I am new to the use of single shot rifles and cast bullets and I would appreciate any advice on suitable smokeless powder loads for a number 2 Ballard rifle chambered for .44WCF using a lead 200grain bullet. I have been told the Ballard is a weak action and not suitable for smokeless powder. Any thoughts on the use of a wad or filler in the cartridge. Thank you.

Singleshotman
Thanks for the heads up on double charging while reloading. A real dangerous situation if fired no matter what type of action used, as you point out your father discovered. I would still appreciate any information about smokeless powder loads for the 44-40 and the use of wads or filler in the cartridge as I have read about barrels being ringed by the use of wads and increased pressure with the use of cream of wheat filler. I promise I will try my best to exercise caution no matter what I reload.

Richard,
Thank you for the advice. My reloading experience is with smokeless powder. Although it sounds like fun to use, I have kept away from using black powder because of my inexperience with its use and the clean-up after shooting it. Would there be any advantage or disadvantage to using a product like Pyrodex instead of black powder? You say you would leave the wads and fillers alone except a card wad in the case mouth when breech-seating. Would that be a wad made from a playing card?Does breech-seating eliminate the possibility of ringing the barrel when using a wad? What granulation of black powder would you use in th 44-40?

The above message said almost everything.  The only thing I would add is that you need to clean your cartridge cases as assiduously as you clean the rifle.  Get a small bottle brush to scrub the fouling out of the inside of the cases.

Richard

Waterman;
You're absolutely right, the cases need immediate and regular attention.

The easiest and one of the most thorough methods is to decap the cases as soon as possible after the match. There are ways of decapping on site. A simple punch and base will work as well as anything if you have a bench. A Pope re-decapper works quite well, also. Then drop the empty, decapped cases in a plastic milk jug of water with a "squirt" of Dawn diswashing detergent in it. Let them stay there until you get home. Then I rinse them several times, still in the jug.

I use a plastic kitchen strainer to dump the cases in and shake most of the water off. Then I drop them in a case tumbler (large Dillon vibrator tumbler) and run for an hour or so (I don't wait until they dry - the media will dry them almost immediately). You do need to check primer pockets to see that they are clear, afterwards. I have used this method for years with no case loss.

Dale53

Hello xxgrampa, 
Thanks. I was aware the 44-40 takes a .427 bullet.  When using smokeless powder do you use a over powder wad or filler in the case? If so, what do you use for the filler or wad and if a wad do you leave a air space above the powder? Have you had any problems with a ringed barrel or chamber?
Powderman

Marlinguy,
Thanks for the reply. I noticed on a previous posting to this forum about the use of Unique powder and chamber rings the following:

      Unique and Chamber Rings
« on: Oct 15th, 2004, 6:30am »      Quote Modify
Hi;
I just read on the cb-l that Unique causes rings in rifle chambers with no wads, and that Shiloh and Ruger are aware of this. Is anybody out there aware of this? I use a lot of Unique in my Sharps.
Thanks;
joe b. 

joeB;
The cause of chamber rings has been thoroughly explored by Charlie Dell. His book, "The Modern Schuetzen Rifle" has a chapter devoted to this subject. He build a brass barreled test "rifle" (brass is weaker than barrel steel so he could demostrate that he could produce a ring at will). Using most any fast burning smokeless powder in a case with lots of air space can create a ring if you do things incorrectly. Seating a wad .100"-.200" off the powder will eliminate the ringing force. It is the perpendicular "wave" force that causes the ringing force at the base of the bullet. Allowing the powder to "slump" eliminates the perpendicular wave force and also the ringing force.

I have loaded a few 44-40 cartridges with a 200 gr. cast bullet with 5.5grs of Winchester 231 and no wad or filler but after reading the above I am not sure I should try them. I would like hear more about your experience with smokeless powder reduced loads without the use of wads.  I guess I might break down and try black powder as soon as I get the proper lube and figure out how to apply it.   
 

hi-ho powderman,

you hung up just as i was coming in the door. next time leave your number and i'll call you back..

..ttfn..grampa..