doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Blackpowder shotshells in .12ga Colt SxS Double

Turns out I had a few hundred once fired Remington "black" colored hulls...perfect for "blackpowder" shells...these crimped up good enough with the following:

80grns Goex 2F
Circle Fly 1/2" cushion wad
1oz hard #8's

Loaded 100 of these for trap, and 25 with 1+1/8 #5s for squirrels.

Very nice. Could you tell me what primer you are using for the 12 ga. Remingtons. Also do you have any idea what the psi might be, I would like to stay at about 7,000-7500 psi. Thanks.

I've always used Winchester and CCI 209s for trap and skeet because that's what our gun club usually carried and what I bought depended on what was in stock at the time...the primers I happened to have on hand right now are CCI's so that's what I used.
These blackpowder shells just have Goex powder, a 1/2" prelubed fiber cushion wad, and shot...no shot cup.

Don't know about the PSI level but I have to believe its moderate or less...these are actually an eyelash less than a basic 3 dram (82grns) & 1oz shot small game field load

Just digging through some Gun Digest books I have, in an article by Sam Fadala, it looks like the load I built should be less than 5000 PSI. The similar load in the article using 82grns of FFFg (3F) which is hotter with a faster burn rate and sharper pressure curve and 1+1/8oz shot is actually listed at only 4900 PSI.
I suspect my 80grn charge (of slower burning) FFg (2F) will be a very easy, moderate pressure load with only 1.0 ounce of shot

I think I've seen that same article, Roundball; it gives me confidence that my 1 oz, 2 1/2dr 3F loads are gentle on the guns, but I also know they pattern well and are lethal on small game.
I tend to use 3F for the lighter 12g loads, and the longer, slower burn of 2F for the 1 1/4oz loads.
RG

I normally use Goex 3F in every Flintlock I have from .40 to .62cal...fast, clean, and accurate...but this was my first go around with an old damascus barreled gun and since I had some 2F sitting around, decided to go with that just to build in some additional pressure margin...

roundball,

I forgot I had this book. You shook a few brain cells loose.

Lyman Black Powder Handbook & Loading Manual, Sam Fadala 2001

Here is Fadala's load data with velocity and pressure

12ga 70mm 100gr 1oz Rem 209P .125 card .5 fiber .125 card
Goex FFG 1250fps 4,200psi
Elephant FFG 1200fps 2,300psi
Pyrodex RS 1250fps 3,100psi

12ga 70mm 100gr 1 1/8oz Rem 209P .125 card .25 wool felt .125 card
Goex FFG 1200fps 4,800psi
Elephant FFG 1150fps 3,400psi
Pyrodex RS 1200fps 5,600psi

12ga 70mm 90gr 1 1/4oz Rem 209P .125 card .25 wool felt .125 card
Goex FFG 1100fps 5,100psi
Elephant FFG 1100fps 4,700psi
Pyrodex RS 1150fps 5,700psi

12ga 70mm 90gr 1 1/2oz Rem 209P .125 card .25 wool felt .125 card
Goex FFG 1050fps 5,900psi
Elephant FFG 1000fps 4,900psi
Pyrodex RS 1000fps 5,400psi

Just for the heck of it, I decided to chart the loads.



Pete

A few years back I took my grandad's old Belgium round bottum, back action lock, 12 ga hammer gun out of the cabinet and cleaned it up. I had new firing pins made for it. The bores were clean. The stocks are in good shape except the checkering a little worn on the fore end wood from being caried. The gun has no finish left on it because grandpa used in in S. F. Bay in his scull boat. The salt air and water disloved the browning on the barrels and case hardening on the receiver and locks. I have the original brass shell reloading tools for it. He had purchased it at Sears when he was a boy. I loaded up a bunch of black powder loads for it and took it pheasant hunting. It worked real well although I had to get used to the cloud of smoke each time I shot a bird. I could hear the shot hit them, but could only see them on the ground until the smoke cleared. I used Winchester AA plastic shot shells for reloading with Wincester primers. I used 85 gr. of FFg powder and plastic AA plastic piston with the center spring cut out. I did not have any wads as I had been previously loading trap loads for my modern double guns. Now, it has been said that the plastic power piston will leave a coating of plastic in tne barrels. I did not have any problem with it with few shells I fired. The plastic base wad and shot cup seemed to work real well. I used 1 1/2 oz of #5 shot in each shell. I also have a large collection of decoys he made out of redwood that I used for duck hunting years ago. They are light, but by the end of the season become heavy as they become waterlogued. They required painting every second year I think all of you are right on with te loadss you are using.

I used 3f in everything. Everything being ML shotguns, rifles, pistols and cartridge shotguns. You can likely get the same velocity with 70 grs. of 3f (as with 80 grs. of 2f), you will have less recoil and get about 12 extra loads from each pound of powder. You should also use an over-powder card wad on top of the powder.

I tend to use just 2 1/2 dram of fine grain black powder to 1 ounce of shot and find it works well for clays and game. Primers don't seem to be as critical as nitro loading; anything that has a good flash works well without any change to ballistics. Good idea in usig black cases as that is what I use to save any confusion. Lagopus.....