Measuring BLACK POWDER for charges.

[Blaster]

The measuring of your black powder for cannon charges could be made a lot easier if you were to use a BLACK POWDER measure and I happen to have one for sale down in our classified section.  I had bought a LYMAN No. 55 BLACK POWDER measure with the intention of getting into BPCR but never went ahead with the project.  This one has never been used and is brand new in the box.  Now, I'm just wondering how many of us big bore cannon/mortar shooters even weigh each charge, using a scale  or are some already using a measure??  Didn't get any response what so ever down in the classified so thought I'd mention it here so I can get at least a little coverage.

[Double D]

Given the size of the charges involved every single Cannon charge should be weighed!!!!!

[Cat Whisperer]

Two principles here.

1. The weight (mass) of the black powder determines how many molecules of the mixture are available to go boom or BOOM.  How densly it packs makes a difference in how much powder is in a given volume.

2. Until you've VERIFIED the repeatability of YOUR measure under ALL the conditions (moisture, temperature) that you'll encounter you are GUESSING on the charge.  (That makes the statement "Weigh every charge" credible.)

I have a couple of #55 Lyman measures; very repeatable with smokeless - never  tried them using black.

[Rickk]

Volumetric measure of BP seems to be less repeatable as grain size gets bigger.

Cannon grade seem to be close to impossible to measure volumetrically. In my mortar I shoot about 170 grains of Cannon grade behind a 2# lead ball. I tried measuring volumetrically and found +- 20 grains or so variation. At that point I gave up and got a nice inexpensive digital scale that measures in grams, grains and ounces.

I was just reloading some BP shotgun shells with 50 grains of 1F this weekend. I tried Lee dipper style measures, gave up and went to a measuring each charge after I realized that I could not stay within +- 10% with the dipper.

For 2,3,4F I have not had any issues with measuring volumetric-ally. I have a custom 50 caliber Hawkins style rifle that groups about an inch at 100 yards all day and that is loaded with 2F using an adjustable volumetric measure. 3F and 4F out of the small powder flasks with screw on measuring tubes works very repeatable for me in my BP handguns.

I am wondering if anyone has experience with the Lyman #55 with course grains of BP and also how much the maximum charge setting is.

[Evil Dog]

I measure each and every charge on an electronic reloading scale... no guessing that way.

[Blaster]

I am wondering if anyone has experience with the Lyman #55 with course grains of BP and also how much the maximum charge setting is.

I too, am wondering just how accurate the Lyman No. 55 would be with BP.  I'd give this one a try but it's brand new and if I am lucky enough to sell it still  as new, I sure wouldn't want any little particles of powder left in it. 
Also, this is the Lyman No. 55 BLACK POWDER Measure, made exclusively for BP however smokeless may be used too.  The portions of the measure that actually cut the powder grains are made of brass so the chance of sparking are said to be zero.  These measures have L O N G  drop tubes which have to help in the consistency of the powder drop.  I have always measured ALL of my BP charges to the 1/10 grain which I know is overkill but that's just the way I prefer to do it.

[seacoastartillery]

     All of the Lyman products I have used proved to be excellent.  I have not used the #55, but loaded more than 10,000 rounds of 45-70 ammo with the smokeless powder version powder measure, luber/sizer, leadpot, etc.  The main reason Mike and I weigh every charge for our smooth bore or rifled cannon is accuracy, or more correctly, precision and consistency which conrtibute to accuracy.  By using a choronograph extensively this past two years, we can see a direct cause and effect relationship between low standard deviation numbers for velocity and tighter 5 shot groups.

     Besides, in the pursuit of accuracy, you control what variables you can and compensate for the wind and other variables you can't control.  When it comes to using black powder, we find prudent to NEVER BE IN A HURRY so we take a little extra time and weigh every charge. 

Regards,

Mike and Tracy

[Blaster]

Mike/Tracy.  I certainly agree with the "Do NOT hurry" advice when utilizing ANY Black Powder, be it in cannon, mortar, rifle or pistol.
 If I remember correctly, you two guys were at the Casper, Wyoming Cannon Shoot about two years ago displaying your 1/6 Seacoast Cannon, right?
Do you have any intention of attending and showing your wares at the upcoming RMFCSA Machine Gun shoot over by Cheyenne Wells, CO on the first weekend of May?  Along with some large crowds, there has always been some black powder big bore stuff at those shoots in the past. What say ye???
Blaster (Bob in So. CO)

[seacoastartillery]

Blaster,

     You are correct, we were in Casper, and we had such a great time we definitely will be back as time permits.  As for the upcoming MG and Cannon shoot; we will be in Mansfield, OH that weekend at the 15th Annual Artillery Show and 30th Annual Civil War Show.  We sure hope to meet you sometime, somewhere before the snow flies again!

     Just found some shooting data from last summer.   Measured charges,  1/6 scale 100 Pdr. Parrott Rifle, 100 Yds., 5 shots, Std. Dev. Velocity - 35 to 65, Group size ave. - 8 inches
                                                                            Weighed charges,  .................same cannon..................................,Std, Dev. Velocity - 14 to 22, Group Size, 3 to 6 inches

We fired some 25,  5 shot groups to get those results, so while not a huge study, it is much more than a casual outing or two.

Regards,

Mike and Tracy