? on charged cases

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40-70SS

? on charged cases

Post by 40-70SS »

Does anyone see a problem with charging and compressing B/P in their cases and waiting to seat bullets? I use LDEP wads in .30-.60,I anticipate about 10-14 days waiting period before bullets will be seated.I know B/P is hydroscopic ,however; it appears to me that the LDEP wad provides a very tight seal and moisture adsorption would be nil if any at all.
Any thought on this would be appreciated.
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Kodiak
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Post by Kodiak »

If I were compressing the powder, I would be concerned about it expanding upward while waiting for the bullets, no matter how tight my wads fit in the case. I would compress each load again, just to be sure :lol:

Personally, no powder goes in the case until I have my lead bullets ready to load :lol: .

But then old guys (like me) got old ways,
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powderburner
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Post by powderburner »

I can relate two instances to you
1 I had flat of ctgs loaded without the bullets for 6 months and I was running late to a match and found them , so Iloaded bullets and shot .. did as good as any other time I shot ,
2 had some in a cooler and the tray tipped getting them wet ruined boxes and everything . I pulled the bullets , let them dry for a weekk outside in the sun and reloaded the bullets and shot them ,,, worked fine as well .not one didnt go off .......Dean
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Kurt
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Post by Kurt »

I charge a lot of cases to take along when I travel during the summer and seat the bullet when I'm ready to use them.
I have cases that have been loaded for breach seating for several years now left over from the Quigley shoot and just the last couple weeks I been shooting them up.
I cant see any difference in accuracy using them.
I don't like letting loads get to old with a bullet seated, I have had case separation with the .40-70 using old ammo.

Kurt
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Bruised
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Post by Bruised »

All of last shooting season I would do as you are asking. I load powder in the case and just start the veggie wad in the case. I use Midway loading trays and 2 trays full of 40-65 cases will fit inside a 1 gallon Zip-loc bag. I did this so I could just compress the powder then lube and seat my bullets a day or two before a match. I've not had any misfires yet. Good luck
Bobby
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Post by 40-70SS »

Thanks to all who responded,

I did not think it was a big problem,I will as Kodiak suggested and re-compress when I am ready to seat bullets.

Thanks again you all answered my ?
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Tasmanian Rebel
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Post by Tasmanian Rebel »

40-70, I think BP is a lot more hygroscopic AFTER it's been fired. I try to do what Kodiac has suggested but sometimes just don't have the time and have had findings similar to Dean- it doesn't make a lot of difference. We have humidities here like an Amazon jungle so it should have shown up if it was a problem here by now I think. You should be OK.
Keith Lay
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Post by 40-70SS »

Thanks Doc for your input, much appreciated
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RMulhern
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Charged cases?

Post by RMulhern »

I've shot some ammo that was loaded for .45 SAA Colt in 1948 and I could tell no difference as if it had been loaded last week!

On the other hand....I have had some ammo loaded in various calibers of BPCR for right at a year....and I've detected.....don't know what to call it....other than a 'crust' on the tips of the bullets that I do not know what it is. I've removed it with 'crokus cloth'.....but I'd really like to know what it is. Leads me to think that to prevent this....one might need to apply something akin to Kroil on the bullet to forestay this substance from making it's appearance!!

I also think that on ammo....'greasers' for instance that it needs to be not left on the shelf too long to prevent the lube from becoming in a 'hardened' state!

Anyone got a clue as to what I'm speaking of?? :roll: :roll:
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Kurt
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Post by Kurt »

:roll: Oh Rick Rick Rick :roll: :roll: :lol:
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powderburner
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Post by powderburner »

Rick you just gotta quit scratchin with them loaded rounds ,

if the crud is white it is oxidation if yellow or brown ...well we wont go there .....
and the bullets do seem to grip the case walls a lot harder if they have been stored a long time , ocasionally resulting in a green verdigris,,
and an ocasional separation as kurt stated . I always reset my bullets to break the bond if they are real old and have been forgotten.it doesnt take very much .......Dean
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RMulhern
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Crud

Post by RMulhern »

powderburner

I figured it was oxidation but this (verdigris) is the word I was trying to 'dredge up'!

Sometimes....the SENIOR MOMENTS....kick in!!

:lol: :shock: :lol:
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bpcrshooter62
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Re: ? on charged cases

Post by bpcrshooter62 »

HI it will be fine as others have said as i have done this for years when time is short and not enough to finish the whole process of loading at one time and i have never had a problem still shoot the same as when loaded completely at one time. Keep shooting and have fun !!
Woody
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Re: ? on charged cases

Post by Woody »

.I know B/P is hydroscopic
Not so. Black is not hydroscopic, but it's fouling is. The burning of black powder forms a salt as part of residue. That is what sucks the moisture out of the air.

Black powder exposed to the atmosphere will assume the average humidity of it's environment.

As an example, Black is sold in bulk in paper bags, instead of the common steel or more recently plastic cans.

Woody
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SchuetzenDave
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Re: ? on charged cases

Post by SchuetzenDave »

Old antique BP ammunition would get a green oxidation because salted lard was used for the lube and it would corrode the brass.

Hard to say which items in home made lube can have a chemical reaction with the brass metal of the case over a long period of time.

Of course lead oxidizes over time and that creates a white greyish crude on the surface of old bullets.

I live in a dry climate so I have no experience with moisture being absorbed by my black powder.

However black powder is safely stored in water and dried out at a later date to use in the manufacturing process.
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