BlackPowder

Information about the Black Powder Shotgun
We need to approach reloading black powder shotguns in a step-by-step fashion because there is more to an effective black powder shotgun than first meets the eye. The exotic natural aspects of smoke and fire truly draws the nostalgia out of most shooters. To take birds with these old "smokepoles" is about as invigorating as shotgunning can get!

Since smokeless shotgun cartridges have become so incredibly effective over the course of the 20^th century, many shotgunners overlook the romance of black powder shotguns. However, every shotgunner should pay homage to the derivation of the "gauge" sizing system. The old-time black powder system still survives today. "Gauge" refers to the number of round balls of a given size that equal one pound. Therefore 12 gauge means that there are 12 balls per pound and 10 gauge means that there are 10 balls to the pound (i.e., the balls that made up a 10 gauge would be larger in diameter than those that made up the 12 gauge). The only exception to this system is the .410 bore. It is named after its approximate bore diameter. However, Europeans still refer to the .410 as "36 gauge."

With black powder shotguns we must first recognize the fact that what may benefit one shot pattern situation may not necessarily benefit another. You will find this to be the truth when testing your straight-tube black powder shotguns because it is highly unlikely that they will pattern better than 45-50% with paper wads and no shotcup.

The shooter who wants to shoot effectively with black powder must become familiar with physics of the black powder shotgun and the physics of its’ patterns. For example, working with components from Ballistic Products, such as the BP12/BPGS 2-piece delivery system, will give your black powder shotgun a greatly enhanced effective lethal range. If your intended quarry will present itself in the range from 10 to 30 yards, spreader loads will open your patterns quickly and increase your chances for success. Tricky upland game shots (such as quail, woodcock, grouse and early-season pheasant) require a mastery of these short-range load modifications. The bottom line is: know your shotgun, know its’ limitations, and know its’ capabilities. Once you have mastered this knowledge, then you will be able to increase the gun's performance by using wad columns suited for your specific hunting conditions.

Most every shotgun can produce effective hunting loads if the shooter safely experiments with wad columns and uses high quality hunting components.

Products available at Ballistic Products, Inc:

1/2" fiber card wads; 8 gauge - .410 gauge
1/2" hard cardboard wads; 10,12,16,.410 gauge only
.125 high density nitro cards; 8 gauge - .410 gauge
.030 overshot cards; 8 gauge - .410 gauge
1/4" and 1/2" felt & cork wads; 12 and 20 gauge only

BP12 plastic shotcup; 12 gauge
BP12-Tuff plastic shotcup; 12 gauge
BPGS gas seals; 12 gauge
Ranger-Plus plastic shotcup; 12 gauge
BPD10 plastic shotcup; 10 gauge
BPD10-Tuff plastic shotcup; 10 gauge
Multi-Metal wads; 10-12 gauge

Link to: Ballistic Products Online Store

Gauge	Wad	Powder	Grains	Shot	Overshot Card	Pattern Percentage
12	(2) .125 nitro cards on powder	FFg GOI	100.0	1¼ oz #7½ lead	Yes	75%
12	(1) .125 nitro card + (1) ¼" 12g wool felt	FFg GOI	100.0	1¼ oz #7½ lead	Yes	70%
12	(1) BP gas seal + BP12 shotcup	FFg GOI	100.0	1¼ oz #7½ lead	No	75%
10	(2) .125 nitro cards on powder	FFg GOI	120.0	1½ oz lead	Yes	70%
10	(1) .125 nitro card + (1) ½" fiber cushion	FFg GOI	120.0	1½ oz lead	Yes	70%
10	(1) BP10 shotcup	FFg GOI	120.0	1½ oz lead	Yes	75%

During the change from black powder to nitrocellulose powders in the late 1800's, an attempt was made to help the loader/shooter understand the relative difference between black powders and smokeless powders. This attempt to clarify the relationship became known as the "dram equivalent." The dram equivalent is somewhat similar to measuring internal combustion engines with the term "horsepower." It is an archaic term describing a modern thing – a vaguely inaccurate generalization. Therefore, as the culture of black powder grows increasingly distant with time, the younger shooters will be confused by this nebulous term.

With black powder, the loader is left to his own devices. It is a metaphor for liberty and personal responsibility. With black powder, the power (and pressure) of loads can be simply increased by modifying the amount of powder. Pressures go up slightly and in a rather even and predictable scale in relation to the drams of black powder. Thus a two and one-half dram load was a medium-scale load of black powder in the 12 gauge. A three-dram load of black powder was a heavier load, utilizing more powder.

For the reloader, the big change from the preconceptions and biases of black-powder thinking to smokeless powder thinking was that if the shooter wanted the load to go faster, he simply added more black powder. As mentioned, within reason, this was a safe and common practice with black powder. A one or two dram black powder load with 1-1/8 ounces of lead shot could be "kicked" up to three drams of black powder in order to move it along faster. This practice did not damage shotguns due to the "elastic character" of black powder.

The original theory is this: given a certain gauge, the amount of black powder required to drive a specific weight of shot at a 'measured' speed equates to "x" drams. That is how load velocity gets mixed into dram-equivalent. What would happen with a similar, lighter, amount of shot? The smaller weight of shot would scoot through the air faster given the same 3 ¼ dram-equivalent launch (presuming the same given amount of black powder).

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