Did i do something wrong??? Black powder 1858

[twinscrewcanoe]

I'm not sure where this belongs. I'm new to black powder so bear with me. I took some Triple 7 FF and didn't have any FFF. I ground some FF in a ceramic mortar and pestle and loaded it into my 1858 revolver. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now I'm second-guessing myself and am afraid to pull the trigger. I'm guessing this was a bad idea. Am I right? If it is unsafe, can I take out the nipples and push the load out with a punch or will I have to pull the balls from the front? Forgive my lack of knowledge. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[johnsonian09]

How many grains of powder?


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[kevin c]

I’m no black powder shooter, but I do know that, for a given weight of powder, grain size affects the available surface area when the powder starts and then continues to burn, with smaller burning the charge faster. Grain shape is also carefully controlled for the same reason.

If you ground the powder, your grain size is smaller (and variable if not sieved) and irregular. I’d guess it will burn faster, but how much faster idk. From my limited understanding you may have a risky situation on hand.

[twinscrewcanoe]

How many grains of powder?


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It's been sitting a while. I didn't shoot over the winter. As I recall, I used a Lee dipper to measure the powder.

[johnsonian09]

So I make paper cartridges for my 1858.

Occasionally they go bad in the cylinder if I haven’t shot it that long, (lube cookies can contaminate the powder depending of temperature in storage and other things)

take your cylinder out, chuck a 4 inch or so deck screw into a hand drill and carefully thread the screw into your lead ball. Then pull it out by hand.

Just don’t scrape your cylinder wall with the screw. The lead is soft so it shouldn’t be too big of a problem

Also I routinely shoot 40-50 grains with my Remington if you ground a large about of powder like that you may be in trouble to shoot it.

If it was a standard 15-30 grains it’s probably fine.

If you really like your 58 Remmy I’d stick to stock powders and tested loads

You may find these useful



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[armoredman]

How MUCH did you measure into your chambers? You did use a powder measure, right? Powder that is ground down has to be screened to ensure uniformity, or at least as uniform as you can get.

[243winxb]

Hodgdon- Triple Seven is a high-energy powder designed to provide the muzzleloading hunter serious knockdown power. To duplicate a black powder load velocity using Triple Seven, set the volumetric charge 15% lower than recommended for
black powder. Triple Seven is loaded by volumetric measure, NOT by weight.

Modern guns, no problen with the smaller 25 grains. If loaded more? Good luck.

I have filled the cylinder chambers with *BLACK POWDER* full enough to allow room for the ball. Powder is compressed. Modern firearms only. No measure used.

[LST-1185]

Hello twinscrew,
If your nervous about your load than yes remove it from the chambers. Remove the nipples and using a brass or aluminium rod push the powder and balls out of the chambers. Although I have not used Triple Seven I have used Pyrodex RS (2 ffg) and Black MZ (also a 2 ffg) with no problems in my revolvers.

[johnsonian09]

Another thing to note, if your 58 is a brass frame model. It can’t take any hot loads. Period full stop. The frame is the part that will stretch out and fail on you overtime if you abuse it.

Conversion cylinders are also steel frame only because of the stress. And most of those recommend soft lead and cowboy loads.

The only conversion cylinders that call out normal velocity factory jacketed ammo as being okay is the .45 ACP conversion kit by Kirst. But not normal modern .45colt. The parts that break aren’t the modern cylinders but the frame itself.


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[lar45]

777 is not Black Powder!
Please throw all of your ground powder away.
Next I would pull the balls and dump that powder also.
You can use FFg in your revolver without any problems.

[243winxb]

https://www.handloadermagazine.com/p...nt-profiles-24

The physical characteristics and chemical makeup of Triple Seven FFFg is interesting. The powder granules are, as best as I could describe them, very fine and roughly semi-spherical in shape. The granules are a fairly consistent .005 inch to .009 inch across and best described as a darkish gray in color. The bulk density of Triple Seven FFFg is .75g/cc.

[gwpercle]

Good advice ... from my Momma ... "Better Safe Than Sorry !!!"

Remove the nipples or pull the lead balls out , clean the cylinder chambers and
start over fresh and new . Buy some proper pistol powder and load accordingly .

My Daddy would tell me ... "Boy , don't be acting the fool !"

My advice ... Life's too short to risk Blowing off any fingers ... better Safe than Sorry !

I used FFg black powder in an 1851 Navy Colt replica , 36 cal . for over 20 years ... not a thing dangerous using FFg granulation in a handgun ... it works just fine ... and FFg granulation Triple 7 will not be dangerous to use ...
Load Safe ,
Gary

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I have stuffed as much 777 as you possibly can into my steel framed 1858s in both 36 and 45 caliber. You can't put too much BP or BP subs to do any damage.

[Wayne Smith]

Yes, you did something wrong. You physically changed the powder, thus changing it into something that you have no idea how it will burn. You may be safe, you may not be safe. Pull the charges - by either method mentioned, and dump all the altered powder on the lawn. Start over with a known quantity - your 777 is safe to load as it is in your revolver. Use known loads that are safe for your gun.

[Gtek]

I hope Mr Canoe, 11 post into this great place was not run off by the straight talk. These days it's difficult to gauge ones feelings, I don't know who I feel more for, the police or teachers. I hope he found something to measure and understand volume, I hope he goes and researches a little so he can be safe enjoying his revolver, I hope maybe he could find a mentor/buddy to help get him there. I know all of us do not want hear another story or see the pictures of "look what happened at the range today"! Maybe he will come back and let this grand old group help him make smoke and smiles.

[243winxb]

Did it or didnt it?

[Sasquatch-1]

Try removing the cylinder, then remove the nipples and shoot a blast of compressed air through each chamber. It should blow the charge and ball out.

[Gtek]

Yes Sir, those kind of pictures are the ones I was talking about!

[armoredman]

So, twinscrewcanoe, what happened? Didja get the load out?