grain Big Lube bullets.  Both molds are in stock also.  With them you can lube size them and put them in my snap cap vials ahead of time.  At the match, simply charge five chambers and seat the lube sized bullets.  Cap at the loading table and you're good to go.  These bullets have rebated bases  so that they sit straight and proud on the powder.  No wads, cookies or over bullet smear is needed.

DD-MDA

Don't want to sound rude but what's your website?  It sounds like it may have potential.
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Dick Dastardly on July 06, 2020, 04:59:58 PM
http://www.biglube.com/  Click on that and it will take you there.  Welcome!

DD-MDA
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Mogorilla on July 07, 2020, 09:05:30 AM
I use 1 dram plastic vials.   Actually have an assortment of sizes I have accumulated over the years (I am a scientist, we have these all over).   they work well and fit nicely in a cartridge box.  I can load pretty quickly using them. 
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Sir Charles deMouton-Black on July 07, 2020, 10:36:50 AM
I use 1 dram plastic vials.   Actually have an assortment of sizes I have accumulated over the years (I am a scientist, we have these all over).   they work well and fit nicely in a cartridge box.  I can load pretty quickly using them.

And just as periodically kerect as my use of empty ca'tridges!
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Tequila Shooter on July 08, 2020, 06:24:25 PM
Ok, I've tried to post a picture a bunch of times and I can't get it to work, so I don't know how to show ya what I've got
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Tequila Shooter on July 10, 2020, 02:16:06 PM
So here is what I'm going to try tomorrow at a local SASS match.  I've got 75 of these loaded with 25 grains of FFFG.  I'll post the results.

Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Dick Dastardly on July 15, 2020, 03:43:11 PM
http://www.biglube.com/

That's the link that will take you there.

Thanks,

DD-MDA
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Tequila Shooter on July 15, 2020, 04:22:23 PM
So here is what I'm going to try tomorrow at a local SASS match.  I've got 75 of these loaded with 25 grains of FFFG.  I'll post the results.

On Saturday I used my pre-loaded vials and they worked great.  Couple of days before I filled them and kept them in a .45C box.  I was able to put 64 vials in one box.  The vials were only about $16 for 500 on Amazon and they have a lid that's attached.  I have to say they were easy to pour into the chambers and I always knew that there was the correct amount of powder.
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Mogorilla on July 15, 2020, 08:07:59 PM
I have a mix of those vials and some with screw tops.   I use the screw tops for my colt army and the flip tops for my colt navy.   I usually keep about 50-100 of each loaded to grab when the weather is good.  Been using them for years. 
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Professor Marvel on July 16, 2020, 06:20:11 PM
I still think that Sir Charles' method using spent Brass Casings is prettier and has far less plastic jarring the eyes and detracting from the historical atmosphere and romance of the reloading endevour....

Cuz I still wear my stovetop leather soled boots, or Hopi Mocassisn, not my Keds.

altho beaded keds has been done
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c8/92/d5/c892d55f38ae1b65cb6e18f89f8bc4fd.jpg)

yhs
prof marvel
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Mogorilla on July 17, 2020, 07:06:51 AM
I like those shoes!    I usually try and hide them.    I have an insert that will keep them in place and separated, so I made a small parfleche around that as a guide.  Not as colorful as some parfleches, as I thought black and white would capture the moment so nicely.  (okay, couldn't resist the 16 candles moment).



Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Professor Marvel on July 17, 2020, 02:55:17 PM
I like those shoes!    I usually try and hide them.    I have an insert that will keep them in place and separated, so I made a small parfleche around that as a guide.  Not as colorful as some parfleches, as I thought black and white would capture the moment so nicely.  (okay, couldn't resist the 16 candles moment).

Why Mog, whyever would you try to hide your shoes ?  lol
The first time I ever saw beaded moccasins was at a Rondy in Indiana around 1977. An elder (I forget which Nation)
was there selling his home-built tommahawks and putting on hawk throw demonstrations, and if it rained he wore his beaded canvas shoes
instead of his mocs.

Heavens Sir, I stand corrected, you have redeemed yourself with that marvelous Parfleche Box!
Viewing That scene alone is worth the 5ยข admission!

yhs
prof marvel
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Mogorilla on July 17, 2020, 03:09:32 PM
Ha, sorry my paragraph structure left something to be desired.   I try and hide the vials, thus the parfleche. 

I would wear those shoes proudly, although I am guessing my wife would try and hide them.  Possibly in concrete with my feet in them.  ha.   

I do like all things parfleche.   I am in the midst of planning a big rawhide experiment.  If successful, I will be unique in my carrying.   

I also like the picture, a lot.   The knife was made by my father when I was 10 or 11.  He ran a division of a paper company and it irritated him greatly how quickly a bandsaw could break.  He made five of those blades one afternoon while I rollerskated in the plant.   When he passed, I could only find one and it had a split broom handle screwed to it as a handle.  I used a shed and added the guard and wear it to most of my shoots.   Would not trade it for Excalibur.   The "blanket" is an afgan made by my grandmother.  I was the only boy in the family and she would make a lot of stuff for sisters and cousin.   She felt she need something more boyish.  Made this for me when I was 12.  Can't believe that was 41 years ago.  The bone flask was a shopping trip with our little rescue.  He was a 9 lb poodle, thought he was steel plated.   He and I were in a Petsmart and I picked him up some goodies, but grabbed one of those giant beef bones too.   Kid at the counter asked if I had another dog, Poodle was under one arm.  I said nope, and do not get your hands too close.   Dog did love the broth from the bone and it is capped with mesquite.   Pistol was a kit, present from my wife.  Whole lot of family in that photo. 
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Crow Choker on July 17, 2020, 11:46:12 PM
Guess the OP's original post had to do with possibly having some physical problem using a flask with his hand in the normal manner. I can appreciate that and understand checking on some other means to load his cap and ball revolvers due to some medical/physical problem. Things like that happen.  As far as I'm concerned (exception for physical problems), the only way to load Sam Colts inventions is to do so as Sam invented them. Pouring powder from a flask into each cylinder, placing a ball over the powder (I do place a lubed wad over the powder), and ramming the ball in with the attached lever. No plastic vials, no measured corked brass casings, no contraptions ya gotta set on some table or flat surface to ram balls home after taking the cylinder off the arbor, which necessitates breaking the revolver down.

Nope, part of the enjoyment of shooting cap and ball percussion revolvers is loading powder with flask and ramming the balls in with the loading lever like designed, the way "they" did it in days of yesteryear. I can load six and  cap the nipples in a pretty short time if I'm going to shoot em. Sometimes if not at a range, walking along a river plinking, I just put the hammer between nipples and holster. If at a CAS shoot, loading five with a flask and seating the balls and not nippling the caps on two revolvers can be done in little time. I've even loaded six while walking, along a river or through private scrub/wooded areas, although I will stop to insert caps. Forgive me for saying, but I think all of the vials, tubes, cartridge brass to hold powder and contraptions to seat balls has taken a detour from how they were supposed to be loaded. Nah-no forgiveness wanted, not saying anything I need to ask forgiveness for.

 I know, someone will come up with some old copy of a paper put out by Colt in the 1800's showing premeasured powder in some sort of 19th century containers and some early form of a off gun ball seater like Dicks. Probably have pictures of 'Dandies' in their stovepipe hats and town frock coats shooting along a pretty shaded creek area with women in fancy dresses with their parasol's watching their menfolk unleash smoke and fire out of those nasty chucks of iron. Oh yeh, nearby is a table with premeasured powder vials and the ball presser thing'!  Probably advise of the powder charger used on the Colt Paterson, yepper, that was one way of loading that model.

 Anyway, I've been reading this thread for a while and finally thought phooey! Don't any of these guys load Sam Colts revolvers as they were designed. The old original way is one of the 'fun' things about the guns. I know, it's JMO, but I'll bet next weeks dollar amount generated by the sale of Ford Edsel's nation wide that somewhere across the USA at some CAS shoot, there will be some shooter using plastic vials or some other means to hold premeasured powder and seats his balls using some contraption thinking he's 'period correct' ("I'm doin it just like they did it back then") and at the same time 'bitch' about some other shooter who he thinks isn't wearing proper 'period correct' clothing or doesn't have the proper 1875 'cowboy' holster strapped on ("It doesn't have the proper stitching"), and/or is wearing boots with rubber Vibram soles.  OK, said enough, I'm all strapped into my computer desk chair for all the nasty comments of telling me to go fly a kite.  ;D ;D 
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Professor Marvel on July 18, 2020, 03:25:00 AM
Ah My Dear Crow Choker - you are just too fun!

prf marvel
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Tequila Shooter on July 18, 2020, 03:30:06 AM
Guess the OP's original post had to do with possibly having some physical problem using a flask with his hand in the normal manner. I can appreciate that and understand checking on some other means to load his cap and ball revolvers due to some medical/physical problem. Things like that happen.  As far as I'm concerned (exception for physical problems), the only way to load Sam Colts inventions is to do so as Sam invented them. Pouring powder from a flask into each cylinder, placing a ball over the powder (I do place a lubed wad over the powder), and ramming the ball in with the attached lever. No plastic vials, no measured corked brass casings, no contraptions ya gotta set on some table or flat surface to ram balls home after taking the cylinder off the arbor, which necessitates breaking the revolver down.

Nope, part of the enjoyment of shooting cap and ball percussion revolvers is loading powder with flask and ramming the balls in with the loading lever like designed, the way "they" did it in days of yesteryear. I can load six and  cap the nipples in a pretty short time if I'm going to shoot em. Sometimes if not at a range, walking along a river plinking, I just put the hammer between nipples and holster. If at a CAS shoot, loading five with a flask and seating the balls and not nippling the caps on two revolvers can be done in little time. I've even loaded six while walking, along a river or through private scrub/wooded areas, although I will stop to insert caps. Forgive me for saying, but I think all of the vials, tubes, cartridge brass to hold powder and contraptions to seat balls has taken a detour from how they were supposed to be loaded. Nah-no forgiveness wanted, not saying anything I need to ask forgiveness for.

 I know, someone will come up with some old copy of a paper put out by Colt in the 1800's showing premeasured powder in some sort of 19th century containers and some early form of a off gun ball seater like Dicks. Probably have pictures of 'Dandies' in their stovepipe hats and town frock coats shooting along a pretty shaded creek area with women in fancy dresses with their parasol's watching their menfolk unleash smoke and fire out of those nasty chucks of iron. Oh yeh, nearby is a table with premeasured powder vials and the ball presser thing'!  Probably advise of the powder charger used on the Colt Paterson, yepper, that was one way of loading that model.

 Anyway, I've been reading this thread for a while and finally thought phooey! Don't any of these guys load Sam Colts revolvers as they were designed. The old original way is one of the 'fun' things about the guns. I know, it's JMO, but I'll bet next weeks dollar amount generated by the sale of Ford Edsel's nation wide that somewhere across the USA at some CAS shoot, there will be some shooter using plastic vials or some other means to hold premeasured powder and seats his balls using some contraption thinking he's 'period correct' ("I'm doin it just like they did it back then") and at the same time 'bitch' about some other shooter who he thinks isn't wearing proper 'period correct' clothing or doesn't have the proper 1875 'cowboy' holster strapped on ("It doesn't have the proper stitching"), and/or is wearing boots with rubber Vibram soles.  OK, said enough, I'm all strapped into my computer desk chair for all the nasty comments of telling me to go fly a kite.  ;D ;D

Wow, very thought out and explained.  No negative comment from me.  As far as Sam Colt's revolvers go, that why I'm shooting Remington's   ;D  ;D.  I can and do appreciate anyone who can load with a flask and rammer quickly enough to keep up with others on a shooting posse and still have time to help out with posse duties (spotting, picking up brass, etc.).  Since I'm new to C&B my goal is to not only load quickly but also accurately.  While filling the vials I saw that I didn't always get a full charge, sometimes it was operator error, sometimes the flask lever didn't close all the way.  The contraption for seating the balls keeps everything equal and since the pistols are Sheriff models the loading lever is short so loading 60+ chambers in a match would be a little hard on the paws.

As far as being period correct, I don't think anyone would call SASS period correct, not with slicked up guns and Ruger pistols, maybe NCOWS is different. 

As I said at the top, not negative, not chastising you for your opinion, I only ask that you leave the door open for different ways of doing things.  If I was plinking at the range I'd have all the time in the world to load, at a match not so much  :o
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Capt Quirk on July 18, 2020, 05:49:19 AM
 Everybody has a way that works for them. I also use premeasured containers of powder. They are called "cartridges".
 ;D
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: pony express on July 18, 2020, 10:06:24 AM
I must be old fashioned or something. I always loaded min the same way as Crow Choker does. Flask, powder and balls. I used a horse wormer syringe filled with Crisco to grease over the balls. Keep it out of the sun on a hot day! Haven't been using one for CAS for a few years, but when I did, I usually volunteered to do the unloading table after I shot, and loaded while watching the table.
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: greyhawk on August 13, 2020, 02:14:09 PM
I must be old fashioned or something. I always loaded min the same way as Crow Choker does. Flask, powder and balls. I used a horse wormer syringe filled with Crisco to grease over the balls. Keep it out of the sun on a hot day! Haven't been using one for CAS for a few years, but when I did, I usually volunteered to do the unloading table after I shot, and loaded while watching the table.

Hah Good ! that makes three of us !!!
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Montana Slim on August 19, 2020, 10:51:34 PM
I use a spring/plunger automatic dispensing flask for all my 44s. Very fast, but only works well with 3f powder. Got mine from Dixie Gun Works at least 40 yr ago. Still works great, but the brass mouth is getting a bit worn from throwing many, many thousands of charges.

It's a bit large to work on Navy Model Colts, but I've seen a Patterson spring plunger flask that might be worth trying.

Regards,
Slim
Title: Re: How Do You Load Your Powder
Post by: Dick Dastardly on August 21, 2020, 03:50:13 PM
http://www.biglube.com/

That should take you there.  I still have several Tower of Power stands in stock.  When they are gone they are gone forever.

DD-MDA