Adjustable Black Powder Measure

[vonfilm]

How does one measure the odd charge of black powder for a revolver? For instance 17 or 18 grains of powder when the adjustable powder measures I have seen adjust in 5 or 10 grain increments.

 

Don't worry about 2 grains either way.

 

[David W.]

How does one measure the odd charge of black powder for a revolver? For instance 17 or 18 grains of powder when the adjustable powder measures I have seen adjust in 5 or 10 grain increments.

It helps to have a weigh scale to set the adjustable measure to.

 

[rafterob]

If you have a sliding adjustable measure you can set it wherever you want. The ones that click in place are a little more finnicky. I set mine at 15 grains to start (.44 cal) and just kept sliding it up a little at a time and stopped when I was getting fairly consistent groups.I guess it is about 22 grains.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

I use of of those brass adjustable (sliding) powder measures that works from 5-120 grains. If I want a 72 grain charge, I set it to right between 70 & 75 and call it 72. Likewise, if I'm pouring a 27 grain charge for the revolver, I set the measure to right between 25 & 30 grains.

The trick to doing this is to try to maintain some sort of consistency when you do it! And also to throw all of the charges of that particular volume at the same time from the same can of powder. I also tap the edge of the measure, then pour more powder into it, then tap again, then twist the funnel into battery to pour the charge into my red storage tubes from Rightnour Manufacturing Co. in PA.: www.rmcsports.com . I'm a little A-R about my charges, but I win competitions, so I guess that I'm doing something right! :idunno:

Dave
NRA Expert in ML Pistol

 

[Blizzard of '93]

somewhere here on the Forum is a list of powder measures capacity useing brass cartridge cases.
IIRC a .38spcl case = 18 gr
.357mag case = 24 gr
X39 case = 33gr.
this is 3f.

the .38 caseful is a good 'target load'.

 

[token tory]

Some for pistol have 5 gr increments. 1/2 way between is 2.5.
I worked up a load I liked & then set the measure to match the load. Then I made a scratch mark on the back of the scale for where I wanted to be & just use that. I've also used things like the top, bottom, or somewhere else of the numbers engraved on the slide.
As has been said BP isn't like smokeless where 1/10 Gr. matters. :nono:

 

[Robert an saa fan]

somewhere here on the Forum is a list of powder measures capacity useing brass cartridge cases.

Made up several sets of dippers with various types of handles years ago and find them very useful when range shooting. Powder goes in a margarine tub with close-able lid.

Following is the list Blizzard of 93 referenced:
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/247958/

 

I just looked at the list of cartridges and their BP capacity. Do you know if this is FF or FFF ?
Mark

 

[Poor Private]

Even though I myself is not period correct, or even totally traditional. I have a question for those of you who use "plastic". --Why? We go to great lenghts to wear tradional clothes, use period style weapons, why use cartridges, and plastic for powder measures when you can pick up several different styles of brass measures for a few bucks to almost free(.50-buck) at gun shows for used ones. why not use natural style measures such as horns, antlers, and the like. It's the same way when I see someone useing those plastic sleeves for premade loads. It's winter for goodness sake get off your lazy butts and make paper rounds for the upcoming season. I do And when I get them made I store them in ammo cans, for when I go out into the field. why dress up in all your period gear, carry a period weapon, and leathers, then ruin it all by pulling out a piece of plastic :barf: .

 

[buttonbuck]

I have a small pistol measure made by traditions that measures 0-50 grains. It is a little easier to measure more precise powder charges than the 0-120 measure I use for my rifles. It does not have a funnel. thank you for the pep talk Poor Private. Gun shows are hit and miss in my neck of the woods. Sometimes there is the guy with an estate of bp stuff cheap and then the person with the odd item who asks way too much for things. I have a hard time paying 7-10 dollars to just go shop. Luckily they do not charge the last 3 hours of the show and most do not like the old school bp items and well it works out.

 

[vonfilm]

I found a 1 to 30 grain brass Treso measure on ebay for about $11 plus shipping. It is adjustable in 1 grain increments.

 

[Claude Mathis]

Even though I myself is not period correct, or even totally traditional. I have a question for those of you who use "plastic". --Why? We go to great lenghts to wear tradional clothes, use period style weapons, why use cartridges, and plastic for powder measures when you can pick up several different styles of brass measures for a few bucks to almost free(.50-buck) at gun shows for used ones. why not use natural style measures such as horns, antlers, and the like. It's the same way when I see someone useing those plastic sleeves for premade loads. It's winter for goodness sake get off your lazy butts and make paper rounds for the upcoming season. I do And when I get them made I store them in ammo cans, for when I go out into the field. why dress up in all your period gear, carry a period weapon, and leathers, then ruin it all by pulling out a piece of plastic :barf: .

Because not everyone cares about being traditional. You cannot judge everyone by your standards. Some people just want to shoot their guns. Shooting muzzleloaders is not only about being traditional, historic, or anything other than shooting for some. We need to understand and respect that.

 

[junkman_01]

Poor Private wrote;
"And when I get them made I store them in ammo cans"

Yeah, ammo cans are traditional, huh!

 

[token tory]

Yeah, ammo cans are traditional, huh!

Perhaps they are "Period" ammo cans. :rotf:

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I think 3f but I was you I'd use a known to be true powder neasure to check the breass cases.
seems I remember the .38 case being less than the table says.
anyway useing a known measure you could trim the brass cases to suit the powder charge thrown.
I do know a X39 case (AK or SKS case) is about all the 3f a '58 Rem can hold and still load a Lee conical slug. believe me quite a potent load.
even a ball at that load is devastating.

 

[Claude Mathis]

I just looked at the list of cartridges and their BP capacity. Do you know if this is FF or FFF ?
Mark

Zonie answers this here...
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/254511/

 

[token tory]

*edit*
Not sure what happened, this may be a double-post*

The water volume may have been me, I posted a list of case capacties for common brass cases. The idea was that BP weighs about the same by volume as water.

Here is the list again for anyone interested.
Case name / H2O capacity
.14 Hornet 12
.17 Hornet 14
.17 Rem 27
.204 Ruger 33
.22 Hornet 14
.22 K-Hornet 15
.218 Bee 18
.22 Rem Jet 18
.221 Rem 21
.222 Rem 27
.223 Rem 31
.222 Rem Mag 32
5.6x50R 34
.219 Zipper 34
.225 Win 41
.22-250 Rem 43
.220 Swift 48
.223 WSSM 53
.22-06 65
.22-15 Stevens 17
.22 Sav 35
6x47 33
6x52R Bret. 36
6x70R 39
.243 Win 54
6 Rem 55
.240 Wea Mag 65
6x62R 67
.236 USN 51
.240 Fl. N.E. 58
.25-20 WCF 19
.256 Win 22
.25-21 Stevens 25
.25-25 Stevens 29
.25-36 Marlin 37
.25-35 WCF 37
.25 Rem 42
.250 Sav 46
.257 Roberts 56
.25-06 Rem 66
.257 Wea Mag 84
6.5x70R 39
6.5 Jap. 48
6.5x52 Carcano 49
6.5x53R 49
6.5x54 M-S(.256) 50
.260 Rem 53
6.5x55 57
6.5x57(R) 58
6.5 Rem Mag 68
.264 Win Mag 82
.270 REN 16
.270 Win 68
.270 Wea 83
.28-30 Stevens 37
7-30 Waters 45
7x72R 54
7-08 Rem 56
7x57(R) Mauser 59
.284 Win 66
.280 Rem 67
7x65R 68
7 WSM 81
7 Rem Mag 84
.30 Carbine 21
.30-357 AeT 25
.30-30 45
.30 Rem 46
.303 Sav 48
.300 Sav 52
.307 Win 54
7.62 NATO 54
.308 Win 56
.30 Fl.NE Purdey 58
.30-40 U.S. 58
.30-06 U.S. 69
.300 H&H 86
.300 Win Mag 89
.30 Fl. H&H 90
.300 Wea Mag 99
.30-378 130
7.62x54R 64
.303 Brit 57
.375/303 W-R 62
.32-20 WCF 22
7.65 Mauser 58
8x72R 59
.32-40 Ballard 41
8x50R Lebel 66
8x57(R) Mauser 62
8-06 70
8 Rem Mag 98
.318 W-R 69
.333 Jeffery 86
.33 WCF 63
.338-06 70
.338 Win Mag 86
.340 Wea Mag 98
.338-378 132
.348 Win 75
9x57(R) Mauser 62
.357 Mag 27
.357 Max 34
.357/44 B&D 35
.400/350 Rigby 78
.350 ME Guide 2 49
.35 Rem 51
.356 Win 57
.358 Win 57
.35 WCF 69
.35 Whelen 71
.35 Greevy 72
.350 Rem Mag 73
.358 Norma Mag 88
9.3x57 Mauser 64
9.3x54R Finn. 65
9.3x72R 67
9.3x62 77
9.3x74R 82
.360 No.2 NE 111
.375 Win 49
.38-56 Win 62
.375 2½ N.E. 67
.375-06 73
.375 H&H 95
.375 Fl. Mag 97
.375 Ruger 100
.369 N.E. 102
.378 Wea Mag 136
.38-55 Ballard 52
.38-72 Win 74
.38-40 WCF 40
.400 Whelen 75
.405 Win 78
.400 Jeffery 117
.450/400 NE 3¼ 123
.416 Taylor 92
.416 Rem Mag 107
.416 Rigby 130
.416 Wea Mag 134
.423 OKH 77
.404 Jeffery 113
.44-40 WCF 40
.44 Spl 34
.44 Rem Mag 39
.444 Marlin 69
.45 Colt 42
.454 Casull 47
.45-70 U.S. 79
.450 Marlin 74
.45-90 2.4" 90
.458 Win Mag 94
.458 Lott 108
.450 3¼ N.E. 129
.460 Wea Mag 140
.465 N.E. 144
.470 N.E. 146
.475 3¼ N.E. 137
.50-110 109
.50 BMG 293

 

[Pete Gaimari]

For C&B revolvers I use a flask. I adjust the charge with different spouts. I hardly ever worry about 2 gr.