Measure Question

sne7777 · November 11, 2009, 01:07 PM

I do not have the proper power measure for my ROA 44 and do not have the time to order one. No one in my area has any. We are leaving tomorrow for nothern Michigan, i would like to shoot this gun while i'm up there.
I using Triple Seven and Hornady lead balls.

I was told that and .38 spl case holds thrity grains.
Is this true? and would this load be okay?

Andy Griffith · November 11, 2009, 01:26 PM

Thirty grains of T7 is a fairly stout load for most guns!

I don't think it would ever come close to hurting a ROA though.

I think I'd go with a .38 Long Colt or 9mm full of it though myself. No need in getting a sore wrist.

Are you driving or flying? If driving, it is likely that there is some outdoor store along side the interstate that you'll be able to pick up a measure at while the rest of your party is ordering your meal in a restaurant. But then, I don't know Michigan- that is just a guess.

simonkenton · November 11, 2009, 01:49 PM

A .38 special case holds, by volume, 23 grains of Goex fffg black powder.

Twenty three grains of 777 would be a good load for your pistol, you could "heap it up" a bit and get a 25 grain charge, perfect.

sne7777 · November 11, 2009, 02:25 PM

Thanks for the advise. I wanted to make sure that I was using enough and not too much. I will be looking for stores along the way. There is one that I know of that might have the powder measure. If not I'll use the 38's and try a .357 case.

Thanks again.

arcticap · November 11, 2009, 02:31 PM

Someone posted this:

Quote:

an empty (fired that is) 7.62X39 case (AK OR SKS) is a good powder measure for the .44 BP revolver. when filled with 3F about 28grs 3F and place a felt atop the powder. then greased slug/ball.

Loading 28 grains volume of 777 as described above would be equal to loading ~32 grains of BP due to 777's 15% velocity differential.

Doc Hoy · November 11, 2009, 03:31 PM

If you are driving there is a Bass Pro Shop in Detroit.

mykeal · November 11, 2009, 06:39 PM

What route are you taking? There are plenty of places you can get a powder measure. Perhaps I can help.

Oldfalguy · November 12, 2009, 12:05 AM

Oh my goodness this does NOT sound prudent at ALL

"an empty (fired that is) 7.62X39 case

(AK OR SKS) is a good powder measure for the .44 BP revolver.

when filled with 3F about 28grs 3F and place a felt atop the powder. then greased slug/ball."

Start with a 9mm then go 38 special-

Heck, I could find a powder measure faster than I could locate a 38 long.

arcticap · November 12, 2009, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Oh my goodness this does NOT sound prudent at ALL

You're correct, I didn't check to verify the volume of the empty 7.62 X 39 case.

According to Wikipedia:

Quote:

The 7.62x39mm has 2.31 ml (35.6 grains H2O) cartridge case capacity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62x39

And 2.31 ml equals 2.31 cc's or 35 grains of powder, very close to the same volume as it's H2O capacity in grains.

And 35 grains of 777 would equal 40 grains of black powder by volume, which is certainly not ~32 grains which I quoted.

Maybe the original poster was only filling up to the beginning of the case neck which is 38.7mm lower from the top rim of the empty 7.62 X 39 cartridge case.
Thanks for the being alert and catching my mistake.

Quote:

Start with a 9mm then go 38 special-

Apparently the empty 9mm case holds 13 grains of 777 by volume which is equivalent to 15 grains of BP.

Quote:

The 9x19mm Parabellum has 0.86 ml (13.3 grains H2O) cartridge case capacity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9mm

B.L.E. · November 12, 2009, 06:58 AM

40 grains of bp is about all a ROA chamber will hold and still have enough room to seat a round ball. This will get you about 1000 fps with Goex 3f.
I have tried 40 grains of Goex 4f and got 1150 fps out of it.

You won't blow up a ROA with black powder or its replacements. The gun was designed to be safe with as much black powder as the chambers will hold. The reason for measuring is shot to shot consistancy.

sne7777 · November 12, 2009, 07:19 AM

Mykeal, we are coming up I75 to US23 then 65 to river road. I think that the gun shop at Bunnuan Town may have it or the Wal-mart in Tawas. If you know of any others along the way please let me know.

Thanks

B.L.E. · November 12, 2009, 07:56 AM

Quote:

A .38 special case holds, by volume, 23 grains of Goex fffg black powder.

That's probably close if not ideal for maximum accuracy. The only problem is that the ram is not long enough to compress the powder. After putting in the powder, top it off with some sort of filler, cornmeal, Cream of Wheat, and then seat the ball.
A .38 special case full of powder and then a 9mm case full of filler is probably good. I have used Wonder Wads as filler but that gets expensive.

sne7777 · November 12, 2009, 09:09 AM

B.L.E., I have the cormeal bagged up and ready to go.

Thanks for the info.

mykeal · November 12, 2009, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Mykeal, we are coming up I75 to US23 then 65 to river road. I think that the gun shop at Bunnuan Town may have it or the Wal-mart in Tawas. If you know of any others along the way please let me know.

Maybe. I think you'll do better at the Tawas Do It Best Hardware next to Neiman's grocery store. Wal-Mart here is not good on bp supplies even in muzzleloader season, and Bunyan Town is really hit and miss. I don't trade with them any more.

Frank's in Linwood (on M-13) usually has a good stock but prices are full retail.

Best bet will be the Tawas Hardware, however.

November 11, 2009, 01:07 PM	#1
sne7777 Member Join Date: June 11, 2005 Posts: 90	Measure Question I do not have the proper power measure for my ROA 44 and do not have the time to order one. No one in my area has any. We are leaving tomorrow for nothern Michigan, i would like to shoot this gun while i'm up there. I using Triple Seven and Hornady lead balls. I was told that and .38 spl case holds thrity grains. Is this true? and would this load be okay?

November 11, 2009, 01:26 PM	#2
Andy Griffith Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2009 Location: Macon Co. NC Posts: 591	Thirty grains of T7 is a fairly stout load for most guns! I don't think it would ever come close to hurting a ROA though. I think I'd go with a .38 Long Colt or 9mm full of it though myself. No need in getting a sore wrist. Are you driving or flying? If driving, it is likely that there is some outdoor store along side the interstate that you'll be able to pick up a measure at while the rest of your party is ordering your meal in a restaurant. But then, I don't know Michigan- that is just a guess. __________________ Barney Fife: "Nip it, nip it, nip it!" Andy Griffith:"Oh now Barn'...."

November 11, 2009, 03:31 PM	#6
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	As Ronald Reagan always said, "Well...." If you are driving there is a Bass Pro Shop in Detroit. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

November 11, 2009, 01:49 PM	#3
simonkenton Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Posts: 891	A .38 special case holds, by volume, 23 grains of Goex fffg black powder. Twenty three grains of 777 would be a good load for your pistol, you could "heap it up" a bit and get a 25 grain charge, perfect.

November 11, 2009, 02:25 PM	#4
sne7777 Member Join Date: June 11, 2005 Posts: 90	Thanks for the advise. I wanted to make sure that I was using enough and not too much. I will be looking for stores along the way. There is one that I know of that might have the powder measure. If not I'll use the 38's and try a .357 case. Thanks again.

November 11, 2009, 06:39 PM	#7
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	What route are you taking? There are plenty of places you can get a powder measure. Perhaps I can help.

November 12, 2009, 12:05 AM	#8
Oldfalguy Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 126	Oh my goodness this does NOT sound prudent at ALL "an empty (fired that is) 7.62X39 case (AK OR SKS) is a good powder measure for the .44 BP revolver. when filled with 3F about 28grs 3F and place a felt atop the powder. then greased slug/ball." Start with a 9mm then go 38 special- Heck, I could find a powder measure faster than I could locate a 38 long.

November 12, 2009, 06:58 AM	#10
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	40 grains of bp is about all a ROA chamber will hold and still have enough room to seat a round ball. This will get you about 1000 fps with Goex 3f. I have tried 40 grains of Goex 4f and got 1150 fps out of it. You won't blow up a ROA with black powder or its replacements. The gun was designed to be safe with as much black powder as the chambers will hold. The reason for measuring is shot to shot consistancy.

November 12, 2009, 07:19 AM	#11
sne7777 Member Join Date: June 11, 2005 Posts: 90	Mykeal, we are coming up I75 to US23 then 65 to river road. I think that the gun shop at Bunnuan Town may have it or the Wal-mart in Tawas. If you know of any others along the way please let me know. Thanks

November 12, 2009, 09:09 AM	#13
sne7777 Member Join Date: June 11, 2005 Posts: 90	B.L.E., I have the cormeal bagged up and ready to go. Thanks for the info.