Greetings all,
I have some questions on BP loads for the .444 Marlin cartridge....Namely with a 300grn RNFP GC hard cast bullet and Goex FFg powder. Currently I use H335 for my loads with this bullet and have excellent results. But - I do have a supply for FFg on hand and would like to give it a try in the Marlin. Data seems to be scarce for this combination - any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Eric

Eric,
this is really quite different than loading smokeless - try to forget everything you know about reloading - really, I'm not kidding.

First, when you load bp, you need to load it through a drop tube - 18" or longer. I use a 36" tube but a shorter one will work find. Pour the powder slowly. The only alternative to this is pouring the powder directly into the case and then vibrating it so settle the powder.

For your first load, start with a load that will fill the entire case up to the base of the bullet. If you wish to use a base wad of card stock or plastic, that's fine, it's not required until you want to get to finer points of accuracy.

Next repeat the process, only use 1 gr additional powder. Use a compression die to compress the powder until it is at the height necessary to seat the bullet properly - DO NOT compress by using the seating die on a bullet directly. The bullet will be too deformed and in extreme case will not even allow you to chamber, much less shoot accurately.

Repeat with additional powder testing as you go. I would recommend that you test with powder loads that go from 0 compression to 0.25" or so. The Wolff Trapdoor loads recommend 0.5" of compression but that will probably not be terribly accurate though they will reproduce 19th century ballistics.

Do NOT use smokeless bullet lube like ALOX use SPG or similar or a mix of 50-50 beeswax and olive oil.

Compressed loads are the norm with black powder in general, and Goex in particular. But in any event, minimal loads are full cases after filling through a drop tube.

Brent

The ballistics of this combination would give you a MV somewhere between 1100 and 1300 FPS depending on the powder type and granulation you used, and your barrel length. It would be a fun load, but dirty!! Lots of cleaning!!

Thanks for the info!
Due to my bullets already sized, GC'd and lubed - and I have gazzilions of them....I think I might try a different bullet instead of the 300 grn RNFP. I am thinking of doing a 240grn SWC-HP dual cast (it's the only extra mold I have floating around)

Question though.....drop tube and compression die. Will a home made brass tube 24"long and an aluminum funnel work?

Compression of the powder - wood dowel with a stop pin for uniformity? Or should this not be tried?
Thanks for the input and help!
Eric

Eric,

What rifle is this? A Marlin with "Micro-groove" rifling? I never had really good luck with soft cast bullets in the micro-groove barrels but others have. A good lube is the key here. I am wondering about the twist rate, the heavier than standard bullets and the much slower than standard velocities. I'd like to hear what results you get.

[ 04-30-2003, 01:03: Message edited by: Hobie ]

I have a Marlin - 444 with a micro grove barrel. And to be honest with you guys I have changed my mind on testing BP in this rifle. Just this last weekend I played around with my Ruger Blackhawk .45 with some BP loads. Nice shootin'loads - fun.... but oh whata'mess! Fouling found it's way to every single piece and part - screw threads, springs internal nooks and crannies....wow! I think I will leave BP to my flintlock and not for my modern centerfire weapons! I do however have my eye on a reproduction Sharps .45-70 for BP cartridge shooting - So all is not lost. Thanks everyone for your help and input!
Eric