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Recent Posts

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11
General Interest / Re: Searching for the proper powder charge
« Last post by KDubs on February 14, 2026, 07:17:38 AM »
Right on guys,
 Tom I plan on load development first then maybe some play time with the various grains but right now at 430 am
 It's lightly snowing/ raining
Hopefully it will clear in a few hours so I can shoot.
 On a positive note, I went to a gun show yesterday was able to sell my chief grade northstar west .62 smoothbore.
 So I  bought a new kibler woodsrunner kit in .54 smoothbore with a walnut stock.
 Now I wait......
 
Kevin
12
Accoutrements / Small Accoutrement projects I do
« Last post by Mad Irish Jack on February 13, 2026, 11:30:18 PM »
Wednesday at 7:03 PM
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#23,043
I started making accoutrements again. I have a lot of small animal bones; So small items I make. Here's a simple item people always ask, "Where can I get a ?????". Make it & some extras to trade, add for shooting blanket prizes etc. Retired, finding time wasting in bad weather.... Hey, not in my house. I started doing several of these simple touch hole picks. Next I'll follow with small pan brush/brooms. Ball starters, nappers for flints used while they're still in the jaws. Always need todo busy work. [ Invalid Attachment ]  [ Invalid Attachment ]  [ Invalid Attachment ]  [ Invalid Attachment ]  [ Invalid Attachment ]
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Caplock Long Guns / How to Clean a Percussion Rifle The Easy Way
« Last post by BlackPowderManiacShooter on February 13, 2026, 11:18:19 PM »
Details below show how to clean a percussion black powder rifle in 5-7 minutes.
This is a very easy task.
Cleaning these firearms shouldn't be a reason to stay away from hobby.



14
General Interest / Re: Searching for the proper powder charge
« Last post by Rob DiStefano on February 13, 2026, 06:39:17 PM »
"What powder charge and how to measure it?"  That's always been the big concern.  The more powder used, the less it will matter because of the amount of powder.  Big difference 'tween rifles of .45 bore and a .58 bore ... dittos for the bigger .62 to .75 smoothbores.

Measuring powder via crude volume tools (the ubiquitous small hand held adjustable brass powder measure) is definitely going to not be consistent.  The best consistency will be weighed powder charges.  If used in conjunction with a good lever powder measure the charges will be quite accurate and can be stored in vials. 

I'll add - I hope to do that with paper cartridges in the smoothbores ... those charges will be weighed, not thrown by volume.

IMHO, another important thing to think about when trying to load consistently is powder compression.  This is absolutely critical for PB PPB cartridge builds and is therefore no different for muzzleloader loads.  This is why I "bounce the rod" - when it trampolines up I know that the powder and patched ball are all within a non-adjustable narrow range of compression.  It's a "fixed" compression - so it's non-adjustable, it is what it is.  When I load BP PPB cartridges, I can adjust the powder/wad compression using a die press, and that will have a direct effect on accuracy,

15
Gun Building and Repair / Re: Pedersoli 2nd Land Pattern Brown Bess Kit number two
« Last post by Rob DiStefano on February 13, 2026, 06:25:54 PM »
Yeah, Tom - I was sweating it a bit with the pipe problem, but I rolled and soldered simple brass pipes and that took care of that.  But the cross threaded lock issue was the worst.  I ordered a Bosch 6mm-1 tap of Amazon and carefully retapped that one lock thread and it's perfect now.  I had to re-inlet the lock mortise, which was a bit tricky.  But it's top notch right now for ramrod use and lock ignition.  Proof of the pudding will be at the range when the weather breaks!
 
16
General Interest / Re: Searching for the proper powder charge
« Last post by No Powder on February 13, 2026, 04:27:00 PM »
Thanks for the input fellows. Appreciate your comments and opinions. Kind of interested in Kevin's findings. But Kevin, concentrate on your load work up, and not on what several grains of powder will show on the chronograph.
17
Gun Building and Repair / Re: Pedersoli 2nd Land Pattern Brown Bess Kit number two
« Last post by No Powder on February 13, 2026, 04:18:07 PM »
Must have got those issues ironed out pretty good Rob, cause it looks good to me.
18
Gun Building and Repair / Re: Pedersoli 2nd Land Pattern Brown Bess Kit number two
« Last post by Rob DiStefano on February 13, 2026, 04:01:17 PM »
All back together and way better than ever.

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19
General Interest / Re: Searching for the proper powder charge
« Last post by Rob DiStefano on February 13, 2026, 01:42:59 PM »
Eric said it well.  Everything about consistent accuracy is all about consistency of Everything - load components, the process of the load, the bbl and lock, and the brain and trigger finger of the shooter (which usually should be first in this short list).

I do 5 grain graduated load tests as well.
20
General Interest / Re: Searching for the proper powder charge
« Last post by Rob DiStefano on February 13, 2026, 01:38:30 PM »
"Black Powder" is in the low end of explosives whereas smokeless powders (including BP subs such as Pyrodex, 777, Blackthorn, etc) are not considered "explosives".

When a trad muzzleloader touches off, that's an explosion ... when a smokeless cartridge is fired, that's expanding gas.

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