Shotgun shells & Blackpowder

[Tightwad]

Is is possible to reload shotgun shells as if they were muzzleloader
loads? This unlikely scenario would be useful in cases where the
shotgun you have is out of premade ammo and no new ammo
is available.

I know that there is an issue with the primer caps but that's part
of this question also. How does one fire the BP loaded shell?

Now I know this wouldn't work well in much over a double barrel
so this idea is really limited.

Is this possible??

[Wyobuckaroo]

Howdy

I believe they use black powder shot shells in some of the Cowboy action shooting sports.

Not sure if they are commercially available, most likely hand loads.

As far as primers goes, off hand, can't see an alternative to shotshell primers.

Will have to Google this out of curiosity.
If you find any info give a shout.
Wyo

[Tightwad]

Found this so far........

http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=04437249&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.usp to.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3Fu%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252Fsrchnum.htm%252 6Sect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526p%3D1%2526r%3 D1%2526l%3D50%2526f%3DG%2526d%3DPALL%2526s1%3D4437 249.PN.%2526OS%3DPN%2F4437249%2526RS%3DPN%2F443724 9&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=Vie w+first+page

and this to go with it......

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?u=%2Fnetahtml%2Fsrchnum.htm&Sect1=PTO1&Sect 2=HITOFF&p=1&r=1&l=50&f=G&d=PALL&s1=4437249.PN.&OS =PN/4437249&RS=PN/4437249

This is kinda what I ment and might be enough. However, where
would a person buy such an adapter device such as the one in t
patent document??

[Toad_Sticker]

I have used homemade BP in my shotgun.
it works ok.
the problem I had is with plastic shells.
the sulpher in HM BP tends to be globs of molten sulpher and it melted the shell so you could only use it once.
If I ever run out of ammo I will be long dead anyway so maybe my grandkids will need this info.
TS

[Wyobuckaroo]

Howdy

You may want to use brass shells, or aluminum, if you are going to turn them yourself.

I know they use a "AA" style plastic shot wad in muzzle loading shotguns. Don't see why you could not use that and a top card in a brass hull.

Good luck
Wyo

[DM]

If I ever run out of ammo I will be long dead anyway so maybe my grandkids will need this info.
TS

Me too TS, but to me this seems like a classic case of a person makeing up there mind "ahead of time" of what is "best", and then trying to create the "ideal" situation for it to work...

No matter what you choose, you are going to have to stockpile "something" for it....

DM

[blackpowderbill]

I reload modern shells with bp all the time. The key is to use paper hulls as with the low pressures of bp th epaper hulls allow them to seal, as the plasitc is a tad tougher and does not expend as well.

Primers; the 209 standard shotgun primer works well as it is the standard shotshell primer.

I measure just like using my muzzle loaders then load the hull as usuall.

[Tightwad]

Bill, thanks. I kinda wondered which shell would be better and
you've confirmed the paper shell.

Thank's for the help in my search for "just one gun". ;D

[Kpdpipes]

I load a few thousand BP shells a year for Cowboy Action, and just because i like making Smoke ;D There are a few things you have to rmemeber.
#1 There is NO reason you cant just use modern components when using BP, just remember that the plastic wads WILL leave a lot of residue in the bore, which will have to be cleaned out. Good Solvent and one of those Stainless "Tornado" brushes work wonders.

#2, BP loads are volumetric, so always use a "Square" Load Measure out your shot, then use the same VOLUME in Powder. I shoot a 1 1/8 oz load. I throw a 1 1/8 shot load into my powder dipper, and adjust so it fills to the top. I load on a standard (Texan) Press, with the only difference being I charge the hull with powder by hand, rather than use the hopper. I usually shoot Remington 00Buck Highbrass hulls, since i scaveng them from the range when we Qualify twice a year on my PD, i usually end up with around 2K hulls every six omnths like that, I'll resize and deprime them sitting in front of the TV, and box them up in 500 hull lots, then load them every few weeks, one lot at a time.

Use a LOT of wad pressure to compact the powder column, and also make sure your crimp is nice and tight to maintain compression.

If you go to the SASS website, there are lots of people who load BP there that use other components, and all brass shells as well.

[heatingman]

I have successfully reloaded Black Powder shotgun shells. I use Federal Premium Paper hulls, GOEX FFg powder, 209 primers. I tend to use 80-90 grains of Black Powder to propel 1-1/4 ounces of shot. Fiber wads work bettter than plastic for Black Powder. Black Powder burns at a much higher temperature than smokeless and it will melt plastic wads leaving behind a mess in your barrel. Fiber wads can be ordered from a company called "Ballistic Products". Check them out on the web. Paper shells can be either roll crimped or star crimped. I have recently discussed black powder shotgun shells in another discusion board called "Shotgun World" I asked questions regarding shotshell and slug loads for blackpowder.