Checking FFg/Pyrodex Spout Volume:

10851Man · January 12, 2013, 06:06 PM

Hey guys,

I found my 10 year old powder flask (and was used when I got it) and IIRC, we cut down a .44 caliber spout for a .36 caliber 'twister' derringer I had as a kid.

I want to use this old flask with my new Pietta .36 Colt, but I seem to recall you do not want to measure FFg or Pyrodex by weight, only by volume.

Does anyone have a quick, reliable method for checking this????

Like perhaps a 9mm Luger case level full would equal 'X' number of grains volume???

Also, what charges should I be shooting for under both a .375" ball and conical in the Pietta .36 steel framed revolver????

Thanks!!!!!

YARDDOG(1) · January 12, 2013, 06:58 PM

I would get a volume powder measure,,, Look at the recamended load for your
cal/gun. fffg or Pyrodex equevelance is for revolvers JMO ; )

Y/D

Hawg · January 12, 2013, 07:01 PM

You can measure real bp by weight. Everything else is by volume. I use 25 grains in my .36's. Most people use 20.

Hellgate · January 12, 2013, 08:02 PM

The conical may or may not allow 20 grs under it. I usually shoot 15 grs for the conical and 20 fro the RB. I use a lube wad for the RB but not the conical.

LEE makes a nice double cavity aluminum mold for the .380 ball and the 130gr conical. If you want to go volume you can get a 0000 buckshot (.380" dia.) mold for about $40 that casts 10 balls per pour (no sprue cutter, balls are not perfect spheres [there is an "equatorial" flat area of about 1mm where the mold haves join] but very serviceable ammo) from buckshotmold.com. Or you can go delux and get a biglube.com mold that will throw 6 very precise .380" RBs per cast.

Hawg · January 12, 2013, 08:05 PM

Quote:

The conical may or may not allow 20 grs under it.

They will, with Pyrodex anyway. I'm pretty sure they will with real black. Been awhile since I shot any but I'm thinking I can use 25 grains of Pyro and a conical. The round ball is just more accurate.

Hellgate · January 12, 2013, 08:19 PM

Hawg,
The Pyro-P is so spongy that I wouldn't be surprised if you could fill the whole chamber and still ram a ball (no wad) down enough to clear the mouth. It makes a pretty stout load.

B.L.E. · January 12, 2013, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Like perhaps a 9mm Luger case level full would equal 'X' number of grains volume???

About 13 grains of black powder based on the case having a capacity of 13.3 grains of water. Water and black powder happen to have nearly identical densities so if you know the case capacity in H2O, that's about the amount of black powder it will throw if used as a powder measure.
You can find charts of case capacities in H2O with an internet search.

.357 Magnum measures about 27 grains.
.30-30 measures about 45 grains.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · January 12, 2013, 09:39 PM

There is a list of brass cartridge measurement some place. I've seen one quite some time ago. Measurement used was grains I believe. Brass cartridges case's were nothing more than different size quick Chargers. Someone here had that list available as I recall.

mykeal · January 12, 2013, 10:32 PM

Posted in The High Road Black Powder forum sticky by member arcticap:

Cartridge Grains
.22 LR = 5
.320 ACP = 7
.380 ACP = 10
.30 cal Carbine = 20
.38 Special = 23
.357 Mag = 27
.45 Auto = 26
.44 Colt = 35
.45 Colt = 41
.38-40 = 40
.30-30 = 42
.30-06 = 70
.45-70 = 83

9mm – 13.3
40 S&W – 19.3

January 12, 2013, 06:06 PM	#1
10851Man Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: High Desert Mountains CA. Posts: 410	Checking FFg/Pyrodex Spout Volume: Hey guys, I found my 10 year old powder flask (and was used when I got it) and IIRC, we cut down a .44 caliber spout for a .36 caliber 'twister' derringer I had as a kid. I want to use this old flask with my new Pietta .36 Colt, but I seem to recall you do not want to measure FFg or Pyrodex by weight, only by volume. Does anyone have a quick, reliable method for checking this???? Like perhaps a 9mm Luger case level full would equal 'X' number of grains volume??? Also, what charges should I be shooting for under both a .375" ball and conical in the Pietta .36 steel framed revolver???? Thanks!!!!!

January 12, 2013, 06:58 PM	#2
YARDDOG(1) Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: GATOR COUNTRY HA HA HA! Posts: 721	I would get a volume powder measure,,, Look at the recamended load for your cal/gun. fffg or Pyrodex equevelance is for revolvers JMO ; ) Y/D __________________ There's a GATOR in the bushes & She's Callin my name >Molly Hatchett<

January 12, 2013, 08:02 PM	#4
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	The conical may or may not allow 20 grs under it. I usually shoot 15 grs for the conical and 20 fro the RB. I use a lube wad for the RB but not the conical. LEE makes a nice double cavity aluminum mold for the .380 ball and the 130gr conical. If you want to go volume you can get a 0000 buckshot (.380" dia.) mold for about $40 that casts 10 balls per pour (no sprue cutter, balls are not perfect spheres [there is an "equatorial" flat area of about 1mm where the mold haves join] but very serviceable ammo) from buckshotmold.com. Or you can go delux and get a biglube.com mold that will throw 6 very precise .380" RBs per cast. __________________ With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell)

January 12, 2013, 08:19 PM	#6
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	Hawg, The Pyro-P is so spongy that I wouldn't be surprised if you could fill the whole chamber and still ram a ball (no wad) down enough to clear the mouth. It makes a pretty stout load. __________________ With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell)

January 12, 2013, 07:01 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	You can measure real bp by weight. Everything else is by volume. I use 25 grains in my .36's. Most people use 20.

January 12, 2013, 09:39 PM	#8
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	There is a list of brass cartridge measurement some place. I've seen one quite some time ago. Measurement used was grains I believe. Brass cartridges case's were nothing more than different size quick Chargers. Someone here had that list available as I recall.

January 12, 2013, 10:32 PM	#9
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	Posted in The High Road Black Powder forum sticky by member arcticap: Cartridge Grains .22 LR = 5 .320 ACP = 7 .380 ACP = 10 .30 cal Carbine = 20 .38 Special = 23 .357 Mag = 27 .45 Auto = 26 .44 Colt = 35 .45 Colt = 41 .38-40 = 40 .30-30 = 42 .30-06 = 70 .45-70 = 83 9mm – 13.3 40 S&W – 19.3