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June 4, 2017
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Two old articles worth reading again or for the first time. Pull up the Winter 1997 WACA Collector magazine and read pages 8-11 “Reloading Black Powder Cartridges For Maximum Accuracy” by Richard T. Trenk Sr. and “Winchester Express” by Cal Pappas pages 12-15.
They do a great job of addressing some of the question that seem to be come up on the Forum about smokeless being substituted for black powder in these old guns. I’ve used his loads in 50-95 and 50-110 with success. T/R
April 15, 2005
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Thanks for finding those articles… I may have read them 20+ years ago, and then forgot where they were. I might just have to go buy some more IMR 4198 before it all disappears from the vendors who have it in stock…
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Very good articles. Thanks for sharing! I’ve read some of that information in other places, a few I had to figure out on my own. Good to see it presented in a clear and easy to understand manner.
Mike
March 31, 2009
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Bert H. said
Thanks for finding those articles… I may have read them 20+ years ago, and then forgot where they were. I might just have to go buy some more IMR 4198 before it all disappears from the vendors who have it in stock…
Bert
I agree. 4198 is so versatile in our old rifles I need to buy more too. 3031 can be found fairly easily but the other IMR powders are scarce.
June 4, 2017
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Chuck,
I found his 50-110 load with 44grs of 4198 plus TP worked well in my 86s. The 50-95 in my 76s worked with a lighter load, 33grs of 4198 plus TP down from his ’38grs. I also use the 4198 plus TP in my 76s in 45-75 at 27grs. I started using those loads right after the article was published and continued until I sold off those caliber rifles two years ago. I probably owned a half dozen rifles in each caliber, used it in all, never a problem. Before the 4198 I tried 3031 like I use in 45-90 and the results were not good. Tom
March 31, 2009
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TR said
Chuck,
I found his 50-110 load with 44grs of 4198 plus TP worked well in my 86s. The 50-95 in my 76s worked with a lighter load, 33grs of 4198 plus TP down from his ’38grs. I also use the 4198 plus TP in my 76s in 45-75 at 27grs. I started using those loads right after the article was published and continued until I sold off those caliber rifles two years ago. I probably owned a half dozen rifles in each caliber, used it in all, never a problem. Before the 4198 I tried 3031 like I use in 45-90 and the results were not good. Tom
Years ago when I got a 45-90 I tested 3031, 4198 and 4759. All worked OK but the 4759 seemed a little more consistent. I mostly use 4198. I use TP for all of my reduced smokeless loads. Better to be safe than sorry. The recent firings of the 45 EX has proved the point. I should have taken a picture of the cases after firing without enough TP. Wrinkled all the way down. Also 2 of the 5 had very low velocities and 1 did not go off. Only 2 were the velocity I expected.
September 19, 2014
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Folks, I found the whole magazine a neat time capsule. So much I had forgotten, but names I used to know, etc. Good info on the 4198 powder, and a good primer on loading black powder. I felt lucky to meet Dick Berg after having talked on the phone with him over the years. Good memories of how it used to be.
Tim
November 7, 2015
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tim tomlinson said
Folks, I found the whole magazine a neat time capsule. So much I had forgotten, but names I used to know, etc. Good info on the 4198 powder, and a good primer on loading black powder. I felt lucky to meet Dick Berg after having talked on the phone with him over the years. Good memories of how it used to be.
Tim
Tim-
I may have to go back and read the entire magazine. I’ve read many of the BPCR competition loading and casting tips but it was good to see them again as I kick off my casting season. As part of their 75 anniversary TGCA reprinted the first years’ magazines (more like a newsletter) and it was quite entertaining. Interests may change but we still seem to have some of the same characters making this hobby fun and interesting. One story of a member’s trip to Mexico to buy a Colt Walker was especially entertaining.
Mike
June 4, 2017
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Chuck,
One thing that helped me when using TP was carefully putting a thin paper wad over the powder and folding and rolling the TP like a tampon to the exact space between the powder and bullet when seated. The wad is one ply of thin magazine paper, it keeps the powder against the magnum primer to prevent it from mixing with the TP. I get about 20fps variance on shot strings, that’s the accuracy. T/R
March 31, 2009
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TR said
Chuck,
One thing that helped me when using TP was carefully putting a thin paper wad over the powder and folding and rolling the TP like a tampon to the exact space between the powder and bullet when seated. The wad is one ply of thin magazine paper, it keeps the powder against the magnum primer to prevent it from mixing with the TP. I get about 20fps variance on shot strings, that’s the accuracy. T/R
TR, I was using a wad but I didn’t use enough TP to fill the void. The TP was long enough. Just not enough bulk to fill the space. Sloppy first attempt.
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