Forums.NitroExpress.com

Dave- thanks for measuring the twist. This shows it was meant for round ball and therefore quite probably black powder proofed. The load you list is a smokeless powder for larger bores, I believe and is not generally suitable for such a small bore. What I mean, is that it may run up pressure pretty fast and you should perhaps be using a slower powder. The smaller the bore, the slower the powder used.
:
Check a shotshell loading manual for 28 bore loads and see the range of powders used there. The slower burning the powder, the better as they aren't quite as violent in building pressure. Use a powder that gives descent velocity with the very lowest pressure. You're looking for pressure well under 10,000PSI. Start several grains below their lowest charge and go from there. You want something in the 1,300fps to 1,500fps range. A full charge of BP should give you a lot more - in the 1,700fps to 1,900fps range.
:
Wad columns are the easy part. Track of the wolf can set you up with wads in card, fibre (1/2" donna conna and 1/16" Walter's Veggie wads) as well as OxYoke fibre wads.
:
I'd use plastic only with smokeless powder. If the black powder gasses get past your wad column, they'll melt plastic onto the bores off the wads. This can be prevented somewhat by using at least 2 hard 1/8" card wads on the powder, underneath the plastic.
:
If one of the filler fibre wads is lubed, this should help keep fouling to a minimun with BP loads. YOou should be able to run at least 10 shots each barrel before wiping/cleaning them out.
:
For 'stacking' the load, it's powder, wad, filler wad or wads(if needed), ball and roll crimp.
:
If using a plastic shot wad, cut the petals and stems off the wad and use the cupped base only when using BP. There must be a hard card wad between the plastic and the powder.
:
Since your balls are bore size, you don't need a plastic wad with the cupped base pointing upwards to centre the ball - lucky you.
:
This rifle has round ball twists and is not suitable for slugs. They will not be stable, although at close range may shoot reasonably well, maybe not. The twist and low velocity dictate round ball.
:
A cleaner shooting load for black powder would have a ball of perhaps .535" patched in lubricated cloth as for a muzzleloading rifle. I'd use something like .022" to .025" denim (10 oz. to 12 oz) and try the fit in a case. Adjust the cloth thickness to get a tight fit in the case. Use something like Hoppe's #9 PLUS. Ordinary Hoppe's #9 is not suitable for black powder.
:
Like I said earlier, I don't have one of these guns. This 'stuff' is general and is useable for most side by sides of excellent condtion. BTW- congratulations - that is an extremely beautiful gun. I'd sure like to pelt a moose with it. Alas, disability pensions don't permit purchases like that.
Hope this info helps remove some of the cobwebs of doubt.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

Post Extras