Brokennock
Cannon
I promised quite some time ago that I would post pictures of the details of loading the Skychief load next time I went to the patterning board. Well, then Covid hit, I got sick, when I returned to work it was with an uncooperative schedule and the weather went bizarre (snow in May?).
I just got to load my gun to, hopefully, go turkey hunting tomorrow. I took pics as I went along.
But 1st a quote from Skychief himself taken from his "sticky" post in the hunting section,
Here are our components,
![20200521_192923.jpg 20200521_192923.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32040-902dbbbde1d950c4763e36b83c931458.jpg)
![20200521_192815.jpg 20200521_192815.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32041-bd9a76daf20604ee8702bed8ab285b51.jpg)
Powder, I'm using 70 grains of 3f (your load may vary), nitro (or "over powder") card, shot load (in my case I am using one of my paper shot cartridges containing 1 1/8 oz of #5 shot), one thin "overshot" card (we are only using one but I picture 2 so people can see how thin they are), then the key "Skychief" component, a "cushion wad," that is completely saturated in lube. The cushion wad dry is about 10.5 grains, soaked in lube for a long time it is about 35 grains, and the ones I dip in melted beeswax (a very thin coating) after soaking are about 40 grains.
Let's put it together,
Powder is poured, then,
![20200521_193556.jpg 20200521_193556.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32042-ee01eb8d026be7c64526b4b0b9adca84.jpg)
![20200521_193512.jpg 20200521_193512.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32043-239fe9bc9e70b94a7e3470a5be67130c.jpg)
our over powder "nitro" card is introduced and pushed in enough to introduce my cartridge,
![20200521_193828.jpg 20200521_193828.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32044-815eaf08c38d5898dd14aad0d7913c58.jpg)
If you are using loose shot, and put a tiny cut in the edge of your over shot cards so air can escape, seat the over powder card fully and pour in your shot.
I now push the shot cartridge in until the top of the load is even with the muzzle and,
![20200521_193813.jpg 20200521_193813.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32045-91383aade95594a9011e1799de11d2d2.jpg)
trim to open the cup. Then push it in just enough to place,
![20200521_193744.jpg 20200521_193744.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32046-ce0e1a949a61c2acb0acf514ada96c18.jpg)
my thin overshot card. Push this in just enough to start the last component,,,,
![20200521_193706.jpg 20200521_193706.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32047-2e72127255dcdd68148ba8b2fe64e555.jpg)
our lube soaked cushion wad. Then,
time to make a little mess, have rag or paper towel handy,,,,,
![20200521_193640.jpg 20200521_193640.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32048-fa3384264e52bd5c6d9e04fdf821fa35.jpg)
I used one of my wax coated wads so the mess is more visible. Even without the wax there will be a mess, if your wad fits your bore correctly a good bit of lube will squeeze out as you start it into the bore.
Now seat the whole deal and find something to shoot.
I just got to load my gun to, hopefully, go turkey hunting tomorrow. I took pics as I went along.
But 1st a quote from Skychief himself taken from his "sticky" post in the hunting section,
Having been asked about the load and its makeup enough times, I will list the recipe here for reference sake.
Powder charge
Nitro (hard) card
Shotload
Thin overshot card
Full fiber cushion wad*
*The cushion wad needs to be SATURATED (the wetter and heavier, the better) with oil. I like to use olive oil.
Here are our components,
![20200521_192923.jpg 20200521_192923.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32040-902dbbbde1d950c4763e36b83c931458.jpg)
![20200521_192815.jpg 20200521_192815.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32041-bd9a76daf20604ee8702bed8ab285b51.jpg)
Powder, I'm using 70 grains of 3f (your load may vary), nitro (or "over powder") card, shot load (in my case I am using one of my paper shot cartridges containing 1 1/8 oz of #5 shot), one thin "overshot" card (we are only using one but I picture 2 so people can see how thin they are), then the key "Skychief" component, a "cushion wad," that is completely saturated in lube. The cushion wad dry is about 10.5 grains, soaked in lube for a long time it is about 35 grains, and the ones I dip in melted beeswax (a very thin coating) after soaking are about 40 grains.
Let's put it together,
Powder is poured, then,
![20200521_193556.jpg 20200521_193556.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32042-ee01eb8d026be7c64526b4b0b9adca84.jpg)
![20200521_193512.jpg 20200521_193512.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32043-239fe9bc9e70b94a7e3470a5be67130c.jpg)
our over powder "nitro" card is introduced and pushed in enough to introduce my cartridge,
![20200521_193828.jpg 20200521_193828.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32044-815eaf08c38d5898dd14aad0d7913c58.jpg)
If you are using loose shot, and put a tiny cut in the edge of your over shot cards so air can escape, seat the over powder card fully and pour in your shot.
I now push the shot cartridge in until the top of the load is even with the muzzle and,
![20200521_193813.jpg 20200521_193813.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32045-91383aade95594a9011e1799de11d2d2.jpg)
trim to open the cup. Then push it in just enough to place,
![20200521_193744.jpg 20200521_193744.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32046-ce0e1a949a61c2acb0acf514ada96c18.jpg)
my thin overshot card. Push this in just enough to start the last component,,,,
![20200521_193706.jpg 20200521_193706.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32047-2e72127255dcdd68148ba8b2fe64e555.jpg)
our lube soaked cushion wad. Then,
time to make a little mess, have rag or paper towel handy,,,,,
![20200521_193640.jpg 20200521_193640.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/32/32048-fa3384264e52bd5c6d9e04fdf821fa35.jpg)
I used one of my wax coated wads so the mess is more visible. Even without the wax there will be a mess, if your wad fits your bore correctly a good bit of lube will squeeze out as you start it into the bore.
Now seat the whole deal and find something to shoot.