The Blackpowder Cowboy Part2
Myths and Secrets of Blackpowder Reloading

MYTH--Black powder is hard on your guns. Actually, I believe your guns will last longer. That's right! Ya gotta clean 'em right after ya shoot 'em, but the low pressure of black powder just doesn't seem to beat up a gun as much as smokeless. I've never had a brass case crack that has been used exclusively with black powder. The bores on my rifles and pistols used with black powder look as bright and new as they did more than a decade ago. 

MYTH--Black powder is hard to clean. Black powder is a bit messy, but not nearly as messy as shootin' in Oregon on a rainy day. Cleaning is as fast or faster than smokeless. My guns usually clean up with just two patches. I sometimes give 'em a third just to be safe. Do that with smokeless. Black powder cleans differently but just as fast. How to clean quickly and thoroughly might be a subject to cover on another day. 

MYTH--Black powder is hard to load. It just ain't so. In fact, black powder is surprisingly simple, once you understand that you load by volume, not weight. Frank Barnes in his book 'Cartridges of the World' sums it up pretty well, "In loading black powder, it was difficult to do anything very wrong. The proper charge filled the case to the base of the bullet so there was no problem of working up the right load for each caliber or bullet weight. The only variable was the grain size, and even here there was considerable latitude." It's pretty simple. Select the powder you will use, black or Pyrodex (a black powder substitute), and full the case to a level slightly above where the base of the bullet would be when seated. When you seat the bullet, the powder charge should be compressed slightly, about 1/8th of an inch (not crushed!). Never allow an air space between powder and bullet, and never use a smokeless powder measure to throw black powder or Pyrodex charges. That's it. Though I use a variety of powder types for fun and enjoyment, I have also used with great success a single powder, FFg black, for pistol, rifle, and shotgun. Now that's simple! There's only one load for each cartridge which amounts to the proper volume just described. It just don't get much easier. IMPORTANT--the preceding information is just an overview. It's not enough to load by. Read on to find out where you can get additional detailed information about black powder and Pyrodex loading. 

SECRET--Black powder is the most fun a cowboy shooter can have. As if by magic, when you fire your first shot in a match, the firing line quickly fills up with smoke. The targets become obscured. The faint sounds of a honky tonk piano seem to drift in the smoke. Suddenly, the shooter is in Dodge City at the Long Branch saloon. Cunning, patience, and grit are are the skills now required to 'survive' the course of fire. A certain 'technique and flair' are required to engage all targets. And, if you really have what it take, you'll shoot everything dualist style. See what it is about the smoke, lightening, and thunder of a 10 or 12 gauge double barrel shotgun that makes black powder the only game in town. MYTH--Black powder cartridges are not a accurate as smokeless. Actually, at the distances encountered in SASS type matches, black powder or Pyrodex offer outstanding accuracy. Like smokeless, you will find that a particular bullet and powder are just right for your gun. Once you work up the right loads, t's the shooter that will provide the accuracy. Obtain one or more of the great reference books I'll mention in this article, and learn as much about the unique properties of black powder and Pyrodex as you can. They both have special properties of their own when it comes to loading and safe handling. They're no more difficult to load and use than smokeless, but they are different. 

Cowboy shooting is one of the fastest growing shooting sports on the scene today. Historical accuracy is of great importance to competitors, both in the costumes they wear, the manes or 'alias' they choose to be know by, and the equipment they use. It follows that more and more of us will return home to the ammunition of history....the black powder cartridge. Once you try it, there's no going back. Smokeless powder seems to lose its appeal. The sport of cowboy action shooting literally will recreate itself for you. You will find a satisfaction and pure enjoyment shooting just like the old cowboys did that you never knew before. Why, I've said more than once, I'd rather wear red tennis shoes to a match than shoot smokeless, and for good reason. It's so dan blasted fun! Try it! 

Ever wonder just how those 12 ga. black powder 'pills' are made? Did you know that for only $75.00 you can get everything you need to load shotshells, including the press? Wonder how that fine Dillon press is going to work with black powder since you can't use the powder measure? What about Marlin microgroove barrels and Pyrodex? Is there a safe way to measure charges quickly for a variety of different calibers? If these and other questions come to mind, get some feedback to 'hijinx' at the end of this page, and I'll work up another article.

 Finally, those of us who have been involved in this sport for awhile, have an obligation to share safe shooting procedures with new shooters and the non-shooting public. We are all aware of the tragic consequences of firearms and untrained, unskilled shooters (same thing happens when you put an untrained driver in a car). Always follow the 'Cardinal rules of Firearms Safety' both at home and at the range:
1. Treat all firearms as if they are loaded.
2. Never point the muzzle at anything that you are not willing to shoot (in other words, keep every gun pointed in a safe direction--always!)
3. Be sure of you target and backstop.
4. Keep your finger out of the trigger guard until your sights are on the target and you have decided to shoot.
That's it for now. Know what you are doing and shoot safe. Cowboy action shooting is a wonderful sport from a heritage that is worth passing on to future generations. And there's no better way to do this than with the black powder cartridge. Adios amigos!

Back to the Shootin Iron