Friend of mine picked up an old British double rifle in .450 Black Powder Express(no pictures, I haven't even seen the thing yet). I've been digging around to find some load data for him, and aside from "I've heard this" and "If you do X, Y, and Q you should have good results", very little. Solid "This is what the main bullet would have been, using X grains of 2f" or such wasn't to be found, at least not yet.
Any of you familiar with this, or able to point to some good information?
Update: thanks for the responses, couple of new places to look along with the rest.
Have started looking at Cast Boolits(one of my go-to places), but if he's going to start on one we know nothing about, I want lots of sources. My thanks to you all.
9 comments:
The wiki page has some reloading info, and there's another website with basic data.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.450_Black_Powder_Express
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/loading-data-for-the-450-black-powder-express.11417/
A rule of thumb for BP mussel loaders was-
But the ball in your open palm and pour enough powder to cover it for the approximate loading.
The 2nd edition of Cartridges of the World, by Frank C Barnes, has a table towards the end of Chapter 6, British Sporting Rifle Cartridges, Current and Obsolete-Black Powder and Smokeless (on page 234) that lists a "450 Black Powder Exp." with a 3 1/4 inch case. The listing indicates a 310gr lead bullet and 120gr of black powder for a muzzle velocity of 1800 ft/sec. Immediately after that is a listing for a "450 Nitro for B.P. Exp." also with a 3 1/4 inch case. Looking up the .450 Nitro-Express (3 1/4) it is described as having a straight rimmed case derived from what was originally a black powder cartridge.
Cartridges of the World, 16th edition is what I am looking at. Has some info. There are a variety of .450 BPE cartridges, probably one of the most confusing ones out there. Be sure of what the rifle is chambered for.
Maybe check around on the Cast Boolits or High Road forums?
A lot of old british guns have load data on the guns water table, also try looking on NitroExpress.com
Go to the Cast Boolits website.Should have good info.
If the manufacturer is still in business, I would also contact them. As I understand things, double rifles are regulated so both barrels shoot to the same point of aim with a specific load. If the mfr is still in business, they may well have records of how the gun is set up.
He says it was made right around 1890 or so as I recall, individual maker, so don't think that'll work.
Post a Comment