real or synthetic?

[horseman308]

I'm really thinking hard about getting into BPCR. I'm fairly experienced shooting flintlocks, and know pretty well what the advantages and disadvantages of real BP vs. synthetics like Pyrodex are in muzzleloaders. What about cartridges? What do y'all load? Why? When you clean your rifles at the end of the day, do you have to clean the whole action every time, or is it sealed enough from the barrel that you don't have to worry about fouling in the action so much?

I know almost enough about BPCRs to be ignorant, so any info would be cool. Thanks!

[Nobade]

Funny you should mention that today. I just got back from the range playing with my C.Sharps 1875 45-70 and Pyrodex. I too remember using the stuff in muzzleloaders and really didn't like it. But I have a couple of pounds sitting around and am out of Goex, so I thought I'd give it a try. Wow, it sure works better in the cartridge rifle than it does in a muzzleloader! Shooting off the bench I was easily able to group inside all the silhouette swingers if I paid attention to the wind. It was easily as good as BP, and actually seemed to foul a little less. I could get 10 shots between wiping, and I don't think I really needed to do that other than take a break and let the barrel cool. So yeah, based on limited experience it works well. Also remember I think only BP and Pyrodex are legal for BPCR competition. 777 works wonderfully, but it would be cheating it's so close to smokeless as far as performance and fouling.

[Ray Newman]

If you look @ the equipment lists for various matches, you'll see that 99.9% of the competitors load w/ BP. The reason? --  because BP works, works well, & far better than the BP substitutes.

Below are 2  links (one is in MS Word format; the other Adobe) to an on-line BPCR reloading primer:

http://www.ssbpcrc.co.uk/Resources/Introduction%20to%20BPCR%20Loading.doc

http://www.ssbpcrc.co.uk/Resources/Introduction%20to%20BPCR%20Loading.pdf

Reloading a BPCR cartridge is not  difficult, it is just different from White/Nitro Powder (AKA Smokeless) reloading & does require a certain am’t. of patience & attention to detail.

Also, here are links to two very good books about reloading & shooting the BPCR:

“Shooting Buffalo rifles of the Old West” by noted black powder correspondent Mike Venturino
http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,3028.htm

“SPG Black Powder Cartridge Reloading Primer”, by Steve Garbe
http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,1066.htm

Cleaning:

When shooting BP cartridges, a Shooter needs to decap & wash the cases out w/ hot soapy water (or some other effective cleaning solution) as soon as possible. Otherwise, the BP will attack the brass & weaken it.

W/ the right load, a Shooter will not experience blowback. I shoot numerous BPCRs & the rifles are very easy to clean. For example, to take down a Sharps or a Ballard, you just remove the lever pin, & the breech block & extractor drop out. The Remington Rolling Block requires removal of the breech block & hammer pins.  As a matter of habit, I remove the blocks to clean @ the end of the shooting session. Probably totally unnecessary to do @ the end of ea. range visit, but old habits die hard.

I’d visit the Shiloh board & look thru the various threads to get some more info about BPCRs, reloading, lead & paper patched bullets, etc.

http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/
http://www.shilohrifle.com/

 & speaking of the PP bullet:

“Making, Loading, and Shooting Paper Patched Bullets”, Brent Danielson
http://www.iastate.edu/~codi/PPB/PPB.html

[horseman308]

Thanks! That's exactly the kind of information I was looking for.