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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) 38/56 black powder load info required (Read 12915 times)
Spud
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Re: 38/56 black powder load info required
Reply #15 - Apr 16th, 2013 at 8:12pm
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Frazer,
Sounds like you are getting that Highwall going. I used to form .38/56 from .45/70 for my Highwall and have a set of form dies here. Let me know if you want some made up.
Spud (over in the ACT)
  
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Mick B
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Re: 38/56 black powder load info required
Reply #16 - Apr 17th, 2013 at 7:06am
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Just a couple more questions.
I'm a bit nervous about having a load of black powder in my 38/56 that does not fill the case up to the wad, which in turn, (according to some sources ) should be in contact with the base of the bullet. My question is, can I have a quantity of black powder in the case that only fills it to say, 80% of capacity, and then put a wad in the mouth of the case to stop it falling out. Then breech seat the bullet about 1/8" in front of the case ?.  Also, what is floral foam ?, seems I have led a sheltered life here.
Mike.
  
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Fazer
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Re: 38/56 black powder load info required
Reply #17 - Apr 17th, 2013 at 7:11am
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Spud,

Thanks for that. Yep it's for the high wall and the large frame colt lightning. 
I will gladly take you up on your offer. I've got a bunch of 45/70 brass at home. 
I am away at work at present, but if you could drop me a PM, we'll see what we can do.

Thanks again
  
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SSShooter
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Re: 38/56 black powder load info required
Reply #18 - Apr 17th, 2013 at 8:30am
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Floral foam is that green foam they use in florist shops to fill vases and then stick the stems of flowers in to hold them in place. Think they often soak it with water for the flowers. Most any florist shop will have it. Or a crafts supply store (do you have Michaels stores in Oz?).

Does your barrel have such a long throat that you need to seat the bullet that deep? When I have my bullet seated it still fits ~1/8 - 1/4" into the case mouth.
  

Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
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Mick B
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Re: 38/56 black powder load info required
Reply #19 - Apr 18th, 2013 at 3:05am
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SSS Shooter
Well at least I now know what floral foam is, I had a mental picture of some sort of foam plastic with pictures of flowers on it. Back to my 38/56, I seated a bullet .060" ahead of the case and then pushed it back out with the cleaning rod so I could examine the marks left by the lands.
This procedure produced a bullet showing rifling impressions starting slightly ahead of the first band and extending to halfway into the base band which is .060" wide. Another .030" would see the bullet completely engraved. If I seat it this deep it will then be sitting approximately .120" ahead of a loaded case. If I drop tube 52 gr of Wano 2f into the case it fills it to about 1/8" into the neck, this leaves about 3/8" that needs filling with either .060" wads, or perhaps floral foam, of the two which would be better ?. Also does any of this seem dangerous in any way using black powder. 
Mike.
  
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SSShooter
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Re: 38/56 black powder load info required
Reply #20 - Apr 18th, 2013 at 6:58am
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Hmmm........ not sure of the efficacy of using floral foam in this application. Know nothing about it.
Same with breech-seating and leaving an air-gap with BP. I've not done so and everything I've read tells of the possibility of ringing the barrel, which is a bad thing. But, again, do not know if that is a problem with new barrel steel compared to the older, softer barrels. 
Based on what you've said, am thinking your barrel has not been chambered for breech-seating with BP. If were me, would send the particulars of what you are doing to Gail/Paul at CPA and ask for their input on using floral foam and the air-gap with BP. They, especially Paul, have been doing this for a long time and likely have the answers. 

When shooting my fixed ammo with the 3-wads am getting the bullet into the lands on the nose and the first of the three driving bands, which is reduced. As I don't shoot for group (other than the X-ring at 200yd), it is doing well for my needs. Here is the bullet that I'm using.
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« Last Edit: Apr 18th, 2013 at 7:40am by SSShooter »  

Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
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Mick B
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Re: 38/56 black powder load info required
Reply #21 - Apr 18th, 2013 at 8:50am
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I have ordered another mould from BACO item # jim377325c1, if I had received you post earlier I would have possibly ordered the money bullet, but time was a factor, so I just took a punt, hopefully it will shoot OK.
On the subject of breech seating Gail is going to ask Paul questions on my behalf when he gets back from his vacation. In the meantime I have loaded the bullet I have out a further five thou and increased the powder charge to 52 gr of Wano 2f. Testing tomorrow will tell me if this was a good move or not.
Mike.
  
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