Prep work for Black Powder Shooting

Spent the morning yesterday getting ready for my ML range work. I'll be shooting a Traditions .50 cal in line and .58 PH Musketoon this year and want to spend a few days in the backyard getting ready.

I like to pre-lube and pre-measure everything for each day, so I not messing around while I'm shooting and helps keep me organized.

I pan lube using an Insta-Pot (on saute) with a double boiler to melt the Lube (Beeswax, Lanoline, Crisco) and then do up x16 bullets at a time. I preheat the boolits for better bonding with the wax on a tray over the boiler as the wax melts.

https://i.imgur.com/vmJLneZm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/gqOGNhum.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vjawuVgm.jpg

I keep my pre lubed boolits in ice cube trays, it holds x16 ea which is perfect; .x1 for fouling and 3 groups of x5 shots each with 3 different powder loads. In this case , 40 gr, 50, gr, 60gr of FFFg Goex.

https://i.imgur.com/KByOVk7m.jpg

I then store the ice cube trays in the freezer. That works great to keep the lube from getting too soft in the heat during storage.

https://i.imgur.com/6jR9cUdm.jpg

Anyway, just a few tips on how to keep things organized when working with Black Powder. No one likes the idea of a mistake on the range when working with 'explosives'. :)

Nice innovative setup and thinking outside the box.
Thanks for sharing.

MikePal
Nothing beats being organized. Nicely Done.

Nicely done, seems like a great hobby.

So your saying wife was out of house Monday morning and instant pot found it’s way to shop
Lol

I need to get charges weighed out

Impressive. I like the colour coding on the charge tubes.
The tubes themselves look interesting.

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Originally Posted by js4fn

So your saying wife was out of house Monday morning and instant pot found it’s way to shop
Lol

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She's the beekeeper, my source for the beeswax. She got used to me using the pot years ago, doesn't seem to really mind if she gets it back a little sticky :)

I'm getting a little more forgetful in my old age, so I have resorted to getting more organized to stay safe. The $Dollorama is a great place to buy plastic containers and stuff that help to keep things well marked and identified.

I recently started to also keep a journal with notes from each shoot on the range. Working with three different loose powder MLs it was getting too little too confusing to remember what I was doing with each gun. Saves a lot of money in powder if I don't have to repeat the work from last year. HaHa.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Big Tuna

Impressive. I like the colour coding on the charge tubes.
The tubes themselves look interesting.

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I posted this a few years back. I shows how I use these plastic powder bottles to make a pre-load 'fast' loader for my in-line.

Quote:

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I developed a system for loading for myself this year I thought I would pass on. I felt I needed to be more organized and safely control each load so I don't forget or mix up what I'm doing.

I found some plastic 'treat' tubes at a garage sale this summer and was able to pick up some glass bottles that fit perfectly in the tube with a bullet and primer. So I am able to put together each load in the house and take them out to the range. Then I only have one in front of me at a time with the contents for each load. Keeps things in order and prevents duplication or missing a component.

Safety first !!

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https://i.imgur.com/EltDQCil.jpg

Now that is cool...straight up cool