Shooting Black Powder Shotshells.mov

In this video we're shooting the black powder shotshells we made in our press-less reloading series. If you like watching things blow up, this is the video for you.

[@duelist1954]

the barrel is forged out of mild steel rods ans strips that are hammer forged around a mandrel. It leaves a pattern of swirls on the barrel that is very distinctive.

[@duelist1954]

You can use plastic wads, but the heat black powder generates will melt them, leaving plastic coating the inside of your barrel. It cleans out pretty easily though.

[@duelist1954]

@chios1958 I'd recommend "The Complete Black Powder Handbook" by Sam Fadala. I read this book about 30 years ago, and really liked it. It is in its 3rd edition now. Amazon sells it.

[@duelist1954]

@weitzfc1 Sounds like a great battery. I also have an American Arms (Crecsent Arms trade name) hammer double with fluid steel barrels.

[@thevacuumtubejunky9774]

I LOVE your videos, guns and ammo of "Yesteryear" is quite interesting. By chance have you done any black powder shotshell reloading using brass hulls?. Kind regards, Eric Dee.

[@duelist1954]

Yes, just clean it well afterwards.

[@duelist1954]

@chios1958 No. moderen shotgun can shoot either smokeless powder or black powder. However, most 19th century shotguns should only be shot with black powder.

[@duelist1954]

I only reload black powder shotshells one time. The high heat generated by burning black powder makes the plastic brittle.

[@duelist1954]

This gun has Damascus barrels, so I would not shoot modern shot shells in it.

[@duelist1954]

Most CAS shooters prefer shorter barrel. I don't. Personally I use 26" tubes the most often.

[@duelist1954]

Yes. It haas Belgian proof marks. It's a Keystone Arms brand with Damascus barrels.

[@duelist1954]

@HazMatMedia It depends on the gun. But with levers or pumps I recommend using one of the techniques in part 2 or part 3

[@duelist1954]

It is an old Keystone Arms. The barrels are 28 inches

[@duelist1954]

@MrGattor33 It will get dirty...and you'll have fun.

[@duelist1954]

@dave4854 No

[@tripplebeards3427]

Which style of loading would be most consistent for pressures and groupings? I’m thinking of loading up some for turkey hunting in my old Damascus SxS 10 gauge. I’d really like to see all three exact same loads with the different loading processes pattern’s on paper at 25 yards and see the differences between the three spreads.

[@thramsdell8304]

I wanna be a cowboy, baby.

[@daviddiffenderfer6963]

Nice video maybe more soon instead of side by side over under

[@loknlode]

I'll never throw away another shotgun shell ever. Scout's honor.

[@thramsdell8304]

I wanna be a cowboy, baby.

[@duelist1954]

30 inches

[@dave4854]

how long could you store them, what would be the shelf life if kept dry?

[@OldeCountryHomesteading]

They do not degrade. They will however be effected by humidity. a small drop of wax on the crimps centre will block out moisture, and adding nail polish to the primer base will seal the base.

[@tiedyedkarma]

Hey Mike, would you consider making a video about the Win '97 and clones? I have a Chinese clone that I bought second hand, and I can not find much info about it out there. I want to load BP shells, but I'm afraid to take it apart to clean the action. I've been told Win '97 clones are very difficult to reassemble correctly. Thanks. PS. Doing a great job on your videos, I've learned a lot on your channel.

[@2009Berghof]

Loaded like those of Yesteryear! Gee, I am old but not as old as that shotgun. All shells were roll crimped paper when I was in grade school. Plastic began appearing when I went to junior high school. Shot my old Germanic 16 gauge 2 1/2" hammer SXS using Pyrodex for the first time yesterday. Surfing found conflicting advice reloading B.P. shot shells. Some advised using only paper cartridges, others as here, had no problem with modern plastic hulls. From what I gathered, it appears that B.P. would burn and melt the early plastic shells and wads. Someone commented that this was true then but that modern hulls and wads are made from polymers that do not melt as the older plastic examples did. My eight first time test rounds shot well and there was no residue of melted plastic/polymers. I made the shells using my MEC Jr. reloading equipment with folded crimps. Looks like I just found new angle on sport shooting.

[@tiedyedkarma]

I have a question for you. I currently shoot a '97 clone in SASS Wrangler. I am going to start shooting Frontier Cartridge. I have found a couple of Cimarron SXS's. Both are 12g cylinder bores, but one has a 22" barrel and the other has a 26" barrel. For CAS is there any real advantage or disadvantage to either barrel length? I am not really all that competitive, I like to have fun out there. Any advice?

[@weitzfc1]

i have four hammer doubles. one 12 gauge stevens 235 (nitro proofed ) . one 12 gauge ithaca/baker with twist barrels ( made in 1887 ) , one belgium excelsior 12 gauge and a belgium acme 16 gauge,both with london twist barrels. i reload brass , paper and plastic with antique reloading equipment and black powder.

[@MrGattor33]

so are you saying that i can go out tomorrow and buy me a 12 ga. shotgun and do this and nothing will happen to it??

[@Trigunnie45]

Modern propellants ("smokeless powder") burn at a much higher pressure than gun powder ("black powder") Since older firearms were made when gun powder was the only powder around, they are not meant to withstand the higher pressures of modern propellant. Even "down loading" the modern powder isn't advised, as it still builds pressure far faster than the gun powder firearms can handle. You can use gun powder in modern arms however, (revolvers, shotguns, single shot/bolt rifles) just clean em.

[@weitzfc1]

is that a belgium shotgun ? you and i have a lot in common . i use hammer shotguns and reload with antique reloading equipment..

[@vickeviking66]

I have a old shotgun from 1869, i dont know if it a rolling block or a Husqvarna. Do i shoot black powder shells or regular? Whats the differens? Best regards viktor

[@dave4854]

@duelist1954 clean it good when you're done shooting, don't set it in the corner till the next time you want to use it as a lot of people do when they've been shooting smokeless powder.

[@chios1958]

Sir,Do you need a special shot gun to shoot black powder shot gun shells? Sorry for the stupid question.

[@chios1958]

I would like to learn more about shooting with black powder. Could you recommend a book for beginners? Thankyou

[@stevekoehler8828]

speaking of black powder scatter guns this video always reminds me of the book shotgun for hire by Glenn Shirley about the gun for hire "Deacon" Jim Miller

[@Imagamer85]

great video Mike, love that black powder, thanks for your hard work. pat

[@JamesEvans-ow1wc]

Always wondered if the corrosive ammo effected the internal mechanisms behind the shells

[@soixe1997]

thanks for getting back to me so quick, im thinking about buy in lee load all2, and i wanted to know if it would be all right for black powder

[@unalkaya9870]

IT IS possible 12 g 1 ounce slug with 3f or 4f blackpowder loading?sorry my Englisch is miserable 😂 and i living other Side the earth 10.000 miles

[@duelist1954]

Possible yes, but do not use 4Fg, it is dangerous at these charge weights. @Fg is better for this.

[@unalkaya9870]

@@duelist1954 thank you.👍

[@johnson2141]

what kind of shotgun is that? how long are those barrels? it look like a really nice peice.

[@birdchaser2010]

I lost my gun rights I thick thes are legal to buy in california

[@dgren555]

when they use to say Damascus barrel, what type of steel is it?? just curious,

[@birddogdoc]

How hard is it to clean the gun after black powder use? great video.

[@davep7034]

Thankyou Mike I need to get all your reading material where can I find them?

[@duelist1954]

At the moment my website is being re-built. I’ll do a video when it is back up.

[@davep7034]

Thankyou

[@kristiancrowley1420]

What model is the shotgun in this video? Im new to blackpowder, do all all blackpowder shotguns fire shotshells?

[@vkdem]

Does brand of black powder has an effect on charge? Thanks

[@soixe1997]

@duelist1954 can you use normal wads for black powder?

[@dave4854]

does it matter if one of the barrels is choked??

[@Emanair]

can you put a roll crimp on brass shotgun shells?

[@acergameing]

Damn man speak up super quiet on the audio man

[@shawngallimore61]

How much black powder do you load.

[@shawngallimore61]

How much black powder do you load.

[@hvyled]

Are these 60 or 82 grain loads?

[@Streetfighter5]

Sir, could you please explain to me what will happen when you would load this shotgun with regular modern shot shells and tried to fire them?

[@andrewclark3649]

It *can* result in a catastrophic failure, essentially rupturing the barrel and has the potential to cause serious bodily harm and/or death. This applies to older shotguns which have damascus or twist steel barrels. This is debatable however, as very few actual cases of destroyed antique barrels caused by using modern smokeless ammo exist.

[@GunsAreAmazing54]

Hey @duelist1954 would you be able to make me some rounds and ship them to me? Would be great if could! Let me know!

[@duelist1954]

No. I'm not licensed and permitted for that.

[@troy4219]

Wow, awesome.

[@stevekoehler8828]

If you use oil and a flex hone to smooth out the chambers of a Stoger 12ga can you still safely fire smokeless shells?

[@duelist1954]

Absolutely

[@robosnitz]

How many times can you reload a shell?

[@troy4219]

3-4 times depending on loads, primer pocket ware, etc..

[@d-rider905]

you got my interest in reloading BP 12ga. are the 60gr. and 6 shot good enough for hunting squirrels,grouse,woodcock with a open choke or would you recommend something else? i am using 6 shot because that what i have.Great videos learning a lot from them.

[@duelist1954]

#6 shot will work. For a hunting load I'd use 75 or 80 grains of 2Fg and an ounce and a quarter of shot

[@manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069]

duelist1954 That will do it. Greetings from the uk

[@divine8119]

can I shoot the nail and dowel method shells in my h&r single shot with a 3'' chamber,im not sure because of the wads instead of a shot cup.

[@duelist1954]

Sure you can

[@senglish1983]

Yeah you can... I have seen guys turn old H&R's into muzzle loaders and fire rocks, glass, marbles and all kinds of other stuff so it can handle these loads for sure

[@stevekoehler8828]

is that a British Greener double barrel ?

[@duelist1954]

Steve Koehler No. It was made in Belgium

[@stevekoehler8828]

ok thanks I know the Greener was common at the time as a couch gun I was just curious

[@Shaundogger]

Why is he so big I think I found the secret Santa