BP sub pellets

[DeaconKC]

Okay, new to BP loading, can you use the preformed pellets in cartridges?

[Dave T]

Simple answer, NO!

The pellets leave too much air space, even after the bullet is seated. For both safety and efficiency (think accuracy) the interior of the case needs to be filled by the black powder and slightly compressed by seating the bullet.

Dave

[Cliff Fendley]

Why would you want to? The reason for the pellets is for ease of reloading in the field with muzzleloaders. In a reloading room setup it would be more efficient and just as easy to measure out charges and dump them in.

[DeaconKC]

Thanks for the answers gents! Like I said, never tried BP or subs before and saw the pellets and was curious about them.
My Dad taught me to always learn something new everyday.

[Cliff Fendley]

Thanks for the answers gents! Like I said, never tried BP or subs before and saw the pellets and was curious about them.
My Dad taught me to always learn something new everyday.

It can get a little more serious for precision long range shooting but for CAS shooting ammo and such I think you'll find that loading with black powder is about as simple as reloading gets. Just use bullets lubed for BP and you are good to go.

[Isom]

Deacon,
when I dipped my feet in B/P, 05-06. I was shooting 44-40 smokeless, since '96. Bought the pellets, loaded a few and noticed they were rattleing around. Called Hodgen, spoke to a rep. Told him what I was doing, he said it was ok ,, no problem, Repeated my question, "I don't have to put anything over the pellet so it won't move"? Ans, No ,, no problem. The "full with no air space is for loose b/p , not pellets". Shot them that way for about 6 mos, switched to 38-40 and real b/p. Just saying.
YMMV,
Isom

[Dave T]

...Called Hodgen, spoke to a rep. Told him what I was doing, he said it was ok ,, no problem...

Learn something new every day. Still I wouldn't do it, but YMMV!

Dave

[Professor Marvel]

In general, it would not be a wise practice.

I can understand the desire , but, biting the bullet and ordering out BP is a wiser course of action,
Or, actually using published recipes for sub cartridge use.

If you were stuck in 1944 Warsaw ghetto, it would be considered an acceptable expediant, but then so was cooking your own chemicals to make primers and expediant powders and risking the almost inevetible kaboom.

Let us count the "downsides"
- rattling around
- considerable airspace
- inconsistent loading
- inconsistent compression
- the fact that most if not all pellets have an "igniter" side that facilitates being set off by normal primers.

And the fact that pyro pellets, specifically,  are a modified BP recipe, so BP rules should be followed

Ad it all up, and I would say
Don't do it.

Loose pyro is an acceptable cartridge powder, with adequate cleaning
Loose APP is better
Loose Triple 7 is better... Still corrosive, more energetic, but not quite as corrosive as pyro.

I myself would not load any of the above in a bottleneck case for reasons too numerous and esoteric to list here.

Bear in mind, YMMV, and others may have "done it" with impunity... Until s?!$t happens.

It is worthwhile to note, I have been personally pursuing the mystical realm of short shotshells.
Specifically 2" and 1.75" roll crimp shotshells.
Specifically in order to shoot g-grandpas old shotgun safely. Thus li am seeking pressures on the order of
8000 cup or less.

Whilst I know I can make a square load of black, I am investigating the duplication of early slow smokeless and semismokeless loads, finding slow shotgun powders that have a pleasant elongated pressure curve.
I am also resigning myself to the inevitable need to buy a pressure transducer system.

In this pursuit, I have engaged professionals in the shotgunning field, to my great advantage.
They actually have a service that you can send shotshells in for pressure testing for a small fee.
$25 for a couple hsells plus hazmat is a small price to save your face.

They have all to a man recommended ignoring the u-tubers who are merrily disassembling store
Bought shells, cutting them down, CUTTING THE PLASTIC WADS, and reassembling. All these guys are
Finding they have extraction problems which is THE ONLY SIGN OF SHOTSHELL OVERPRESSURE you will get before a serious incident. What the u-tubers have done is
- modify case volume (reduce significantly)
-modify components ( to wit, the combination powder seal/compression wad/shotcups )
- kept powder and load weight the same.

This would be similar to taking a .45 Colt, using the same 9.5 great of unique, cutting the case down to .45 ACP length, and loading a 255 gr  jacketed bullet.

Recipe for kaboom.

Thus myoverly verbose point :
Follow the recipe.

If there is no recipe, buy a  chrony, pressure barrel, pressure transducer, and good insurance.

Last ... If the company does not publish a recipe... I personally do not trust the "next available talking head" that answers the phone... They publish recipes for a reason.

Yhs
Prof "no accidents in 937 days" Marvel

[Coffinmaker]

  PLUS ONE for The Perfesser   


No . . . . Actually . . PLUS TWO fer The Perfesser   

Just because one tries something not quite right, and gets away with it, doesn't mean one should do it.  One must always remember, we DO play with live EXPLOSIVES in our games.

Play Safe Out There

[Professor Marvel]

Why, Hank you gents, for allowing me to babble on nearly endlessly in what I certainly hope is an entertaining and sometimes elucidating manner.

For my next trick I will attempt to talk my Lovely Spousal Unit into buying a much nicer and larger house that just went up for sale up the hill, as it has more space, better laid out rooms and a bigger nicer kitchen and laundry, all of which we desperately need.
Then we can spruce up this dump errrr project house and sell it to a small family that can appreciate its more modest features....

Yhs
Prof Mumbles

[Coffinmaker]

  Well Well,  three Room Bungalow getting a little cramped Prof.??   

These days, with Floods being the more common end to Drought, being farther "Up The Hill" can be "A Good Thing" (Stolen Martha Quote) of itself.  Movie on Up

Play Safe Out There

[DeaconKC]

That's what I do love about the City, we get good answers that are fun at the same time!