Question #2 -- loose powder

[JEH]

Not too much traffic on this forum, so I’m gonna go ahead and fire up question number 2:

How do you guys take loose powder to the shooting range?  Do you take the whole container and measure out what you need when you need it?  Speed loaders?  35mm film containers?  Not too many people shoot muzzleloaders at the range I go to (at least at the times that I go), so I’m a little of an oddity.  Don’t want to  freak  anyone out whipping out mass quantities of propellant (actually, I don’t mind erring on the side of caution so as not to make other range users uncomfortable).  Let me hear how you guys do it. 

On a side note, I’ve taken a little of a verbal beating from a couple older retired guys for not using a traditional ML.  But hey, I figure to each his own.  I have a job with a 50 mile round trip commute 5 days a week, one wife(that’s enough), two active kids( sports, band, hunting etc.),  two mortgages (trying to sell one)  etc.  It’s hard enough to get out and shoot at all.  If/when I have time, I’ll go traditional also (not instead), but for now, I’ll do what I can.  These guys were shooting centerfire rifles, so go figure. 


Thanks

John

[jbtazgrabber]

when shooting at a range i use a brass powder flask.....i load from the flask to the powder measure. i use the brass flask because its tougher than plastic and if i happen to forget to get the flask out of the way of a spark or to close to the gun when shooting... :oif im going to shoot a lot ill keep the big  powder can  in the range bag a safe distace from my shooting and put into the flask when needed........i have shot the OLD  traditional b.p. and shot the round balls that most of them shoot so well only to loose deer that ran over a hundred yards with little or no blood trail....cva makes a in expensive sidelock with a quick twist barrel and cheap plastic stocks that shoot preety good for 69.00 bucks  from wally world...i use this as a jump gun on drives with open sights..its quicker and must be better than scopes a close range because all my hunting buddies now have these because i was the only one killing deer on drives.......i usally carry 2 guns during b.p.saeson,a pistol or two rifles one scoped for long shots and a open sighted for close running shots.........it works good..plus i dont get a verbal bashing because at least one of my guns are  traditional.............jb

[Keith Lewis]

I found some 1/2 oz bottles at a local plastic company that are exactly .50 cal at the neck. I just measure out my loads and fill the bottles before I leave. If I am shooting different loads I either mark the bottles with a felt tip or color code the tops. I use the same bottles when hunting as backup loads for my T/C quick loaders. The bottles are more secure.

[coop2564]

I have a black powder toolbox that I carry everything in, have a pour spout for the bottle of powder and pour straight to my measurer.

[JEH]

Thanks for the replies.  I think once I get my load worked up, I'm going to try and come up with some "pre-measured" method -- speed loaders, film container etc.  I'm pretty slow when I'm shooting as it is, this may move things along a little.  Also it may help me practice speeding up the re-loading process in case a follow-up shot is possible/necessary during a hunt.


John

[buroak]

I use plastic test tubes, some have screw on caps and some have pop off tops. They come in various sizes.

[Mac11700]

I picked up these when getting all my other stuff...They seem to be something you might like...You can use 1 end for pellets...the other is marked for loose powder..



Mac

[hunterwinco]

I used to just take my flask (one of those TC clear plastic jobs) to the range.  It hold about 10 shots.  Last time I went to shoot I really wanted to play a lot more and ran out of powder!  Now I throw my can of APP in the truck when I go.  Sometimes you just hate to leave the range when your playing with your sidekick or handi rifle!

[cheatermk3]

This may sound super cheap but it worked for me for many years hunting with my sidelock:

After you get your load/gun figured out so you know what your charge will be, you can make up "speed loaders" using empty, fired shotgun hulls for the container.

Leave the spent primer in.  For 58 caliber I used 12-gauge hulls, 20 gauge works for everything else down to 45 caliber. 

Drop your measured charge into the hull, then take your greased bullet(I like minies) and wrap it in a large enough cloth patch, like a 12 gauge shotgun cleaning patch, to both contain the lube to keep it from contaminating your powder, and "shim" the lubed bullet or patched ball so it fits tightly into the hull.  Push it in just far enough that it stays inside the hull but is not down onto the powder.  This will leave enough of the cloth sticking out for a grip so it can be quickly removed in the feild.

When you need a reload, just hold the rifle with one hand as usual and grab one of the speed loaders out of your pocket or possibles bag and hold onto the patch with your teeth, pull the bullet out of the hull, dump the powder down the bore, then remove the patched bullet from the "hankie" and get it down where it belongs.

I know it sounds funky but it works.  I have a few of these in a plastic ziplock sandwich bag that are several years old and the powder is still dry.