Powder Compression

[Klaus]

Hi Gents,

I read some books about Black Powder Cartridge reloading and got some experiences by my own. But I feel sometimes slipped back on the beginning of it all !
Experienced Hunters and Target Shooters load their 45-70 with a full 70grs charge and a .520 Gov.Bullet. I load between 63 and 70 grs for myselfe but >
Mike Venturino in his famous Book Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West told about of 60 grs. by different kinds of Powder like Goex,Swiss e.g ( reference charges) with the .520 grs Bullet.
Paul Matthews told in his Books that the Powder should be compessed by “ Drop Tubing ” . It should be very important that the Powderkernels are not crushed althought he mentioned in the same Book that Government Loads are compressed to a solid mass.
opposide to this original Sharps loading advises told the same like Paul namely to fill the Powder with a 30 inch Drop Tube slowly in and put a Paperwad on top and seat the Bullet gently on the Powder!

Yesterday I discharge one of my Cartridges and found a solid mass I could remove the Powder by scratchin out with a screwdriver but it did not trickle out of the case as mentioned in the Sharps Catalog advise. My charge is 63 grs of KIK FFF pured in with a Drop Tube

A Friend of mine use a full load with 100 grs Swiss 1 1/5 corked with Milkcarton / Greasecookie/ Wad and a 540 grs Bullet. in his 45 – 100 Sharps the Powder is really compressed to maximum 0.5 inch or more but he shoots with very good results !

What is the truth?

When it is correct that a 60grs. charge will have got the same good result in a given Rifle and have the capability to shoot through a Buffalo and hold a 2 ½ inch group or less on a papertarget at 100 yards or toppel a Ram on 547 yards where shall be the advantage to use a full charge with 70 grs?

Have you got a solution

Klaus