· Mike Beliveau is an internationally recognized expert in muzzleloading and black powder shooting. He has had a writing career spanning over 30 years. During that time, he has been the Contributing Editor for Black Powder for "Guns of the Old West" magazine, and the Contributing Editor for Reloading for Combat Handguns magazine.
· Ball milling must be used if the black powder is going to work correctly. My first black powder attempts did not work well at all even though the formulation was correct, I did the mixing by hand. Someone suggested I use a ball mill, so I got one and my powders have worked well ever since.
· The older I get the harder it is. The peep I put on helped a lot. I know inlines can be accurate but, I have not found one I can put a good sight on. I thought about converting my Sharps rifle into a muzzleloader but, I can't convince myself to do that. I have been machining for 36 years and have a mill .
A powder charge which might be quite safe when used with a ball weighing say 150 grains, might cause dangerous pressures when used with a conical shape bullet weighing 400 grains. Because of this pressure change caused by the bullet weight, the antique guns are usually loaded only with their original weight round ball or conical shape bullets.
Making Black Powder With A Ball Mill Skylighter, Inc. Jul 17, 2012 making black powder with a ball mill. just so you know what's going on. this is me in my backyard. i am using a homemade ball mill i've had for 20 years, and skylighter's " antimonyhardened lead balls. check out my fancydancy mill jar! it's a onegallon plastic mayonnaise jar stuck inside a large coffee can for ...
· Six AgeOld Muzzleloader Rules Put to the Test. Our test of modern muzzleloaders, loads, and propellants blows away some of the most commonly held beliefs about in .
According to my research, the 1860's Army's primary load for .58caliber riflemuskets was a 450grain Minié ball in a paper cartridge holding 60 grains of black powder. Lyman's mould 575213OS (old style) drops .575inch, 460grain Minié balls.
· This is the muzzleloading version of loading a centerfire round in the factory or even reloading one at home with your own press. If using an inline muzzleloader, the next step of course is to place a primer (often of #209 magnum size) so that when struck by the firing pin it will explode, throwing enough heat through the breech plug to ignite the powder charge.
· Lubrie you patches. If you are using clean burning powders like the Swiss, the good old spitpatch will work. If you use one of the dirtier powders melt 1 parts of beeswax and 8 parts of tallow in a pot. Dip your patches and let them cool. Choose the right patch size that can cover your ball completely. Learn to read your patches.
· William H shoot 45 powder, very accurate in my rifle. Bradley C Just for target shooting I have found that a .445 cal roundball with a .015 pre lubed patch sitting on top of 35gr of FFF powder works best up to 5075 yards. If I'm shooting 100 yards I double the charge to 70gr of FFF powder. Mike K 60gr fff, .440 ball, .10 patch, fff ...
Henry Ball, Muzzleloading Pioneer, Passes. Henry Cooper Ball. October 11, 1937 January 8, 2012. From Henry's son, William C. "Bill" Ball, comes the sad news of Henry's passing. My friend and muzzleloading's friend, master riflesmith and multiple patent holder Henry Ball lost his battle with cancer, passing peacefully and quietly at 6:20 pm on ...
· Here is a little sightin trick that I have used for years when sighting in my muzzleloader. Place a target 13 yards away. Get a good rest, aim at the bull'seye and nudge the trigger. If the bullet is off the mark, adjust your sights and shoot again.
Any load data posted on this site is safe in my guns. You are responsible for knowing what may or may not be a safe load for your gun. Never load a muzzle loading gun with smokless powder and never exceed the maxium load recommended by the gun's maker. Smokless powder is never a safe substitute for black powder.
I could not think of a single hunting experience when I did not have time to follow my simple, accuracy enhancing, reloading process. Accuracy for me is to hit a golf ball at 100 yards off a benchrest ALL DAY LONG . Here are the steps I follow in loading every shot, every season, every circumstance with all my muzzleloaders. Period. 1.