Author Topic: What is it? (Read 917 times)

Carolina Lead Foot #35944 · « **on:** January 14, 2003, 12:13:33 PM »

I have been shooting BP for the last couple of years in my CAS guns and 45/70. The last two weekends in my 45lc loads, there was a trace of what looked like a clay residue in the case after firing. Noticed them at the unloading table. The 45s (Schoefield) loads did not have this kind of redish orange substance in the case. The loads are a 2.2cc dipper of FFG Elephant in the 45lc and a 1.6cc dipper in the 45s. The residue washed away by the time I got home (I dump my emties into a soapy mix at the range) and cleaned up like normal. The bullet in both loads was a LEE 250 PGS lubed with a 50/50 crisco bees wax lube. Just curious if anyone had seen this before.

As an aside, tried shooters.com tonight and the web site would not come up.

CLF :grin:

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2003, 02:18:26 PM »

Carolina,

Wat yer seein is sulfer residue from the high temps "melting" the sulfer in yer powder. It's frequently noted by the folks who shoot frontstuffers and is considered to be a sign that you are shooting a very well balanced load. This may or may not be true, just what summa the oldtimers claim! But it IS sulfer! :twisted:

Old Cane · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2003, 07:45:25 AM »

I've seen a similar thing in smokeless loads. Nobody ever could answer what it was. Will smokeless do the same? I've seen it in handloads and reloads I've bought. Looks kind of like cleaning media.

Carolina Lead Foot #35944 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 15, 2003, 01:55:14 PM »

Thanks Cuts....it does shoot very good so maybe that is the answer. Looks like this is going to be another great web site. :eek:

CLF

John Traveler · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2003, 02:58:37 PM »

I agree that if you find that reddish stuff in fired black powder cases, it's most likely burned sulfur. Raw sulfur in nature comes in yellow, red, and even black. The darker colors come from exposure to heat or burning.

Smokeless (nitrocelluose) powder does not have any sulfur in it. what I have found is case cleaner or tumbling media ("rouge"). Rouge is a very fine polishing compound (used in cosmetics and industrial polishing) imbedded in an occasional case. It won't hurt anything, other than taking up space that powder would occupy.
:shock:

Old Cane · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2003, 04:14:55 AM »

Thanks, John. I thought it was but some have tried to tell me it's unburned powder. I couldn't figure why it would be the color it was. Sure looks like media.