PPB's and Black powder

[jpuke]

I was talking to a guy at the range one day that was shooting a Sharps replica with blackpowder and cast bullets and I asked him if he's ever tried paper patched bullets.  He said he hadn't because "he doesn't want to put a patch through the bore after every round."  Is it always necessary to do that?  I've been thinking about experimenting with blackpowder someday, especially for hunting, but how do you get a second shot off if the bore has to be swabbed?

[cooper]

Some people do run a patch through the bore after each paper-patched round.  The reason is to remove the fouling from the bore.

Alternatively, you can use a lube to help keep the fouling soft.  Since there are no grooves on the bullet for lube, what you have to do is use a "cookie" of grease.  I use the same lube for the cookie that I do for regular grease-groove bullet blackpowder loads.  

In my .45/100 I use unsized cases.  I first load black powder, then compress it about .25",  then load a grease cookie about .1" thick, then a plastic wad, and then hand seat the bullet.  I then taper crimp with Lyman's taper crimp die.

I still blow-tube after every shot with this method.

[JBMauser]

cooper, do you set the grease cookie directly on the BP.  Would this not leech some oil or lube into the powder over time (and on a hot day in the sun) and render some of the powder ... dud like and cause the effect of a lesser load?  My other question is this.  what did the military do when the knocked down a hundred rounds in a battle.  they used PP and could not wipe the bore as the enemy came on.  JB

[cooper]

Good catch, JB!  Yes, I do put a wax paper disc on top of the powder before the grease cookie.  I have never kept these for very long to see if the lube would migrate onto the powder.

In fact, I'm still experimenting and have tried both putting the cookie in first (on top of the waxed paper), vs. putting the plastic wad in first, with the grease cookie next and then the bullet.  But to prevent the cookie from sticking to the base of the bullet, I put a waxed paper disc on top of the grease cookie.

And I don't know which way is better.  Sometimes it seems like one way shoots better, but then at the next range session, it seems like the other way shoots better.  Maybe there really is no accuracy difference between the two methods.

Re: the military?  I don't know how they did it.  I'd be interested in finding out.

[zrifleman]

Cooper--recently I shot some cast bullets with a grease cookie directly on the base of the bullet and founthe next to the steel target at 100 yds. So now all my loads get a plastic wad between the bullet and grease cookie. Especially the PP bullets.

[Redhawk1]

I load the powder into a fire formed case, install a .030 wad and compress to desired compression. I then put a grease cookie in and another .030 wad and push it down with a dow rod to seat it on to the first wad. I then but the paper patched bullet in the case and seat it to the wad. I then run the case with bullet installed into the sizing die with the decapper pin removed to put slight pressure to hold the bullet in place. I do not crimp it or make it to tight, so not to rip the paper.